Olympic Heavyweights Square off with Shannons at MotorEx

SYDNEY – July 20, 2012: Shannons will kick off the 2012 Olympic competition a week early with a classic Australia v USA Muscle Car battle at the annual Custom & Collectible Auction at Sydney’s Olympic Park on Sunday July 22.

The Australians feature strongly with a trio of tough Toranas and an iconic 1968 Monaro HK GTS 327. Leading the Aussie charge is a rare Jasmine Yellow 1977 Holden LX Torana A9X Hatchback – one of only 15 A9X Hatches delivered in this colour and one of just three with tan trim and only 82,800km (believed genuine) on its odometer.

Given that a similar but unrestored A9X Hatchback in need of recommissioning sold for $149,000 after frenetic bidding at last year’s MotorEx auction, Shannons conservatively expect the beautifully-presented Jasmine Yellow A9X to attract keen bidding in the $170,000-$210,000 range.

The ‘must have’ Muscle Car for Australian collectors is a no reserve 1968 Holden Monaro HK GTS 327 coupe that is expected to cause a bidding frenzy when it crosses the auction block.

The perfect base for a serious restoration project, Shannons expects keen bidding from collectors and enthusiasts in the $50,000 - $70,000 range.

Perennial Olympic heavyweights the US, as always, are well represented with three sought-after US Muscle Cars, all with no reserve – a 1970 Ford Torino (estimated selling range $28,000-$34,000), a one-off 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car ($35,000-$40,000) and a 1972 Chevelle Coupe SS ‘tribute’ ($35,000-$40,000) all in very nice, restored condition.

Adding extra bulk to the US team, Shannons is also offering a freshly-restored 1972 left hand drive Plymouth Barracuda Coupe running a monster 528-ci V8 that is expected to sell in the $58,000-$64,000 range.

Now in its 12th year, Meguiar’s MotorEx staged over the July 21-22 weekend at Sydney’s Olympic Park is the largest and most prestigious motoring enthusiast event of its kind in Australia, featuring hundreds of Custom, Performance and Collectible vehicles from all over the country.

All vehicles in the Shannons auction will be on display throughout the weekend, with the auction starting at 3pm on the Sunday.