A bumper week of auctions saw plenty of money laid down
IT’S been a big week for muscle-car sales in Australia, with several locally built cars selling for well over $100,000.
Queensland’s Seven82Motors wrapped up its June Stock Drop auction this week, which featured a variety of restored and resto-modded Aussie cars.
A genuine HG GTS Monaro topped the sale-price list, fetching $188,125. The Indy Orange example is a factory 308/four-speed car, though it currently runs a T5 manual. Under the back end is a Salisbury 10-bolt diff and Bathurst-spec tank. It underwent a bare-metal restoration in 2005, where the interior was retrimmed in correct black vinyl.
Exorbitant pricing of genuine Falcon GTs has led many to seek out quality replicas such as this XW-based tribute, which was taken home for $137,600.
Though it appears to be a stock GT externally, it’s powered by a 408ci Windsor with forged internals. Backed by a 3900rpm converter, C4 auto and Truetrac nine-inch rear, the package is good for 420hp at the wheels.
Real-deal Holden Sandmans continue to show desirability, as evidenced by the sale of a non-matching V8 car for $104,275.
XX7 stampings from Holden’s Brisbane factory confirm the HJ’s authenticity. Though it’s no longer running the matching-numbers 308, the replacement unit was freshened up with a mild cam and 600 Holley carb, backed by the factory-specified M21 four-speed.
This windowless HR van also created a bidding frenzy, eventually going under the hammer for a whopping $67,725.
According to Seven82Motors, the van had a full restoration in 2019. It received a warm 186 with an XU-1-spec cam, Yella Terra rockers and a single Holley carb. Though the exterior was given plenty of old-school rake through a set of 15×10 rear Dragways, the interior was left as a factory-look clean slate.
Iconic American coupes fared well at the auction, including this hot ’69 Charger. The LHD example packs a Six-Pack V8 stroked to 500ci, and sold for $156,950.
Rivalling the Charger was this right-hook Boss 302 Mustang in Grabber Orange. It retains the matching-numbers 302ci powerplant, backed by a four-speed manual ‘box. A lucky buyer took it home for $166,625.
A number of auction prices have yet to be announced by Seven82Motors, including that of a stunning Contessa Gold LX Torana SS hatch and an 80s-style XT Falcon ute.
The 2021 Shannons Winter Online Auction also ended this week, providing some equally impressive numbers for muscle old and new.
An unrestored XW Phase I GTHO finished in Grecian Gold sold for $190,000, falling just short of Shannons’ $210,000 estimate. The quickest Aussie-built muscle car upon release in 1969, this example included a stash of original spare parts from its long-term country owners.
Though values of Phase I GTHOs have appreciated considerably (another car sold for $83,000 at Shannons in 2011), they still represent just a fraction of those commanded by their Phase III successors.
Hot on the heels of the GTHO was this low-production HSV GTO LE coupe, which sold at $152,000. One of just 100, the 2006- built special edition ran a 297kW LS2 powerplant. This particular car is one of 50 painted in black, with a desirable six-speed manual sending power to the wheels. The V2 Monaro pulled up stumps in 2006 to make way for the new VE Commodore range, making this last-hurrah coupe a true grail item for HSV collectors.
This ‘barn-find’ HQ SS hit $85,500, again beating Shannons’ $50,000- $60,000 price range. The unrestored, one-owner car shows just 166,000 miles, with its original wheels and 253-cube V8 still in place.
In comparison, a 308ci, four-speed HZ Monaro GTS also in unrestored (though cleaner) condition commanded $80,500.
More affordable was this VC Commodore wagon, packing an entry-level 173ci six and floor-shift manual combo.
