Timeless Classics And Plates Compete At Shannons Spring Sale

SYDNEY – November 16, 2010: Timeless classics in top original condition and rare New South Wales numerical number plates battled for top honours at Shannons Sydney Spring Auction on Monday (15 November).

The top vehicle sale of the auction was the $53,000 paid for a very original, Australian-delivered 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R that had covered just 54,700km in the hands of its original first owner.

Delivered by Capitol Motors in Parramatta Road, Auburn, the sought-after GT-R was one of just 100 R32 Skylines produced for Australia by Nissan in the early 1990s to capitalise on the first-ever victory at Bathurst by a Japanese maker in 1991.

However the mighty ‘Godzilla’ was trumped at the auction by a pair of rare and increasingly desirable double-digit NSW motorcycle numerical number plates – ‘50’ and ‘88’ – which each sold for $60,000.

Commenting on the excellent result, Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said the prices achieved by the motorcycle plates reflected greater appreciation by Australian enthusiasts of their real rarity.

“These plates are now probably in no more than 100 private hands in New South Wales,” he said. “The pool is shrinking and the market is waking up.”

The second-best vehicle result of the auction was the $46,000 paid for an Australian-delivered and one owner 1972 Jaguar E-type Series 3 V12 Coupe that had covered only 40,830 miles since delivery and was presented in ‘near new’ condition.

The NSW numerical car number plates ‘3505’ and ‘6878’ each brought $40,000 – the same price as that achieved by a stunning, locally-assembled 1952 Ford Customline that had more than $200,000 lavished on it during a recent total nut-and-bolt labour of love.

Amongst other Australian classics, a time warp 1964 Holden EH Premier sedan in exceptional original condition that had covered just 24,685 miles from new sold for $25,000, and a one lady owner 1971 Ford Fairlane ZD 302 V8 sedan that had covered 53,100 miles from new sold with no reserve for $6,200.

Other sales included a well-presented left hand drive 1967 Mustang fresh from a recent full engine rebuild that sold for $32,000 – the same price as that achieved by a very original, matching numbers left hand drive 1973 Chevrolet Corvette ‘Targa’ Coupe with just 52,000 miles on its odometer.

Meanwhile a 1969 Australian-delivered Fiat 850 two-door sedan with exceptional paint and bodywork and its original number plates brought an excellent $10,500.