Chicane Auctions’ May 2025 classic car auction wrapped with a clear message to the market: quality still commands attention and serious collectors are still buying — provided the car stacks up.
With a tightly curated lineup and the Chicane Showroom packed with everything from Australian muscle icons to Euro classics, many buyers from across Australia were well presented with strong bidding.
The star of the sale was a stunning 1970 Ford Falcon XY GT, finished in factory Yellow Ochre, which sold at $300,000 plus buyer’s premium. It was a well-deserved strong result for a nicely presented, correct GT with genuine appeal. Previous owners even visited the Chicane Showroom before auction end, to reminisce with their old hero — reaffirming the XY’s continued dominance in the domestic muscle hierarchy.
Holden muscle was also in the spotlight, with a 1968 Holden Monaro HK GTS 327 selling for $185,000 + BP. The car, finished in its original Bright Blue Metallic and presented well, brought strong money thanks to a decent restoration and its status as a homologation icon with Bathurst heritage.
A more complicated, but no less interesting result came from the 1973 Ford XA GT RPO83 Hardtop, which sold for $150,250 + BP. On paper, this was a rare and desirable homologation special — one of fewer than 130 Hardtops ever built. But informed bidders were well aware of two critical factors: the non-matching Cleveland engine and the paint preparation issues.
In the lead-up to auction, the car became hot topic of a whisper campaign causing unfounded uncertainty. Still, the sale price reflected solid buyer interest in RPO83s, showing the market is willing to engage in quality, even when some imperfections are on the table.
European flair came via a bright 1974 Porsche 911 S, which sold for $95,000 + BP. Not a concourse example, but well-preserved and with renewed driveline, this narrow-bodied classic shows that interest in air-cooled Porsches remains steady, even in a more cautious international market.
A 1978 Holden HZ GTS also made a statement. This two-owner survivor, untouched and true to spec, drew respect for its originality and changed hands for $66,750 + BP — a strong result that reflects collector interest in honest, unrestored cars from the loved Holden stables.
Other notable sales included a 1974 XA GT Tribute Ute, creatively executed and well-finished, which sold for $55,500 + BP, and a Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible that found a new home for $38,000 + BP, proving the classic Benz roadster market is still ticking along.
There were also high-drama passed-ins. A Track Red XY GT saw bidding reach $305,000 + BP with this car currently still in negotiation between parties, and a rare Summer Gold XA GT sedan climbed to $127,000 + BP. Both were just shy of meeting their reserves — a reminder that today’s market is still highly engaged but increasingly precise.
Joining them in being passed in were two modern collectibles that turned plenty of heads: A rare, high performance Series 1 Mazda RX-7 — a car fast becoming a blue-chip Japanese classic — which was passed in after strong interest.
An as-new Holden VFII SS V Redline manual sedan, representing the last of the Aussie-built V8 manuals. Although beautifully preserved, it too remained unsold, possibly a victim of timing rather than demand.
At a time when authenticity is more important than ever, Chicane continues to attract genuine collectors who know exactly what they’re looking for — and trust Chicane to deliver it.
To view all results or consign your car to the upcoming Melbourne Showroom Auction Event, visit the Chicane Auctions Website or reach out and give us a call: www.chicaneauctions.com.au – (03) 9580 7369