Jaguar XJS + '66 Mustang + Citroen DS23 + Austin 3-Litre - Gotaways 411

By: Cliff Chambers

Date: 30.03.2018

Looking back through the Unique Cars archives

JAGUAR XJS MANUAL - Advertised June 2003

Built with a Ferrari badge, this 2+2 would today be knocking on the door of $100,000. However as a Jaguar and one that did suffer some durability issues, even a scarce four-speed manual XJS will find $40,000 a struggle. Production of four-speed cars from 1975-81 totalled 352 units and some came to Australia. One was converted to a Group C racer by John Goss and involved in a spectacular start-line crash at Bathurst. Other surviving cars here and in the UK pop up occasionally but haven’t followed E Types (as yet) to stratospheric levels of appreciation.

1966 FORD MUSTANG 2+2 - Advertised December 1994

The Fastback Mustang in profile looks less balanced than the ‘notchback’ version but that hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from turning 2+2 models into the most desirable of fixed-roof Mustangs. Sharing its shape with the racy Shelby GT350 certainly helped. This car, selling almost 25 years ago for $13,800, was fairly priced but no bargain. The same vehicle, with routine maintenance and probably some paint, would by now have put the better part of $50,000 into its owner’s pocket and you can’t go griping about growth like that.

CITROEN DS23 - Advertised October 1989

Checking the credentials for ‘Presidential’ Citroens revealed that only cars matching the specification of one supplied to 1970s French supremo Giscard D’Estaing could claim the title. A car similar to this one was supplied to a French Ambassador during the 1970s and sold off upon his return home. Perhaps this is the same car, however when it was advertised in 2012 as a ‘Pallas Prestige’ the roof colour was black and the distinctive fluted mudguards weren’t evident. The vendor of that car was seeking $90,000 but ‘Presidential’ DS23s sold recently in Europe suggest pricing below $50,000.

AUSTIN 3-LITRE - Advertised February 1985

Seen one of these before? We hadn’t either before last year’s ‘Austins Across Australia’ display turned up an absolute cracker. The elongated 1800 with its quad headlight front was mechanically very different from its ‘parent’ with an-line six-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. Hydrolastic suspension was retained and the ride was exemplary. These big Austins were never contemplated as viable for Australia – we had the Kimberley – and any that have arrived were private imports. Cheap back then and today seen as an ‘emerging classic’ by Austin enthusiasts.

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

Sell your car for free right here