Sporting Cream Rises At Shannons Summer Sale

SYDNEY – February 11, 2011: Classic British and European sporting cars were in demand at Shannons Sydney Summer Classic Auction on February 7, with Buyers prepared to pay good market value for vehicles with good provenance.

The top seller of the auction was a beautifully presented 1967 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Coupe that was pursued by several telephone and floor bidders before selling for $52,000.

Comprehensively restored six years ago, during which its colour was changed from Dark Blue to eye-catching Red, the UK-delivered E-Type had also benefitted from more recent mechanical work and was offered with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate.

Another E-Type to sell well was a 1967 4.2 Series 1 2+2 Coupe in need of body and interior restoration that sold for its high estimate of $24,000 after keen bidding.

Although the Jaguar had been mechanically overhauled in 1978, it had covered only 58,000 miles since and had laid dormant in a garage for 10 years.

Ferrari Dino fanciers saw keen value in the well presented 1972 Fiat Dino Coupe showing just 99,588km on its odometer. Sharing the same 2.4 litre V6 engine as the sought-after Ferrari 246GT (Dino) Coupe, the Fiat was previously owned by the late Rene Rivkin and came with a receipt file that showed extensive maintenance work by an Italian vehicle specialist in Sydney.

It sold above estimate after local and interstate bidding for $34,000, representing excellent buying at around a fifth the price of Dino Ferrari in similar condition.

Other classic sporting vehicles to post good results at the auction were a well-presented Green-on-green 1967 right hand drive Mustang coupe with an upgraded 289-cid V8 engine that brought $28,000 and a very tidy and original 1948 MG TC that sold for $24,000.

The TC was the subject of an older restoration and presented well on its factory 19-inch wire wheels. It was sold with full weather protection, a large history file and current NSW registration.

The Shannons Sydney sale also saw good sales in the lower price range.

A modified bright yellow 1960 Morris Minor Panelvan fitted with a Datsun 1200 engine that had been used as a promotional vehicle sold for an excellent $10,100 after a fierce bidding duel. Meanwhile a one-owner, locally delivered and very original 1974 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1600 in need of body and interior restoration made an impressive $9,500.

Amongst the memorabilia items, the original NSW black and white Heritage numberplate ‘1.999’ sold for $40,000, while a restored Wayne petrol pump in Golden Fleece colours sold for $4,300.