England wins Classic test at Shannons MotorEx Sale

SYDNEY – July 22, 2013: Classic and veteran English cars took victory over their Australian and American counterparts in Shannons Custom & Collectable Auction at Meguiar’s MotorEx on July 21, making a major contribution to the event’s bottom line of nearly $1 million.

The top sale of the 63-lot auction was an iconic circa 1921 Vauxhall 30/98 E-Type Velox Tourer that sold for $220,000 to an overseas enthusiast who took advantage of the sliding Australian dollar.

Introduced in 1913, the 30/98 was the first British sports car to reach 100 miles per hour (160km/h) in production form and was considered a faster and more nimble road car in the early 1920s than a Bentley 3.0 litre.

The 30/98 auctioned had been in the hands of the same Australian owner for 45 years and was painstakingly rebuilt from a chassis frame and back axle upwards over a 20-year period to its present outstanding condition.

Another English veteran to come to bat well at MotorEx was a 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer offered in ‘project’ condition that sold after the hammer for $60,000.

The Phantom was the near culmination of a long-term restoration project by a Sydney panel beater and required a complete interior fit-out to complete.

Other English cars to post strong results in the auction were a beautiful and former trophy-winning ‘Clotted Cream’ with red leather upholstery 1958 Jaguar XK150 Drop Head Coupe – the 85th right hand drive example of the total of 663 built – that sold for $100,000, a restored 1959 MGA Twin Cam roadster, one of just 127 right hand drive export models built with its odometer showing just 51,310 miles, that sold above its high estimate for $53,000 and a striking 1955 Morris Minor 1000 Sedan modified at a cost of around $30,000 that sold with no reserve for well over its pre-sale estimate for $15,000.

The two English Daimlers in the auction also sold well, with a 1993 Double Six V12 Saloon offered with no reserve selling above its high estimate for $20,500 after strong floor bidding, while a beautifully-presented black with chrome wire wheels 1963 2.5-litre V8 Saloon sold for $17,000.

Other excellent vehicle sales in the auction included a 1976 Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 replica sedan that sold for $41,000, a beautiful 1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe that made $26,000 and a 2002-built De Joux Maserati special in need of work to be eligible for Australian registration that brought $55,000.

A collection of nine ‘no reserve’ Harley Davidson motorcycles from a large private collection sold on estimate, with the top sales being $18,000 for a 1927 27B 350cc ‘Peashooter’ , while a 1946 U Model 1200cc solo in ‘project’ condition sold for $16,000, a 1942 WLA 750cc solo went for $14,000, a very stylish 1967 Aermacchi Ala Verde 250cc 'Café Racer' (built under Harley Davidson ownership) made $7,300 and a rare 1963 Harley-Davidson Topper 160cc Scooter sold for $4,500.