Muscle Cars, Marilyn and a Moose Head

MELBOURNE – Oct 16, 2012: Spectacular Muscle and Custom cars, early petrol pumps and classic Neon signs, a life-size statue of Marilyn Monroe, a Boxing Kangaroo suit and a huge wall-mounted Moose head all were in demand on Sunday (October 14) when Shannons put the eclectic collection of a Victorian enthusiast under the hammer at its 2012 Private Collector Auction in Melbourne.

An enthusiastic crowd filled Shannons Cheltenham showroom to see a lifetime of collecting by now-retired businessman Ron Kirwan go under the hammer, with all memorabilia lots offered with no reserve.

A highlight of the vehicle sales was the $130,000 paid for a restored 1970 Ford Falcon XW GT four-speed manual sedan finished in the popular combination of ‘Silver Fox’ with an orange GT stripe.

An award-winning right hand drive1956 Chevrolet Hotrod brought $48,000, a traffic-stopping left hand drive Studebaker Hotrod Utility replica finished in eye-watering Violet Kandy sold with no reserve for $29,000 and a Daihatsu Midget II Promotional Tow Truck finished in a combination of Orange Pearl and Burgundy brought $15,000 with no reserve.

Early petrol pumps produced typically strong results, with the top seller being a circa 1931 2.3 metre tall American Model 277 petrol pump in Johnson Gasoline Livery that made $9,600.

Amongst other garagenalia highlights, a Mobilgas Neon sign sold for $4,600, a ‘Budkin Wheels’ Neon made $5,000, a rare and restored triple oil pump in Gilmore livery made $4,400, an Energol oil rack with 10 bottles sold for $2,450, while two pairs of late 1950s drive-in theatre speakers brought $1,400 and $1,650 respectively.

Amongst the bizarre items to sell strongly were a life-size statue of Marilyn Munroe that brought $3,400, a 180cm tall statue of an Indian gazing made $3,000, an adult-size Boxing Kangaroo suit with transport trunk went for $2,500, a pair of Texas Long Horn Cattle chars brought $1,000 and a huge wall-mounted Moose head sold for $4,700.