While Australia’s on-site auction houses are gearing up for big sales during the final week of June, there was still plenty of activity amongst the online sites.
Most prolific was Collecting Cars, which has been adding 10-15 lots per week on its Australian site and selling around half of the models it lists.
One that came with plenty of expectation but ended up an $825,000 no-sale on the site was an almost-new Ferrari 812 GTS. Finished in the unusual combination of white on black leather it had travelled just 2720km and when new would have cost its owner around $1.12 million.
Less than a tenth of that money did buy other Ferraris, including an overseas delivered 360 Spider in right-hand drive with all the correct documents that made $105,000 and a left-hook 348 TS at only $89,600.
Japanese classics remained popular at Collecting Cars, with several sold during the early days of June. Among these was an R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R whose owner recognised it had a few problems and let the car go at a low $42,500. It finished marginally behind a Mazda RX-7 Series 6 at $45,000.
These were both off the $51,750 mark generated by a rare two-door Subaru WRX STI in late May. One of just 399 ‘Version 5’ STIs imported in 1998, it came with a raft of competition accessories including the factory-supplied bolt-in roll cage.
Another rarely seen Subaru that made its way into the sold list at Collecting Cars was a Vortex 4WD Turbo which had survived since 1988 in outstanding condition, yet it sold for only $16,850.
Off-roaders also attracted bidders, with the most keenly sought 4×4 being a civilian-spec Hummer H1. This attention-grabber came with low kilometres, history back to 2001, and leather interior trim. After a protracted bidding duel, it went to its new owner for $83,500.
This was significantly below the $95,000 unsuccessfully offered for a heavily modified 1994 Land Rover Defender, but well ahead of the near-perfect 1951 Land Rover SWB which, when sold at $52,500, was unlikely to have covered its restoration cost.
Another off roader offering potential for lovers of historic military vehicles was the 1943 Willys Jeep. It was complete and running with some of its original wartime accessories still in place and sold via Collecting Cars at just $12,500.
Collector plate sales saw $320,000 tallied as the top price, achieved by Trading Garage for VIC ‘499’, while Lawsons in Sydney facilitated the sale of NSW ‘319’ for $280,000.
Having wrapped up its huge sale of Aston Martin items, Melbourne-based Donington Auctions set about listing two even larger collections.
First up, and currently running until June 22, is a large selection of 1:43 scale diecast models accumulated by the late Anthony Dunn. This will be followed in July by a much larger two-segment listing of cars, Rolls-Royce and other memorabilia, books, plates, and models collected over many years by the late David Jones AO.
Typifying the quality of the Dunn collection is the very first item offered: a gift set produced during the 1950s by Dinky Toys comprising five Grand Prix racing cars all in near mint condition and displayed in their original presentation case.
This rarity is supplemented by hundreds more models from quality European, British, and even Australian manufacturers, mostly following motorsport themes and in their original boxes.
Among these is a Corgi Toys edition of the Donald Campbell Bluebird that set a land speed record on Lake Eyre in 1964, followed by Dinky and other versions of the cars driven by Campbell’s father Malcolm to secure various speed records during the 1920s-30s.
The Jones sale begins on July 1 with several hundred lots of automobilia, followed on July 12 by the sale’s headline lot – a 1972 Ferrari 246GT Dino in impeccable condition that is expected to exceed $800,000. It will be accompanied by Victorian numberplate ‘6-666’ which was issued in 1913 and is expected to fetch more than $350,000.
Nothing to that value is included in the upcoming Burns & Co sales, which have been spread across three nights from June 23-25. Lots that could top $100,000 include an HG Monaro GTS upgraded from its original 308ci V8 to a Chevrolet 350, and a Jaguar XK150 coupe with history from new and concours d’elegance provenance.
Closing out the month will be Lloyds’ classic car auction on 29 June. It is currently headlined by a Jaguar E-Type V12 and VL HSV Walkinshaw Commodore, but more listings are expected ahead of the close-off date, with over 100 lots likely to be offered.
Please note: All figures quoted are Hammer Prices in Australian Dollars and do not include any applicable Buyer Premium.
