Auctions

The replica will join a prestige auction portfolio of more traditional classic motor cars.  The Batmobile, a replica of the model used in the 1960s TV show, has been owned by historic car investor Mark Perkins since it was made in 1988.The replica Batmobile is based on a Lincoln Continental chassis and is one of three steel-bodied versions in existence. It features a dashboard-mounted TV, rear parachute pod and Batphone."Classic cars, and this one in particular, should be driven to be enjoyed, and I've loved taking it on the road over the years," Perkins says.  "However, my work with Historics at Brooklands will leave me little time to do so in the future, and so sadly it's time someone else derived pleasure of ownership."The original Batmobile built for the 1966-1968 TV show was a customised Lincoln Futura show car that cost about $30,000 to build.  It is still owned by its makers Barris Customs in Hollywood, where it is on display. It is estimated to be worth more than $2 million.

The collection of alcohol-fuelled machinery — some capable of more than 400km/h — is to be sold off by the Public Trustee at Ipswich, timed to coincide with the Winternationals meeting at the Willowbank strip.  For now the race machines, stripped of sponsorship decals, are parked in a non-descript workshop in Brisbane's north.The four doorslammer sedans, four bikes, alcohol funny car, burnout ute and one body shell were seized from former drag racing champion Brett Stevens last year in a crime civil case after a major Queensland Police, Crime and Misconduct Commission and Australian Crime Commission investigation.Stevens, 45, was one of 77 arrests and was charged with drug manufacturing and trafficking offences but has not yet been tried.   But his racing machinery — which he had been advertising for $250,000 each — was confiscated and other assets frozen under proceeds of crime laws.The Public Trustee will hold the June 10 auction proceeds until the state's civil case against Stevens is resolved.  Stevens' wife, Kath, said she was not allowed to comment on the particulars of the case but did not understand how the vehicles could be sold without a conviction."It's been our whole life.  We have a real emotional attachment with those vehicles,'' she said.  "We would love to buy them back, but we're financially ruined.''  Auctioneer Simon O'Kelly yesterday said the vehicles' worth was still being appraised and no reserves yet set."This is a very special auction, it's an opportunity to buy top-line drag cars that's not going to happen again in the near future,'' Mr O'Kelly said.  Public Trustee Peter Carne expects strong interest from Australian and overseas drag racers here for the Winternationals.“I have no doubt that these highly specialised drag racing vehicles will be snapped up by one of the many national and international teams in town,” Mr Carne said.  This is also a great opportunity for drag racing fans to see these cars and bikes up close with the chance to view the vehicles prior to the auction.”The vehicles will be on display for inspection on Tuesday, June 8 and Wednesday, June 9 prior to the auction, starting at 11am on Thursday, June 10 at the Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich.  In Queensland, assets confiscated under ‘proceeds of crime’ laws can be sold and the money held for the owner, unless the owner denies the application for sale and presents proof of how the purchase of the assets was funded.

The original 1975 Ford Falcon XBGT coupe owned and raced by John Goss from 1975 until 1978 is one of the headline acts in Sotheby's classic car auction.  The other crowd pleaser is former F1 world champion Alan Jones's 1979 Williams F1 car.Sotheby's national head of collector cars, James Nicholls, says both cars are expected to create keen interest from bidders because of their blue blood racing pedigrees.  International interest in classic F1 racers could also mean strong bidding from overseas."I think that of the two, Alan Jones's car could potentially go overseas," he says.  "The Goss car is more Australian-centric.  "It will appeal to a local collector."The Goss car is tipped to fetch more than $500,000 and the Williams F1 car more than $100,000.  In 1979 Jones finished third in the Williams FW07 in the Formula 1 Drivers Championship, before becoming World Champion in 1980.He started the 1980 campaign by winning the Argentine Grand Prix from pole position and setting the fastest lap in the same car.  The Goss XBGT coupe - chassis number JG66 RY 13182 - has undergone an extensive six-month ground up restoration to bring it back to its original 1975 specifications and race livery.The mechanical restoration was overseen by Goss' own mechanic from that era.  Goss was the first person to officially race the Falcon in 1973's then new Group C touring car series.He took delivery of the car a few weeks before its debut appearance in the 1975 Bathurst 1000.  Apart from Goss's campaign in the car, it has been driven by Jack Brabham, son Geoff, Allan Moffat, Jim Richards and Le Mans winner Henri Pescarlo.Nicholls says the Blaze Blue hardtop represents an excellent buy for someone who wishes to race in the Group C Historic Series or a collector.  It is the first Group C Falcon Hardtop to be put to auction for six years, he says."I can't remember what it fetched but these cars are becoming increasingly rarer and sort after," he says.  Apart from the Jones and Goss race cars a rare 1966 Bentley Continental S3 Flying Spur, by Mulliner Park Ward is also up for auction as well as motoring memorabilia.  The Bentley is believed to be only one of nine in Australia.

A buyer frenzy has erupted between cashed-up Formula 1 enthusiasts and local Mercedes-Benz dealers keen to nab the notorious Mercedes.  Hoon Hamilton made global headlights last week after he was caught doing donuts in St Kilda.The car, a hot AMG C63 was impounded and the redfaced 25-year-old British race driver has been charged with improper use of a vehicle.  Mercedes-Benz Australia is auctioning the car to one of its dealers at lunch-time.Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman, David McCarthy, said the high-performance sedan was expected to sell for considerably more than its $150,000 retail price.  "There has been a lot of interest," he said."It is likely to go for more than the real value but we can't put an estimate on it."  Mercedes-Benz will not reveal the lucky bidder, nor will it put a plaque on the car saying it was driving by Hamilton.However, McCarthy said any extra money made beyond the car's retail price would go to the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.  "We've supported the Alannah and Madeline Foundation previously and feel it is a good choice to benefit from any excess sale proceeds."The massively powerful V8 has only travelled about 5000km, of which Hamilton is said to have contributed about 100km during his stay in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

The auction house says the Williams FW07/04 is the most original and authentic FW07 in existence. Campaigned by Frank Williams and driven by Alan Jones, the car has been part of the Peter Brigg Family Collection at the York and Fremantle Motor Museums in Western Australia since 1981.The Williams FWO7 race cars were the first 'ground effect' cars and are regarded as one of the most successful F1 designs of all time, with the car's underbody panels directing airflow to increase downforce.The aerodynamic effect generated around two tonnes of downforce at about 300km/h.This car's pedigree includes four Grand Prix wins from July 1979 to January 1980 before becoming the number one test car for Williams. A crash removed it from service - it was rebuilt as a show car before being sold to Peter Briggs and going on display at the York Motor Museum in WA.The car came to Adelaide in November 1985 for the first F1 Grand Prix held in Australia, where Alan Jones told Peter Briggs about the history of the FW07/04. Jones said he remembered the tyre testing crash, saying it was the only time he thought he could die when driving a Williams as the front tyre came off, bounced off the bodywork and left a black scrape on his helmet as it went over the top of the car.Sotheby's Australia has returned to the world of classic and collectible car auctions with its Collectors Motor Cars Department and the ex-Jones car will be one of the feature cars at next month's auction. Sothebys Australia's national head of collectors' motor cars James Nicholls says the car could fetch anything up to one million dollars."It's difficult to tell as this is such a specialist car - we certainly think it will be in the high hundreds of thousands, it could be $700,000 or higher than that. With the (Formula One) race in Melbourne bringing people into the country we're hoping people are aware of the car, it's a very prestigious car, a ground-breaking car driven by Alan Jones so it's pretty significant here and internationally," he says.The April 18 catalogue also has a 1975 XB Falcon GT Hardtop, raced by John Goss, Allan Moffat and Sir Jack Brabham, in 1975 Bathurst blue and white livery. Also up for auction is a 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door sedan owned by actor Peter Sellers.Log on to www.sothebysaustralia.com.au for more information.

I am considering selling my 2007 VZ Monaro CV8, which has only done 3100 km since I bought it new. What do you think of selling it privately, at a Shannons auction, or at a standard auction house? If I sold it at auction what reserve price should I put on it. Or should I wait for another 12 months hoping the economy improves?

The Bonhams & Butterfields auction featured actor McQueen's 1949 Chevy pick-up truck offered for sale for the first time by his widow Barbara Minty McQueen. It sold for $37,570.McQueen died in 1980 and left a legacy of films, many of which included car and bike stunts performed, in large part, by the ruggedly handsome actor. They include the motorcycle chase scene in the 1963 war movie The Great Escape and the car chase through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 movie, Bullitt, which is considered by critics to the best of all time.The auction included a first special edition Mustang Bullitt presented by Ford to McQueen's son Chad who is a professional race driver. Number 1 in the series and dubbed ‘McQueen 1’, the Mustang is in factory original and unmodified condition and has only 2012 miles (3238km) on the odometer. It was not sold but was estimated to go for up to $85,000.McQueen not only performed many of his own film driving and riding stunts, but also raced cars and bikes and represented America in the International Six-Day Enduro motorcycle event. His 1940 Indian Chief motorcycle used as his ‘Hollywood bike’ and featured on the cover of the book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile sold for $106,450 while his 1919 Indian Daytona twin with FLXI sidecar did not sell but was estimated to be worth as much as $135,000. It may not be a car or bike, but its McQueen motoring credentials are bona fide: a Heuer-mounted stopwatch set, used in the film Le Mans, starring McQueen was sold for an undisclosed price.A spokesman for Bonhams & Butterfields said they could not comment on post-sale negotiations, nor publicise the last bid price on unsold items. "But I'm sure Bonhams would certainly entertain offers from interested buyers," he said.Other celebrity vehicles in the auction included a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz formerly owned by Frank Sinatra which was bought for $131,000 and motoring enthusiast Sam Garrett's collection of 28 American and European cars.Garrett invented the mascara brush by taking a brush used in the maintenance of camera equipment and, together with Max Factor, applying the concept to make-up.His collection includes a 1927 BNC type 110 Roadster, 1935 Brewster Town Car, 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Limousine, 1948 Packard Custom 8 Wagon, 1950 Morgan SS and 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB. 

It's a piece of automotive art created by the luxury carmaker, BMW, for a television commercial that was outlawed because it promoted irresponsible driving.The colourful canvas will be auctioned next month at a gala Melbourne event for the Make Breast Cancer History organisation. The carmaker's painting is one of more than 20 unusual items to be auctioned to raise funds for breast cancer research. Both event organisers and BMW believe the piece - which measures 2.5m by 1.2m - will attract strong bids.Make Breast Cancer History spokesperson, Rachel West, said it was priceless. "Considering its history, it is unique so we hope it will fetch a good price," she said. Apart from the BMW painting the charity will flog off a Kokoda Track walk in PNG, a private cocktail party for 30 and a year's supply of meat, fruit and vegetables. "It is a charity auction with a twist," West said.The BMW ad featured a Z4 coupe creating the giant artwork in a warehouse by driving with painted tyres. The work is now a part of BMW's Art Car Collection. Company spokesman, Toni Andreevski, said the German carmaker did not normally donate pieces from its collection. "It's certainly unusual but it's for a good cause," he said. "Rather than leave it in storage, we thought we would donate it." Andreevski welcomed the opportunity to turn the negative publicity surrounding the ad, into a positive.The ad was outlawed by the Advertising Standards Bureau in June because the stunts shown in the clip broke Australian road rules. The bureau found that the ‘artistic’ ad encouraged hoon driving because it showed the car spinning its wheels and skidding.The clip was used around the world but Australia was the only country to ban it. BMW commissioned South African artist Robin Rhode and famous film director Ridley Scott's son, Jake, to make the huge football-field size canvas.The company also has works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella and Ken Done.The charity auction aims to raise $100,000 and will be held on Saturday, October 10.

The brilliant blue metallic coupe was made famous in a recent episode of the series.It goes under the hammer at Shannons classic car auction at the Sydney Showgrounds on July 12.The Holden HK Monaro GTS 327 is considered a classic and has only 89,000 miles (143,000km) on the clock.In its heyday the Monaro was a powerful Bathurst race car, winning its first Bathurst enduro just after its launch in 1968.Delivered new by Stacks Holden in Rose Bay, the two-owner metallic Monaro was build number 312 of what is now one of the country's most collectable muscle cars.Shannons describes the coupe as showroom perfect.It comes with all the wanted Bathurst Monaro features, including its original 5.3-litre Chevrolet-sourced V8 engine, four-speed manual gearbox, limited slip differential, stiffer sports suspension, power front disc brakes and a long-range fuel tank.The vendor, like the fictional Underbelly characters, prefers to fly under the radar, is only the car's second owner. He bought the car in 2002 and has maintained it in top mechanical condition.As and added sweetener, the car is being sold with its glovebox lid signed by actress Kate Ritchie, who played Judy Kane in Underbelly. It also comes with personalised ‘Ubelly’ NSW numberplates.Check back Friday to see our Carsguide Car of the Week tribute to the Holden HK Monaro.

While Ferrari’s entry in F1 is topical (see related stories) a significant example of past glory in other championships is to be auctioned at RM Auctions Ferrari Passione e Leggenda on May 16.One of only three original 330 P4s built, and second place finisher in the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours, chassis number 0858 will be auctioned at Modena in its final factory guise as a 350 Can-Am.This particular car is significant to Australian Ferrari cognescenti as it was raced at Surfers Paradise in 1968. The car also played a significant role in Ferrari’s 1967 World Manufacturers Championship for Sportcars win.  Rule changes at the end of the 1967 season made the P4s obsolete for the 1968 season and 0858 became one of two P4s to be modified to compete in the Can-Am Series in America. This was without success however as the 4.4 litre engine could not compete against the no holds barred big block engines of the likes of the McLarens.Sold at the end of the season to a privateer, the car went on to race in South Africa where it won five races in the Springbok Series. On retirement from racing it was sold to an enthusiast who has maintained ownership for the past 40 years with only rare public outings.The car will present a connundrum to some potential purchasers. The P4 is the Holy Grail for the very upper eschelon of collectors. It brought Enzo Ferrai one of his most prized moments - the 1-2-3 victory at Daytona in 1967 against the unlimited-budget Ford assualt on his dominance. An image of the victory has remained behind his desk since that time. With a second place at Le Mans, this example could be considered the second most desireable of the P4s. The eventual buyer is left with the decision as whether to keep its original factory-modified body and unrestored patina or restore it to 1967 Le Mans specification, which is undoutably the most desirable style.check out our gallery of studio shots from RM Auctions - Ferrari Passione e Leggenda...Other notable Ferrari for sale in Modena on the 16th include;Alain Prost’s 1990 Ferrari 641/2 F11957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (featured in the World’s Most Beautiful Car blog related link))1965 Ferrari 275GTB/C (raced in 1993 Targa Tasmania)1956 Maserati 250F Grand Prix Car1959 Ferrari 250Gt California (LWB)