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V8s galore at Shannons Melbourne Winter Classic

July auction estimates smashed as big bucks were paid for big motors

Shannons Winter Melbourne Classic
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In an auction with lots ranging from Austrian military vehicles to speedway racers, there was bound to be something for everyone’s tastes.

But what had MOTOR most interested was the presence of a few Australian muscle legends, as well as a few bidding estimates that were well and truly demolished.

Topping the wallet withdrawals was a ’71 XB GT Coupe, which once graced the cover of sister-title Unique Cars. Shannons estimated the restored example in ‘Yellow Blaze’ would sell for $85,000-$100,000, just a tad short of the $134,000 it eventually sold for.

XB Ford FalconIt certainly pipped the ’72 LJ Torana GTR XU-1 which sold just before it, though the little straight-six still cracked the $100K mark by $2000. Though it wasn’t a V8, nostalgia of Brock’s Bathurst victory that same year may have upped prices over time.

Back up towards the higher end of the displacement ladder, a HT Monaro with a 350 (5.7-litre) V8 swapped into it drew a fair few bids, though its resting bid landed just over its estimate of $50,000-$60,000, with the new owner having parted with $64,000.

HT MonaroThough not as much a ‘hero car’ to most, another desirable bit of metal at the Winter Classic was the 1980 HDT VC Commodore, which did break its estimate. With Shannons having stickered it with $40,000-$48,000, the “very original” example proved them wrong when someone forked out $52,000 for the thing.

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Not to be outdone, a glamorous American had to step in and give its estimate a good bash. A lovely looking ’59 Caddy, which Shannons said was restored at a cost of over $150K for “a senior executive of Melbourne’s St. Kilda Football Club”.

It was expected to go for $80,000-$95,000, but rolled out the door for a respectable $120K.

CaddyvertOur last highlight of the auction was actually the first lot to sell. Lot 1, a 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, was estimated by Shannons (though likely few others) to sell for a very reasonable $8,000-$12,000.

A cool $66,000 later, and someone was able to call the car their own.

Anyone expecting to drive away in a German luxury car with a 6.9-litre V8 in the snout and only 66,700km on the clock for under $12,000 is very optimistic indeed.

Chris Thompson
Contributor

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