Chevrolet + Lagonda - the cars that got away
Two Chevs and a Lagonda - some gems from our old classifieds
OCTOBER 1989
CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
Opinions divide about where and by whom the first car-based utility was made. However the first Chevrolet El Camino certainly earned itself a place in the record books on the basis of pure effrontery.
Australia saw sedans with the same massive ‘bat-wing’ fins but no El Caminos apart from a few private imports.
This one was a more recent arrival and probably not in remarkable condition. However with a parts car included it stood a big chance of being salvaged and that nine grand looks to be money well spent.
Then $9000, now $35-40,000
OCTOBER 1997
CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427
People call big-block Corvettes ‘muscle cars’ but they really don’t fit a genre that was intended to describe a mid-sized sedan with a monster engine.
This 7.0-litre Chevy barely has space for two but will wipe the floor with most sedan-based muscle machinery.
Not a lot of big-block ‘Vettes came to Australia as new cars – lack of engine-bay space made RHD conversion a challenge.
Today though we have a decent supply thanks to recent imports. This one looks to be in fine condition, however values haven’t moved dramatically and C3 versions remain relatively affordable.
Then $39,500, now $75-85,000
APRIL 1985
LAGONDA M45
Lagonda was a brand that battled for most of its 40 years of independent existence. The company in 1947 was bought by Aston Martin and left behind big, vastly expensive touring cars like this 4.5-litre six-cylinder and the exotic LG45.
Given that the Great Depression was still heavily influencing the car industry, production of 410 M45s in one year (1935) was a good effort.
A car similar to this one was offered for sale in Australia during 2014 for $185,000. More recently came another overseas at €$200,000, suggesting local values should by now have topped $250,000.
Then $60,000, now $240-270,000
(Unique Cars magazine 383)
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