Massive model car collection up for grabs at online auction

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 13.07.2020

Donington Auctions tasked with selling part of one Melbourne motoring fan’s expansive model car collection

As Melbournians put their cars back in the garage and get ready to hunker down for another six weeks of lockdown, local auction house, Donington Auctions, seek to tide us over with some mini cars to play with instead.

Their massive online model car auction boasts over 160 lots, featuring miniatures and models of various scales and of all tastes. The online sale commenced on July 10, and will close on July 19 at 4:00pm.

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Incredibly, they all come from the hands of one passionate collector, Bill Ahearn. Ahearn’s love of motorsport was sparked by attending his first race at Lakeside in 1966, when he was 13 years old.

As a child, Ahearn admired the likes of Brabham, Hulme, Hill and the Geoghegan brothers. He went on to enjoy a long career as a car salesman and manager, working at dealerships across Victoria including Peters Holden, Jeff Wignall Motors and Chadstone Mitsubishi and Kia.

Ahearn began collecting models in the 70s, beginning with the humble Matchbox cars.

"I grew from there with at one stage I had over 5000 Diecast Models of all different scales, I never really had real favourites at the start but later on I got a real penchant for Fire and Rescue Vehicles and Trucks however basically, I bought what appealed to me".

A sizeable chunk of the auction is represented by iconic Aussie racing vehicles, including: a 1:18 scale Brock/Richards 1979 Bathurst-winning A9X Torana, Norm Beechey’s E38 R/T Charger, Dick Johnson’s 1982 XE Falcon and many more. There is also various Italian classic, German Le Mans touring cars, vintage and rare collectibles up for grabs.

And of course; there are more than a fair few Fire, Rescue and emergency service vehicles that Ahearn came to love.

For those of us out there who never grew out of toy cars, have a look through all available lots at Donington Auctions right here.

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