Auctions

Last week’s Pickles auction in Sydney sold a late-model Ferrari GTB with just 2293km on the clock for $355,000, plus the 33 per cent Luxury Car Tax component.The car was nabbed by Ateco Automotive Ltd, which distributes Ferrari in Australia and has since been onsold to an enthuasist.Ateco spokesman, Edward Rowe, says the GTB was now back in the Ferrari fold.“Ferrari guards its residual values jealously,” Rowe says.Although Rowe would not comment on the price paid, Carsguide believes it was well over $500,000 and just shy of its new car price of about $600,000.The Ferrari was one of several high-end cars that went through Pickles quarterly luxury and exotic auction.More than $4.5 million worth of vehicles went under the hammer.Other rich pickings included a 2006 Aston Martin Vantage sold for $162,000 and a 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo all-wheel-drive fetched $280,000. Even with the LCT component added into the price the cars were bargains.Some home-grown performance cars also sold.A 2007 Ford Performance Vehicles F6 Typhoon fetched $38,500, not bad when new it cost $63,310.Apart from Pickles, GraysOnline and ManheimFowles auction houses are reporting a lift in distressed prestige sales by finance companies and cash-strapped owners and the economic crisis bites.For the managing director of GraysOnline, Cameron Poolman, the downturn is proving a boon.He says the traffic on Grays’ site has increased more than 25 per cent since the economy took a dive.“We expect that it will continue to rise,” he says.“People are still looking to buy but they’ll try to get it at a reduced price.”Poolman says GraysOnline has helped take out the middle-man and dealers.The upside of increased interest in cars going through auction houses is that it is helping push used values up.Private owners and fleets are holding on to their cars for longer, leading to a shortage of used stock coming into the market.This is lifting used prices of some popular late model cars by up to $1500.

Video: National Motoring editor Paul Gover inspects the new concept car ahead of its debut at the Melbourne Motor ShowIt will be auctioned as a fundraiser later this year but, more than that, it is the focus for the Auto Horizon Foundation.It is being used to create a portal for careers in the motor industry, putting into practice the innovation goals set out in Steve Bracks’ review of the motor industry in 2008.“It’s about showcasing Australian innovation and promoting the automotive industry and careers in the industry,” says FR1 main man Brian Tanti.”It’s a combination of helping youngsters in choosing careers in automotive, and also in exposing them to what’s out there. There are very few opportunities to do that in an engaging way.”Backers and partners in the Auto Horizon Foundation include actor Eric Bana and the Victorian Department of Education and Training.Tanti’s dream is to create a hands-on teaching facility at Batman TAFE’s Automotive Centre of Excellence at Docklands (the centre is home to the FR1 workshop). It’s a goal which runs back to his own children and the youngsters coming through the Fox Collection car museum, where Tanti is curator.“A long time ago I built an Edwardian half-scale Rolls-Royce for my daughters. The idea was just to build them something to run around in,” he says.“We then developed the experience into an education program for kids.“It was something we offered here at the museum as part of an ongoing education program, with children assembling the cars on a mini production line.“I noticed through running tours at the museum that school kids knew very little about the work being done and the disciplines involved.“It was important that whatever we did had some practical connection, an emotive link, to youth.” The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

The highest bidder will receive the fender from HSV’s W427, which spectacularly collided with a wall of tyres at Oran Park late last year.The prize also includes a ‘hot lap’ in the HRT rides car and lunch with the man behind the wheel of the famous Aussie Supercar at the time of the prang, the Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander, at the company’s Clayton headquarters.According to the 2007 V8 Supercar Champion, the money raised will be a small contribution to support the victims of the bushfire tragedy.“So many people have lost everything and both HSV and HRT wanted to put together a unique opportunity to make a donation to this most worthy cause,” Tander said.‘I’d urge all V8 Supercar fans and motoring enthusiasts to get behind this auction – not only will they be supporting a really worthy cause but it’s a chance to own a pretty special piece of motoring history.”The auction has a reserve of $1000 with last bids due by 4.25pm on Friday February 27.For further details and to place a bid visit www.hsv.com.au or www.hrt.com.au. 

A replica of the car that won triple Bathurst crowns and has been driven by the same victorious race drivers is up for auction.The Brisbane-based Triple 8 V8 Supercar race team is auctioning off its show car which has been used for promotions and drive days on circuits around the country by Craig Lowndes and current V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup.Triple 8 commercial manager Peter Jamieson said online bidding on eBay was up to about $24,000 and he expected it could go as high as $30,000 for the 2003 BA Falcon XR6 Turbo."It's definitely a piece of history," he said."This is rare memorabilia that should attract bids from all over the country."It is the first time the team has sold its show car, but the move was forced by the severing of sponsorship ties last year with the Ford Motor Company and the need to build an FG show car to match this year's new race car.The show car has done 86,000km, is road-registered, painted in 2008 livery and has been modified with a new front splitter, rear wing, alloy wheels and lower, stiffer suspension."But it's still got the straight XR6 Turbo engine stock standard," Jamieson said.Whincup said that because the car was road registered "there is no need to hide it away in the garage".Triple 8 is also selling what they call their "clunker" static display show car which is not road-registerable. It has attracted bids up to $5000.The auction closed at 6.15pm, January 30 and the winning bid was $27,600. 

And while he is still living and is not quite the stature of Coburn or McQueen I expect there will still be significant interest.The cars are also not in the league of the Coburn Ferrari California Spyder or the McQueen.Ferrari Lusso,  however the 1968 Shelby 500GT Mustang Convertible should bring a significant price over market value as it is quite unique. Willis reportedly had the car build up from a less than perfect example to be his own interpretation of the McQueen Bullit car. It is a very tastefully modification of the classic. This along with the combination of the auction being held at The Petersen Museum in LA should deliver a good result. I am sure there are still a few collectors left that haven’t lost everything in the stock market crash.The Bruce factor should add a bit as it does provide added value for collectors when the ownership has been for a reasonable amount of time, if the owner is a recognised "Car Guy" ie; Leno, Letterman, Seinfeld and a number of others known well in the classic car community it helps, but not as much as being a Hollywood Legend and being dead.The classic car market has now matured to the point it is a viable alternative to the art and property markets. Governance, pedigree and condition are the driving factors for price.On another Classic Car market and auction note, the sale of one of the worlds most significant collections of Lotus Race cars takes place here in Sydney on the 16th of November. I fear with the current price of the Australian dollar we will loose a number of the cars to the British and American market. Details are on the Bonhams site.Recent celebrity car auction prices:Coburn’s Ferrari 250GT California Spyder sold for & million Euros early this year.McQueen’s Ferrari 250GT Lusso sold for 2.3 million US mid last year.Rod Halligan

... based on the clearance rates of 87 per cent achieved at a similar collectors' auctions in the USA in the past week.At RM Auctions' annual sale of Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey in Pennsylvania last weekend, 73 of the 84 lots on offer sold for a total of $US 6.9 million ($Aus 10.3 million) - a fantastic clearance rate of 87 per cent.Meanwhile a week earlier, 36 of the 48 lots offered in Bonhams & Butterfields' auction of Important Motorcars in Massachusetts resulted in an excellent 75 per cent clearance rate and total sales of $US 2.7 million ($Aus 4.0 million).Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said that in tighter economic times, proven collectable cars were good property, with keen buyers and collectors looking for quality, originality and excellent provenance."The results in the United States, which is bearing the brunt of the current economic conditions, speak for themselves," he said. "In the collectors' auction industry we are seeing a 'flight to quality', where classic vehicles could maintain, rather than decrease their value.Highlights of Shannons Motor Show auction from 2.30pm on Sunday in Parkside Ballroom, Level 1, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour include:a rare 1969 Boss Mustang 429 Fastback (guiding range $320-$350,000)a beautiful, low mileage 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S coupe owned by the current vendor for 30 years ($25-$35,000)an award-winning 1928 Ford Model A Tourer ($30-$35,000)a superb Australian-built replica of a 1931 Blower Bentley ($55-$65,000)a magnificent 1985 V12 Ferrari Testarossa coupe with a very realistic reserve price (guiding range $80-$95,000)the NSW black and white number plate '643' ($90-$105,000)the NSW personalised number plate 'Z' (No reserve - $25-$35,000)All vehicles are on display prior to the auction in Hall 4 in the Upper Gallery, Parkside Promenade, just outside Hall 6.

Greg Kowplos started collecting petrol station signs, fuel pumps, air compressors and a plethora of petrol paraphernalia about 30 years ago."I have always loved cars and America," he said.His obsession grew into a garage called Billy's Service Station, a full-size replica of a 1930s Los Angeles garage by the same name."I used to travel to the Daytona 500 every year and always came back with something," he said."It was as a hobby, but eventually it got out of hand. I couldn't move in my garage and I needed somewhere to put it. Then I saw Billy's and I decided to create a similar service station here."Over the past nine years, the servo has become a backyard shrine to motoring in suburban Rochedale that has hosted private functions for car clubs, weddings and visits by the Starlight Foundation.Now Mr Kowplos finds his large house, sprawling suburban block and large garage shrine too much to handle so he is moving to the Gold Coast to be near his kids."I'm over mowing acres of lawn. I've worked non-stop since I was 14 and I think it's time to slow down a bit," said Mr Kowplos, a builder, developer and manager for Brisbane motocross sensation Daniel Reardon's assault on the US race scene."I've been so busy I haven't been able to get down to the garage for about six months."When he decided to sell his beloved collection, Mr Kowplos found it was too large to sell privately, so he enlisted the help of specialist motoring auctioneer Shannons.He said he expected the 150-lot auction on April 20 to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000 with a percentage to be donated to the Starlight Foundation to go towards buying a van to transport ill children and their families.National auction manager Chris Boribon said a couple of rare petrol bowsers could fetch as much $10,000 to $15,000 each."It's very difficult to know what value to put on some of these items," he said.Mr Kowplos' favourite piece is a Fry petrol pump known as "Mae West" because of the womanly shape. But the only item he hopes to keep is a sign with the name of the garage as a reminder of his 30-year obsession. 

A fully restored Sebring Orange 1969 Monaro GTS 350 coupe sold at auction for $200,000 this week.It was the highest price paid for the 32 cars on offer at the Shannons 2007 Australian International Motor Show Auction.Second best was a low-mileage 1972 LJ Torana XU-1 finished in Lone Orange that went for $143,000.The sales follow a similar auction in September when a record $450,000 was paid for a 37-year-old XW Ford Falcon GTHO.The V8 muscle car was bought for $4933.25 on April 24, 1970, in Mackay.When the car came up for sale again on at the Shannons Auction it was passed in at $620,000.The immaculate Monza Green 1971 XY was expected to beat the $683,650 record price, which a Queensland buyer paid for a similar car earlier this year.Owner Steve Ribarevski, 30, is still confident the muscle car classic will sell on the private market.He bought the fully-restored GTHO for $200,000 three years ago saying it was a promise he had made to himself years earlier.“I was told by everyone at the time that I was the biggest goose in town for paying that much money for the car but I had promised myself I would own one before I was 30,” he said.“I don't look that silly any more.”It could even turn up at the first Shannons auction, which is to be held at a Brisbane Motor Show next February.Shannons Queensland business development manager Philip Ross; said the auction was the beginning of what he hoped would be the first of many auctions in Queensland.“Generally speaking if a car is passed in at auction it turns up at the next one, so the GTHO could be there,” he said.“We're looking at having about 30 cars at the show."“I've been out west and had a look in some of the sheds at the stuff that may come out of the woodwork."“I'm thinking that we know there is a lot of interesting stuff in Queensland that owners weren't prepared to send to Melbourne or Sydney auctions, but may send to Brisbane because it's closer to home."“I have no idea of what we have so far, but we like to have a good cross-section of vehicles.”The auction vehicles will be on display at the show from February 1-10 with the auction at 2pm on the Sunday.The last Shannons Auction held reached a record $3.75 million with $2.64 million achieved for the 62 number plates; and more than $1.1 million paid for the eclectic mix of Australian; US muscle cars as well as American and European classics on offer.It was the best result achieved by Shannons in a combined single day sale in the company's 26-year history of classic auctions.It was beaten only by the $4.1 million achieved in last year's RTA plate auction at the 2006 Australian Internation Motor Show. The highest single sale of the auction was $245,000 paid for the right to display the early NSW number plate 78.Personalised Plates Queensland also holds an annual plate auction on the Wednesday of the Brisbane Motor Show, last year raising more than $531,000 for the Road Safety Fund of Queensland.  Does it make sense to waste your life savings on a 30-year-old car when for the same money you can buy 13 brand new Holden Barinas?   

The owner of a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III passed in for $620,000 at auction, confident the muscle car classic will sell on the private market.“I'm a little disappointed but the up side is that I get to keep the car for a little longer,” owner Steve Ribarevski said after the Shannon's Australian International Motor Show Auction at Darling Harbour.“The bidding wasn't very far away from the reserve so I think we will hear from the potential buyers pretty quickly.”The immaculate Monza Green 1971 XY was expected to beat the $683,650 record price, which a Queensland buyer paid for a similar car earlier this year.However, after starting at $560,000 bidding was restricted to a couple of buyers and quickly stalled at the $620,000 mark.Ribarevski, 30, bought the fully-restored GTHO for $200,000 three years ago saying it was a promise he had made to himself years earlier.“I was told by everyone at the time that I was the biggest goose in town for paying that much money for the car but I had promised myself I would own one before I was 30,” he said.“I don't look that silly anymore.”Also passed in at auction was number plate “6,” which had been expected to sell for more than $1 million.Confusion reigned when the winning bidder withdrew his $910,000 offer and the underbidder had hung up the phone and couldn't be contacted.The plate was put back to auction again but it failed to reach its undisclosed reserve, stalling at $895,000.It was only the second time since the number was issued to the Tramways Department in 1915 that it had come up for auction. The first was in 1983 at the first RTA number plate auction when it set the then record price of $50,500. 

The two Fastback coupes, a 1967 right-hand-drive GT500 and a 1968 left-hand-drive GT350H will be up for grabs in the Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour on the last day of the show, November 5.The auctioneers, Shannons, say the GT500 (build number 500) is one of just 2048 Shelbys built with Ford's big block Police Interceptor 428 V8 engine in 1967. It has a fully documented history.The Le Mans Blue GT500 up for auction was delivered new in California in March 1967 and has a four-speed manual gearbox. It came to Australia in 1969 and was totally restored in 1999.The left-hand-drive red 1968 GT350H (build number 01140) was originally delivered to the Hertz Car Rental Company in Detroit in 1968.It came to Australia in the late 1990s.Shannons expect the Shelby GT500 to attract bids in the $170,000-$200,000 range and the GT350H to sell for $150,000-plus.