Online bidders drive $1.7 million in sales

Records have tumbled at the Sydney Shannons winter classic auction held on August 25, with online bidders driving the bidding and resulting in record prices for some lots.

The top-selling vehicle of the auction was a red Australian-delivered and two-owner 1964 Porsche 356SC Coupe that eventually sold for $180,000 – well over its pre-auction high estimate – after a duel between a telephone and a floor bidder.

The factory right hand drive Porsche had been in the hands of its current owner for more than 40 years and was still fresh and lightly used after a 15-year restoration, making it probably the finest Porsche of its type available in Australia.

Another bidding battle eventuated for a rare red circa-1923 Harley-Davidson two cam board track racer. One of the final five bikes from a private collection of more than 60 Harley-Davidsons auctioned by Shannons over the past year, the unrestored machine was one of the few original early Harley racers to survive in original condition and as a result, created international interest.

Bidding opened at $40,000, but soon surged through its guiding range of $48,000-$58,000 and beyond $100,000 in a duel between local and overseas phone enthusiasts. It sold to an international collector for $118,000, believed to be an auction record for this model Harley.

This result drove total motorcycle sales at the auction to $365,600, with other notable results being the money paid for three British bikes from another Sydney collection: $58,500 for a circa-1949 Vincent HRD Rapide 998cc (pictured), $48,000 for a hybrid circa-1949 ‘Norvin’ HRD 998cc with a Norton Featherbed frame and $37,000 for a circa-1952 Vincent Comet Series C 500cc single cylinder.

Also in high demand was a factory right-hand drive red 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster (pictured) with factory hardtop that also exceeded its high estimate when it sold to a floor bidder for $137,000. Another Mercedes-Benz SL to ‘star’ was a Blue/Beige 1967 ‘Pagoda Roof’ 250SL convertible with factory hardtop that brought $70,000.

Amongst the pre-war Americans, the top result after intense bidding was the $67,000 paid for a 1934 Chrysler Airflow CU ‘Eight’ four-door sedan, regarded as being the first mass-produced streamlined car. Another style icon to sell ‘on the money’ was a well-presented factory right-hand-drive and Australian-delivered Jaguar XK120 that sold for $105,000.

Amongst the Australian classics, the standout result was the $92,000 paid for a collectable 1985 Holden VK ‘Brock’ Commodore Group ‘A’ SS sedan (pictured) – number 485 of the 500 built for Group A racing homologation – whose odometer indicated 31,197km.

A 1951 Holden ‘FX’ Utility presented in substantially original condition sold for $35,500 after solid floor bidding, while a ‘no reserve’ 1955 FJ Standard Sedan in unrestored condition went for $10,500.

European sporting cars were also in demand, with a rare 1963 Triumph TR4 ‘Surrey Top’ Coupe selling on estimate for $22,000, while a restored 1951 MGTD sold for $20,000, a 1972 Volvo P1800ES Estate wagon that sold for $16,600 and a right hand drive 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible made $13,100.