Stunning Stingray muscles into to Shannons Spring Sale

SYDNEY – Oct 11, 2013: A stunning 1963 Chevrolet Corvette ‘Split Window’ Coupe heads a muscular collection of sporting cars in Shannons Sydney Spring Classic Auction on October 21.

The 1963-1967 Sting Ray is, to many pundits, the best Corvette of all. The combination of its unique styling, gutsy V8 power and vastly improved ride and handling from its independent suspension, have stood the test of time and made it the most bankable Corvette since the model was first shown as a concept at GM Motorama in 1953.

Finished in Sebring Silver with a black interior and triple-eared factory knock-off aluminium wheels, the left hand drive Split Window Corvette being auctioned is an original L75 327/300hp car with a four-speed manual gearbox, making it a great ‘driver’.

A fully photographed and documented ground up restoration was undertaken approximately 10 years ago and the Sting Ray still presents beautifully today. As it also has a host of desirable features, including factory power steering and power windows, Shannons expect it to sell in the $82,000-$90,000 range.

The Corvette is one of a number of desirable American and Australian Muscle Cars in the October 21 auction.

Australian honour is upheld by a well-presented 1969 Holden HT Monaro GTS 350 Coupe that is believed to have had just two owners from new.

The Monaro was delivered through H.M Hunt Motors Canterbury Road Lakemba in November 1969 to its first owner, who used it predominately to tow his FJ Holden racecar.

The current owners purchased the car from him approximately 17years ago and the car’s current mileage of 65,073 is believed original.

The 350-cid V8 engine was rebuilt approximately 2,000km ago and while the white paintwork has been touched up in places over the years, it still presents well and is largely original.

Shannons expect it to sell in the $80,000-$88,000 range.

Also desirable in the auction is a 1974 Holden LH Torana (L34 Replica) Sedan that presents as a faithful copy of one of the 263 L34 SL/R 5000 Toranas built by Holden in 1974 to homologate racing options for Bathurst.

Because of its excellent execution and presentation, Shannons are expecting it to sell in the $45,000-$55,000 range – around half the price of a factory-built L34 sedan in similar condition.

From the ‘blue corner’ comes a Ford Falcon XC Cobra Coupe –No.361 of the 400 built by Ford in 1978 to take on the new Torana A9X models at Bathurst.

The car remains just as it left the factory, still with its original 302 motor and FMX auto transmission, but now showing 178,953km on the ‘clock’, believed original.

Because of its originality and provenance, Shannons are expecting bids in the $80,000-$88,000 range.

And for Ford fans looking for something a little bit different, there is a very cool 1965 Ford Galaxie fitted with a monster 460-cid big block V8 that was completely rebuilt at a cost of $10,000 less than 2,500 miles ago.

Roughly the same again was spent painting the car in its current light metallic blue in 2009, with all new rubbers and seals fitted at the same time, making its guiding range of $25,000-$30,000 very attractive for someone wanting a ‘60s muscle car that's just a little different.