Aussie Auction Scene: September 2024 Auction Report

Ford Falcon XC Cobra V8 among a host of best buys in this month’s Auction roundup. 

During September, as clearance rates for residential property dropped to around 60 percent, activity in the market for classic vehicles held  firm.

Two onsite auctions saw floor bidders joust with rivals on the phone and internet, while exclusively online sites including Trading Garage, Grays Online, Pickles and Collecting Cars also helped unite plenty of interesting cars with new owners.  

Nothing on offer this month could claim superstar status and nothing apart from the early number plates that continue to realise prodigious prices got remotely close to seven figures. However, there were plenty opportunities for people with lesser amounts of cash to splash.

One that should have sparked greater interest and climbed higher on the price ladder was an XC Falcon Cobra 4.9-litre V8 with 104,000 verified kilometres that had the same owner for more than 40 years.

Burns & Co

With its vendor seated amongst potential bidders at the Burns & Co sale on September 29, the Cobra zoomed to $150,000 then crawled in $500 and $250 increments to an eventual hammer price of $162,500*. Even after applying the 9.9 Percent Buyer Premium, which took the final figure to around $180,000, someone snared a bargain.

XC Falcon Cobra 4.9-litre V8 with 104,000km

Burns’ sale included a few other highlights, such as the pristine XB Falcon GT Hardtop that dropped the hammer at $205,000, a lovely Holden EJ Premier in Euroa Gold for $35,500, and a time-warp Holden HK Brougham at $75,000. 

Ford Falcon XB Hardtop sold for $205K

Among the modified vehicles to also do well were a Chrysler-by-Chrysler sedan in lurid green that reached $49,500 and a seriously low-slung Ford F-100 that made $79,000. 

Chrysler drag car sold for $49,500

Also in this category was a rare and very likely unique Holden FE station wagon. It was one of eight converted to serve as ambulances in rural Victoria and went to its new owner – most likely a museum – for a hammer price of $47,100.

Holden FE station wagon Ambulance found a new home

Leaving aside the memorabilia and motorcycles, Burns offered 44 lots and was successful in selling around 80 percent of them.

Lloyds Auctions  

A day earlier and 1800 kilometres to the north, Gold Coast-based Lloyds Auctions ran though its usual interesting array of Australian, European, Japanese and US models, but with a notional unsold rate of around 80 percent.

As things pan out that might not be the actual figure, but Lloyds don’t publish lists of sales concluded following the auction and it’s safe to assume that some vehicles initially passed-in later found owners.

1967 ‘Eleanor’ Mustang Fastback reached $166,000

The ones upon which the hammer did fall included an excellent rendition of the 1967 ‘Eleanor’ Mustang Fastback which reached $166,000, an exceptional Holden HQ Monaro sedan at $83,000, a low kilometre Nissan 200SX at $33,000, and an ex-Police Holden VK Commodore V8 which seemed a bargain at $31,000. However, a Holden VC HDT Commodore in black didn’t reach its reserve.

Plenty of entry-level classics helped fill out the listings at Lloyds, with a decent proportion sold on the day.

Low Km Nissan 200 SX achieved $33K

Pick of the ones selling live included a Valiant VH Ranger XL, needing some cosmetic attention but very presentable, at $15,025, an unrestored, apparently complete MG TC which sold for $14,500, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit which went for just $8800.

One unusual offering that didn’t meet reserve but will offer interesting motoring once it does sell was a Honda S800 Roadster. This rare car was nicely presented and notable for the fact finicky four-cylinder engine had been replaced by a bank of batteries. It was bid on the day to just $13,000 which would be a fraction of its construction cost.  

Honda S800 was nicely presented and notable for the fact finicky four-cylinder engine had been replaced by a bank of batteries

Plenty of interesting cars were also available via the online-only sites, with several confirmed as sold.

Those heading to new ownerships included BMWs, Porsches and other prestige product, plus genuine rarities like a 1933 Lagonda 16/80 Tourer, sold for $65,500 by Collecting Cars. 

This impressive five-seater wouldn’t win many trophies its presentation but still looked more likely than the ‘show ponies’ to get to a motoring event and home again without needing a trailer.

Money available for VW Kombis on the global market remains strong, but that’s not the case in our market. Some high-priced Type 2s on retail sites have remained unsold for upwards of two years now, and even the low-value examples offered by Lloyds didn’t reach reserve.

Collecting Cars and Trading Garage 

During September Collecting Cars was, however, responsible for the sale of two quite desirable Kombis. The earliest and most expensive was a 1957 single-cab pickup in decent condition that managed $41,000, followed by a tidy ‘Bay Window’ Microbus in European spec and still left-hand drive that sold for $26,250. 

‘Bay Window’ Microbus in European spec and still left-hand drive that sold for $26,250. 

Looking were also several successful BMW sales via Trading Garage and Collecting Cars. They included a pair of 3.0CSi coupes; one red, the other blue, with the red car passed in by Collecting Cars at $74,500 while the Cobalt Blue example offered by Trading Garage went on to sell for $128,000.

BMW Bargain - $47,500 accepted via Collecting Cars on a V12-engined 850i and showing just 108,000km

Too dear? Then how about a lovely looking E30 Series 325i sold which for $33,250? Or the intriguingly low $47,500 accepted via Collecting Cars on a V12-engined 850i in right-hand drive and showing just 108,000km?

Best of the Rest  

Japanese cars were well represented at online sites and the Lloyds sale. Stand-out cars that found new owners included a 1999 two-door Subaru WRX STi that made $54,000, and a Series 6 Mazda RX-7 at $45,000. Best of the bargains was an automatic-transmission equipped  Lancer EVO VII that found a new owner at Lloyds for $11,600. 

There were some intriguing models amongst the ‘No Sales’ as well, including a very scarce, competition prepped Alpine A110 coupe on the Collecting Cars site that ran out of bidders at $37,000, a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph that reached the $100,000, and Lamborghini Jalpa that could manage only $140,000. 

Lambo Jalpa passed in at $140K

* Figures quoted are Hammer Prices only. Please refer to auction site Buyer Premium rates to determine the final sale price.