Auctions

The Maserati A6G/54 was unveiled at the 1955 Paris Auto Salon as a show car.Auction house Gooding and Company, who will put the car on the block at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, say that the Maserati has continued to be a star under Jay Kay’s ownership. The Grammy winner has added a Salon Prive Best of Show to his trophy shelf with the car, and has also driven it in Mille Miglia Storica twice.The Maserati A6G/54 is just one of the early bookings Gooding have announced for the auction. Also polished with a glow of celebrity is the factory-supercharged 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio convertible that once belonged to Prince Louis Napoleon of France, grandson of Emperor Napoleon I.Estimates of between $1.3 to $1.6 million have been given for the Bugatti. If you’re just a little short for that one, how about the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, which is likely to go for somewhere between $750,000 - $950,000 at hammer fall. 

The 1976 Stutz Blackhawk is one of just 617 examples built during the Blackhawk's 25 years in production and one of just a handful that made their way to Australia.Launched in 1970, the re-born Stutz combined opulent Italian coachwork with American mechanical components to recapture the bygone golden era of the original Stutz sports and luxury cars produced from 1911 until 1935. New York banker James O'Donnell revived the Stutz Motor Company in 1968, joining forces with retired Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner to produce the new Blackhawk.Exner's outrageous design included a spare tyre that protruded through the boot lid, with faux-fur lining for the luggage compartment, a massive grille, freestanding headlamps and decorative side-exiting exhaust pipes. Like its 1930s predecessor, the new model was an instant magnet for the rich and famous.Elvis Presley beat Frank Sinatra for the honour of purchasing the first Blackhawk, when he paid US $26,500 for the second prototype on October 9, 1970. This dark blue fourth generation left hand drive example is a very original 1976 model, with just 6355 miles on the clock.Based largely on General Motors components, it features a massive 455-cubic inch V8 engine. It will be on the block in Shannons Melbourne auction on June 4. Because of its rarity, very original condition and very low indicated mileage, it's expected to sell in the $42,000-$50,000 range. 

A sought-after 1988 Holden Commodore VL Walkinshaw SS Group S Sedan (build No. 479) brought $57,750 at Shannons Melbourne auction. It was being hotly pursued by a number of muscle car enthusiasts. The Walkinshaw or Walky was created in 1988. It had a number of other nicknames, including the Plastic Pic, Winged Warrior, Plastic Fantastic and Batmobile  to name a few. The Walky came about after Holden and Peter Brock's HDT parted ways in 1987. Holden needed someone to build performance cars and it turned to Tom Walkinshaw's British based TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) and that's how HSV was born. With the resources of TWR and a much bigger wallet, HSV had the necessary ingredients to show it was able to match, if not better, HDT's previous cars. It didn't disappoint. The VL SS Group A SV was its first task. To meet International Group A homologation rules, 500 had to be sold. This wasn't a problem as they sold like hotcakes, and HSV decided to build another 250. But sales slowed as the release of the VN Group A SS drew near. The story goes that HSV was left with many of the cars, and there are reports of some being sold without the entire body kit and of some being raffled off. Apart from the outrageous body kit, the Walky became the first Holden V8 to be fuel injected. It also came with four-bolt mains and twin throttle body inlet manifold. The body kit was designed to minimise drag and maximise down force. It was designed and tested extensively in a wind tunnel by TWR in Britain. At $47,000 the Walky was by no means cheap, but has held its value reasonably well for a car built over 20 years ago. It's certainly a head turner wherever it goes, which is part of its appeal and has cemented itself as one of Australia's true muscle cars.For more information on Walkinshaws, check out www.walkinshaw.net

...at Shannons Sydney Spring Classic Auction on October 10. It is one of 900 limited-edition P76s built in 1974 to commemorate the stage win of a nearly standard P76 in the 1974 World Cup Rally.Driven by Aussie Evan Green, the Australian-built, Rover V8-engined P76 surprised many with its speed in the event's `Targa Florio' stage held in Sicily, Italy. History records that the P76 was the right car at the wrong time.Built by Leyland Australia to compete head-on with the large Ford Falcon, Holden Kingswood and Chrysler Valiant family cars of the era, it won the coveted `Wheels Car of the Year' award in 1973 before the global fuel crisis put large cars of its type out of favour with buyers.Today however, the P76 is as much a symbol of 1970's style as big collars, flared trousers and platform soled shoes and is gaining appreciation as an automotive icon of the Muscle Car era.Each Targa Florio model came with a 4.4-litre all-alloy V8 engine, automatic transmission, power steering and a limited-slip differential. But only 100 were finished in Aspen Green like the very original example that Shannons is auctioning.The car's original owner worked with BMC-Leyland for over 30 years and purchased his Leyland P76 Targa Florio in October 1974. Still in excellent original condition, the vehicle has been garaged all its life and is believed to have travelled just 71,450km since new.It is being sold with a many of it original documents including its comprehensive workshop and owners manual. The P76 Targa Florio is expected to sell for $8000-$12,000. 

Manheim is to conduct a series of auctions around the country on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence from October 4 to 26.The undertaking will see 45 Land Rovers, 200 cargo trailers, 90 motorbikes and 65 all-terrain bikes up for grabs online and in the lanes at eight locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Darwin and Townsville.pFor the two-wheel enthusiast there will be some 90 motorcycles for sale, including Yamaha XT600, Honda XR250 and Suzuki DR-Z400 models. ATVs include the Honda Foreman TRX450 4x4, and TRX400, Suzuki Quad Master, Honda 450 Traxlok, and Polaris Sportsman in 6x6, 500 4x4, and 700 4x4.pIn addition to a number of single axle, two-cycle capacity motorbike trailers and ATV-towed units on offer, there will also be more than 220 cargo trailers in a range of load bearing capacities.Some units come fitted with 5000kg water tanks, while tipping trailers and flat-bed 4x dual-wheelers complete the offering.To find out more about this and other Defence sales activities, register online at www.manheim.com.au or call your closest Manheim office.Sydney:  October 4 and 19Adelaide: October 11Brisbane: October 11 and 12Hobart: October 13Perth: October 18 and 25Townsville: October 20Melbourne: October 27Darwin: October 26

the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on Sunday, July 10.

In 2007 a similar car fetched an incredible $683,000, but some say we will never see crazy prices like that again.The figure is in stark contrast to the original $5302 asking price a new Phase III would have cost you in 1971.With a 351cu inch (5.7-litre) V8, the famed GTHO (HO for handling option) was developed as a race car and is regarded as the ultimate Falcon GT.Based on the muscular XW GT introduced in 1969, only 300 of Phase IIIs were built for Bathurst, featuring a rear anti-sway bar, bigger Holley carburettor, re-profiled camshaft, better flowing intake manifold and altered valves and lifters.The resulting power output was a thumping 300bhp (224kW), although the real figure is said to have been closer to 380bhp (284kW) because it was understated for insurance purposes.The GTHO was the quickest Aussie muscle car to date and one of the quickest four-door production sedans in the world.It could sprint from 0-100km/h in about 6.5 seconds and dispatched the standing quarter mile in 14.4 seconds.Allan Moffat drove a Phase III to victory in the 1971 Bathurst 500 where the cars finished in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th places that year.The vehicle being offered for sale is one of only 37 examples that were finished in Yellow Ochre.Retaining much of its originality, this iconic Australian car has travelled less than 1000km since a restoration 10 years ago.The Falcon will be offered as part of Sothebys Australia annual exhibition of collectors motor cars for sale by public tender from June 22-25, and will be joined by five other collectable cars.1957 MERCEDES BENZ 300SL ROADSTERThe 300SL was the on road version of Mercedes Benz 300SLR driven by Stirling Moss and his observer Dennis Jenkinson to win the 1955 Mille Miglia. The 300SL is one of the most recognisable and desirable sports cars of all time.Acknowledged as a truly great car both for its technical excellence and its audacious, wondrous styling, the Mercedes Benz is a founding member of the motoring pantheon. This remarkable early 300SL Roadster of 1957 is one of 554 cars built in that year and of the 1858 total production run.1933 REO FLYING CLOUD COUPEReo built motor cars in Michigan between 1905 and 1936. In January 1904 Ransome Eli Olds left Oldsmobile “for certain reasons” and after further issues with his old company set up Reo (as he could no longer use his surname but could utilise his initials).In a bid to capture the luxury car market Reo launched the Flying Cloud, the first car to use Lockheed’s new internal-expanding hydraulic brakes. In 1931, despite the effects of the Depression, the luxurious 8 cylinder Royale and the 6 cylinder Flying Cloud were launched. This was followed in 1933 with the self-shifter, Reo’s automatic transmission mounted in unit with the engine.Reo was by 1934 in deep financial trouble and in 1936 the Company discontinued making cars and concentrated solely on commercial vehicles. Olds severed his ties with the Company inn 1937 resigning his position as chairman of the board. He died in 1950.1949 BUICK CONVERTIBLE SUPER MODEL 56CThe 1949 Buick models were built with two sizes of engine and chassis with the Dynaflow torque converter available on both. Chassis changes from the previous year included lower rated springs, bodies with modified front end , enlarged window areas (by some 22 percent)and a greater stiffness in construction which was especially advantageous in the convertible model.The larger Roadmaster (Model 70 Series) had four ventilating holes on the wing whilst the Super (Model 50 Series) had only three. Both Buick models were available as a standard four door fixed head car, a two door ‘Sedanet’ (coupe), four door station wagon and a convertible four-seater.The Buick sat in the upper echelons of American cars at the time, considerably more expensive than Chrysler or General Motors vehicles but at the same time with considerably better performance and equipment, including wheel trim discs, cigar lighter, ashtray and automatic choke as standard whilst the 56C had leather trim, power top, seat and windows as standard.BUGATTI TYPE 37Ettore Bugatti designed and built cars at a time when the philosophy was that better cars were built on the back of racing success. The Bugatti name is legendary due to his unparalleled racing successes primarily with the Type 35 at the Targa Florio and the Grands Prix of France, Belgium, Italy, Monaco and Spain.The genesis of the Type 37 four-cylinder 1.5-litre car began with the 2.0-litre Type 35 in 1924. With the change of the Grand Prix formula from 2 litres to 1 ½ litres in 1926 came the Type 39 which evolved into the Type 37.Although originally produced as a racing car, and despite the cost, as was common Bugatti practice the Type 37 was sold in considerable numbers (some 291 its is believed) to private clients as road cars. The instantly recognisable and typically Bugatti engine is relatively simple in design but the car was capable of competing with and beating most other cars of the period due to its outstanding roadholding.The beautiful body shape is based on the Type 35 but the Type 37 has wire wheels and normal drums instead of the patent Bugatti cast alloy wheels of the larger, earlier car. Both cars however were renowned for the precision and craftsmanship exhibited in their manufacture.995 PORSCHE 993 RS CLUB SPORTThe 993 RS CS is one of the most respected models of the iconic Porsche 911 series. The 993 was the last of the air cooled Porsche cars and deemed by many to be the last real Porsche 911. The RS (standing for Renn or Race sport) is the lightweight version of the 993 Carrera produced in 1995 and 1996. The weight saving measures included removing headlight washers and rear seats etc whilst lightweight seats and door panels were utilised. The RS CS is even further pared back and weighs just 1,235 kg compared to the 1,270 kg of the RS Touring and 1,370kg of the Carrera. It is felt by many experts to be the finest road/track car ever built by Porsche. The RS hits 0 – 100 km/h in just 5 seconds and has a top speed of 277 km/h from its 3.8 litre six cylinder air cooled engine coupled with a six speed close ratio manual transmission

The 1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe ace was used by the British Prime Minister during the 1944 and 1949 election campaigns and is expected to fetch up to $400,000 at auction at Brooklands on December 4.Owing to World War II, only eight of the proposed 23 DB18 Drophead Coupe aces due for 1939 were built, with four completely destroyed during the Blitz, a fifth so badly damaged it was scrapped and the whereabouts of two unknown.  Chassis 49531 remains the only discovered surviving 1939 model.After Churchill, the Daimler has been to the US, Germany, UK and was even owned by an Iranian Prince for a time.  German restorer E. Thiesen of Hamburg has spent $192,000 restoring the car with silver and black coachwork, three-position cabriolet hood, green leather seats, wooden dashboard and Jaeger instruments.Rolling off the production line in the same year motor racing ceased at Brooklands, the DB18 was capable of a top speed of 122km/h and a 0-80km/h acceleration time of 17.9 seconds.Although the DB18 has manual transmission, the car uses a four-speed Wilson Pre-selector gearbox in tandem with the Daimler Fluid Flywheel, allowing the driver to select the next available gear by hand before using the "change pedal" to shift gears.

Now a collection of vehicles and memorabilia owned by Hollywood stuntman, motorcycle racer and bike dealer Bud Ekins is going to auction.Steve McQueen was known for doing his own stunts, but when the producers and insurers became nervous over dangerous stunts such as jumping a Triumph motorcycle over a barbed wire fence for the 1963 war film, The Great Escape, they sent for Ekins.He also drove McQueen's Mustang in some of the scenes in the famous 1968 Bullitt movie chase.Ekins died in 2007 aged 77 and now a collection of his vehicles and memorabilia will be auctioned by Bonhams & Butterfields on November 13 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA.Highlights from the collection include cars, motorcycles, personal photographs, trophies, posters, memorabilia, tools and racing jackets, as well as paraphernalia from McQueen, a good friend and collaborator.It includes several cars painted and pinstriped by famed Ekins employee and now multinational clothing icon Von Dutch and sidecars that were featured in classic films such as The Wild One, The Great Escape and Pearl Harbor.Highlights include: 1905 REO Roadster, painted by Von Dutch1908 REO Tourer, painted by Von Dutch1908 Delaunay-Belleville H4 Double Phaeton, ex-Bill Harrah, painted by Von Dutch1915 Harley-Davidson 11F with Sidecar1918 Cleveland Single1925 Harley-Davidson JD1936 Harley-Davidson VL Police1937 Harley-Davidson UL

To be auctioned by Shannons at Sydney's Meguiars MotorEx on July 25, the Bathurst homologation special is expected to fetch close to $300,000.  The Palais White A9X, serial number J590981, was the very first of just 100 two-door hatch and 305 four-door Torana A9X sedans built for sale to the public between August and December 1977.It was initially one of two Holden press and promotional vehicles before being acquired by leading Sydney Holden dealer and racing driver Ron Hodgson.  And it has covered just 16,000km since new in the hands of a series of careful collector/owners.Created as an improvement of the previous L34 racing Toranas, the A9X was actually a Performance Equipment Package available on a range of LX models fitted with the 5.0 litre, 308-cid engine.  It was introduced in August 1977 to ensure its eligibility for that year's Bathurst 1000 race and was priced at a now-bargain $10,600 for the four-door Sedan and $10,800 for the Hatch.Yet surprisingly the A9X was a slow seller, leading GM-H to broaden the model's colour palette to clear stocks.  While race versions were equipped with the L34 engine, T10 gearbox, roll cage, wide wheels and long-range fuel tanks, new Australian Design Rules and Emission laws dictated that all A9X Toranas rolled off the assembly line in the same, more basic specification — fitted with Holden's stock L31 5.0-litre V8.The A9X was the first Holden to be fitted standard with rear discs and its Salisbury differential also meant the extra tall 2.60:1 final drive ratio could be used to advantage on Bathurst's long Conrod straight.  The cars were clearly identified by their new rear facing, bonnet-mounted carburettor induction scoop, one of the 100 or so differences that set the A9X apart from standard LX Toranas.The rest is history.  Although failing to spoil Fords’ Moffat Dealer Team 1-2 party at Bathurst that year, the A9X went on to become the most successful , ever built by Holden.