Big bucks for big Americans
BUT EUROPEANS TOP THE BILL
Two spectacular 1950s American two- door cruisers, customised in Australia, sold for big bucks at Shannons Sydney winter motor auctions this week.
A black and cream leather 1950 Cadillac Series 62 sold for $ NZ146,339 after a long bidding duel that began at $ 92,000.
A sleek black- over- silver 1955 Buick pillarless coupe styled after the Roadmaster owned by American comedian and car buff Jay Leno, also sold above its highest pre- auction estimate, at $ 136,998.
A striking Candy Apple Red twodoor 1949 Buick Sedanette, also extensively customised in eracorrect style, brought $ 92,371, while a fully restored right- handdrive converted 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville sold for $ 84,586 on the night.
The other Big American in the auction — a pristine 1969 Shelby GT500 Mustang delivered new as a batch of six into Japan in 1969, sold for $ 115,000.
Though their results showed strong interest in the American market they were all trumped during the auction by a collectible 1965 Mercedes- Benz 300SE Cabriolet, and an equallydesirable Series 1 1963 Jaguar E- Type Roadster. Benefiting from a full interior re- trim in 2011 and an engine rebuild in 2015, the factory right- hand- drive ‘ Benz was This restored 1950 Cadillac Series 62 sold for $ 141,000 at Shannons ( above); while this one- owner 1970 HG GTS Monaro 253 V8 sold for $ 70,000. pursued by two overseas and several local bidders in a protracted duel that drove its price to $ 192,000.
The E- Type, which was a Personal Export later delivered near- new to Australia, was also sold above its high estimate, making $ 164,000 — indicative of soaring interest worldwide in these iconic Jaguar sports models. Other sales included:
A 1929 Rolls- Royce 20/ 25 fitted with striking two- door coupe bodywork by local coachbuilder Martin & King sold on estimate for $ 101,726
A beautiful Americandelivered 1957 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe restored and converted to right- hand- drive in Australia during 2000- 2005, brought $ 91,346
A fully restored 1970 Mark II Morris Mini Cooper S believed to be one of approximately 1000 cars supplied to the New South Wales Police Force sold for $ 50,863, indicating the rising collectible value of these Australian- built Cooper S vehicles
A well- preserved, oneowner, Canberra- delivered 1970 HG GTS Monaro 253 V8 with 243,000km ( believed genuine) on its odometer sold with “no reserve” for $ 72,600 • A 1968 Triumph TR5 Overdrive model with the optional “Surrey Top” offered with ‘ no reserve’ sold on estimate for $ 58,132.