1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz + 1991 Porsche 968 + 1972 Holden HQ Ute - Auction Action

By: Mark Higgins

Date: 27.11.2023

The auction world is full of surprises, with ever changing numbers, plus the occasional bargain. Here are some of the highlights.

1956 CADILLAC ELDORADO BIARRITZ

Sold: $215,000
Hemmings Auctions

How’s this for an American classic right out of the Happy Days era. This rare and fully restored 1956 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible was one of just 2150 built. According to the dealer: "The restoration was done to a level rarely seen today, to original condition with no modifications whatsoever." The Eldorado and Biarritz names were the epitome of Cadillac exclusivity, with unique styling features and the highest power outputs. This one has a 365ci V8 and is finished in Cardinal Red, with a red and white leather interior.

1991 PORSCHE 968

Sold: $32,000
Collecting Cars

In the seventies, the Porsche board wanted to kill off the 911, for a range of front-engine cars. Luckily, the 911 lived on. But Porsche did make a range of front-engined cars, one being the 968. This example is a one-owner car, first registered in 1993 and since then, it has travelled a documented 187,959km. Grand Prix white with grey leather trim and ‘Cup 1’ alloy wheels. It sold with the stamped service booklet, tools, original sales invoice, and several maintenance invoices.

1972 HOLDEN HQ UTE

Sold: $27,000
Burns & Co, Lot 10

Early Aussie utes are in demand and bidding was hot for this HQ Belmont. Built November ’72, this smart looking ute has been cared for, and has a 253ci V8 with a three-speed Trimatic auto. Gold with black trim, it has a new tonneau cover, head lining, crash pad, and the bucket seats have been reupholstered. Snazzing it up inside are the Statesman door trims and centre console, and outside, the chrome-ringed Holden sports wheels.

1989 JAGUAR XJR-S

Sold: $8120
Brightwells, Lot 9

The XJR-S, built in partnership with TWR and Jaguar, is a spin-off of the Bathurst-winning XJS. Only 326 of these V12 monsters with uprated suspension, quad exhausts, and exclusive alloys were made. This one had a 14-year hibernation prior to auction. The blurb says it doesn’t start, and the body and interior need TLC. It has been with the vendor since 2007.
A great opportunity to have a rare old cat in the shed.

1989 BOSCHERT B300 'GULLWING'

RM Sotheby's Munich auction
November 30th, 2023 – Guilding range: €250,000-300,000

This truly is a one-off. It’s based on a 300CE Benz, has the front end of an R129 generation SL grafted on to it, is powered by a twin-turbo, 283hp engine and has gullwing doors. It’s called the Boschert B300 and has been with the same owner since 2005. The exterior colour is Bornite and the interior is finished in two-tone purple leather. It looks wild, but you will want deep pockets as this one-off rocket ship has an estimate of between A$420,000 to $515,000. Only a handful of Boschert B300s were made, and this is the only one with gullwing doors. It’ll certainly get the neighbours talking.

1988 HSV VL SV88

No Sale – Passed in
Seven 82 Motors, Lot 26

The HSV SV88 was the first offering by Holden Special Vehicles. Based on the V8, VL Calais, all were finished in Dorward Blue, with a discreet body kit, and a two-tone blue leather and velour interior. Just 150 were made and this one has only done 69,000 klicks. The ad claims it has been repainted at some stage. The original matching-number V8 and auto gearbox are still in it. All the tags are in place on the car, including the HSV build tag and it went with factory logbooks.

1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

Sold: $107,450
Hemmings Auctions

Second-year model of one of the General's famous badges. Chev sold 3640 Corvettes in 1954 and this is the 147th. It's very original and has the 'Blue Flame' 235ci, OHV inline-six, with a trio of Carter single-barrel carburetors. The transmission is the two-speed Powerglide auto and it retains its six-volt electrical system. The engine and transmission were rebuilt 500 miles ago.

1983 FORD CAPRI MK III

Sold: $10,855
Brightwells, Lot 15

Aussies missed out on the Mk III Capri. Shame that, as it was the best of the badge. This 2.8lt V6 fuel-injected version, with correct pepper pot wheels, has received a mechanical freshen up by the vendor, after years of being dormant. It has been repainted, the sunroof seal replaced and new badges fitted. It sold with history over its six past owners and details of a mini resto in 2019.

1965 FORD XP FALCON COUPE

Sold: $70,000
Seven 82 Motors, Lot 10

This 1965 XP Ford Futura coupe has been through a comprehensive ground up, nut-and-bolt restoration. The colour is Ivy Green with a Palomino interior and a rear venetian blind. It wears steel wheels, hubcaps and whitewalls, giving it a period-correct look. The chrome bumpers have been refinished and all the stainless steel trim has been straightened and polished. Under the bonnet lies a 200ci Super Pursuit 6cyl engine, bolted to an auto transmission. Talk about a head-turning cruiser.

1998 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION V

Sold: $47,970
Collecting Cars

When the World Rally Championship was in full-swing, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru WRX went head-to-head. Both built high-performance, turbo road warriors. Today, the Evo and WRX are highly sought. This Evo V, in signature Mitsi Rally Red, has been given an extra performance tickle and cosmetic upgrades. A JDM, with 80,509 kays from new, it recently arrived here and is up for grabs. It sold with the Japanese owner’s manuals, and 12 Japanese maintenance reports.

1970 MACH 1 MUSTANG

Sold: $46,000
Burns & Co, Lot 52

The Mach 1, saluting Chuck Yeager’s achievement, was a showroom hit. Despite the modern 2021, older Mach 1s still pull buyers. This genuine Mach 1 fastback is a left-hooker in period-correct Grabber Orange powered by a late-model 302ci V8 and reco C10 Auto. In overall good condition, it has ADR compliant seatbelts and is ready to hit the road.

2002 TOYOTA CENTURY V12

Sold: $15,000
Collecting Cars

The Toyota Century is the one and only Japanese front-engine, rear-wheel drive production car with a V12. A rare, hand-built Japanese limousine, this JDM was registered in Australia in 2023. The Century is an opulence overload with every luxury feature, including air suspension, heated and reclining rear seats with massaging function, soft-close doors, and a remote-controlled, rear entertainment screen.

2016 HOLDEN MALOO R8

No Sale – Passed in
Mecum, Lot S172

In the land of giant pickups, this converted to left-hand drive HSV sports ute, would have turned a heads. This one-owner 2016 Maloo with its 625hp supercharged V8 engine and auto box, has been driven just 19,988 miles. It appears to be very well cared for, but despite this, it was passed in. Maybe it takes a bit of time for the Americans to grasp what an Aussie-bred performance pickup is really all about.

2001 HSV WH GRANGE

Sold: $7500
Burns & Co, Lot 7

HSV added a luxury offering to its line-up with the Statesman-based Grange, named after the famous Barossa Valley red. This one is surprisingly cheap, but the drawbacks for many punters might have been because it has travelled 330,020 kays and its 5.7lt V8 runs on gas. One easily fixed, and if serviced correctly the kays shouldn’t be such a huge issue. This one, in Quicksilver is build number 482.

1972 AUSTIN KIMBERLEY

Sold: $14,200
Brightwells, Lot 85

Dunno about you, but I can’t remember seeing an Austin Kimberley on the road or in a museum, in ages. The Kimberley was BMC’s follow-up to the Austin 1800 and a rival to the Torana and Cortina. Most have long gone but occasionally one pops up, like this three-owner Mk II X6. Advanced for its time with a transverse-mounted 2.2lt six and four-speed manual gearbox, it’s believed to be the only one in the UK.

1965 AP6 VALIANT

Sold: $30,000
Burns & Co, Lot 23

Despite its slant-six engine and hefty horsepower, the Valiant played third fiddle to Holden and Ford in the sales race. The AP6 was a popular model and this 1965 grey with burgundy trim and three-on-the-tree shows 71,041 miles. The third owner spent $35,000 on a resto, including rebuilding the original engine. It has new tyres, suspension and exhaust. The seats were reupholstered and new carpet fitted. Aussie classic.

1975 TRIUMPH STAG MK II

Sold: $46,000
Collecting Cars

Given Triumph Stag popularity is growing, it was no surprise bidding was strong for this Mk II version. A resto was completed in early 2017 and it has been with the seller for 13 years. Up front sits Triumph's 3.0lt V8 driving the rear wheels, through an upgraded three-speed ‘Jatco’ auto with electric overdrive. It is a multi-award winner, having snared ‘Pride of Ownership’ award at the Triumph Car Club show in 2017 and first prize at the Triumph club’s ‘All Triumph & Standard Day’.

From Unique Cars #485, Nov 2023

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