Auction update

Shannons Autumn Classic Sale, 5 May, Melbourne

The

highlights of this sale were two rare oneowner HQ Holdens. That’s right, one-owner cars. The first was a very original 1971 LS Monaro 253 V8 Coupe. This Monaro had lived in Northern Victoria all its life with no notable modifications other than a conversion to LP Gas carried out in 1982. Even the original hubcaps and vinyl roof remained.

Shannons were expecting strong bidding in the $20,000 to $25,000 range. It sold for an impressive $25,000.

The other one-owner HQ was a Premier Station Wagon fitted with the 308 V8. It was estimated at $10,000 to $14,000. This machine went for $14,000.

A 1974 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 (not an L34) sedan presented in Sunburst Gold Metallic with Black vinyl interior was offered. It was previously owned by a West Australian collector and has been used sparingly in recent years. Apart from a few bolt-on performance parts the Torana remains largely unmodified. It was to be sold with a verification letter from Holden. Shannons estimates were in the $46,000 to $54,000 range, too much as it turned out and the car was passed in.

A trio of the very desirable locally-built Ford Fairlanes were also offered at tempting estimates. These were a 1964 model 289 V8 Compact (sold for $13,500), a 1968 289 V8engined ZA sedan (passed in) and a 1976 ZH 500 302 V8 (sold for $9000).

Shannons’ next Sydney auction was set for 26 May, after we closed for press.

Theodore Bruce Classic Car Auction, Sydney

This

auction included a number of classic cars but auctioneer James Nicholls says the big sellers on the day were several lots of automobilia, including the collection of the late Graham Howard. Graham was a long-time writer for magazines like Australian Muscle Car, Wheels and Racing Car News.

Old racing programmes were the biggest sellers, producing frenzied bidding. We’ve mentioned some of the mega prices being paid for programmes before, but these look like record results.

A collection of Australian F1 and Bathurst programmes, sold for $400.

A collection of Oran Park programmes, sold for $380.

The 1963 and 1965 Armstrong 500 programmes and the 1966 and 1967 Gallagher 500 (Bathurst) programmes, sold for $900.

Various motor racing programmes from the 1950s, sold for $550.

A collection of Bathurst programmes, sold for $550.

Various 1960s Australian race programmes, sold for $525.

A collection of early programmes from the 1950s, sold for $900.