Melbourne-based auction house Mossgreen dipped its toe into the Sydney automotive auction scene on Sunday May 28 as 20 vehicles went under the hammer in the Carriageworks facility at Eveleigh, just south of the Sydney, CBD.
Strategically positioned to catch the eye as you walked in, was a two-liter Aston Martin DB1 that finished 10th in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949. While not to be auctioned, it was available through Mossgreen by private treaty.
The car that drew the most attention, however, was a Holden Torana A9X Hatchback that helped Australian privateer driver Bob Morris win the 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship ahead of the official Holden factory team headed by Peter Brock.
Initially built for U.S. drivers Johnny Rutherford and Janet Guthrie for the 1977 Bathurst 1000, it was later driven at such diverse circuits as Sandown, Symmons Plains, Wanneroo, Calder, Oran Park, Lakeside, Amaroo Park and Adelaide International Raceway.
In 1980 it was bought by West Australian enthusiast and collector Peter Briggs, who would go on to race the car a number of times at Wanneroo before it was retired to the York and Fremantle Motor Museums.
It was clear that a lot of people were at the Mossgreen auction specifically to see how the Torana would fare, especially as it was virtually exactly how it was last raced back in 1980. A time-warp piece of Australian motor racing history!
Bidding started at Au$480,000, but it quickly rose to Au$490,000 and then to half a million. The bids came in quickly, and the auctioneer clearly didn’t have to prompt for more. The half a mil was soon left behind when it was increased to $550,000 and then $600,000 where it was sold, to tumultuous applause. With buyer’s premium, taxes and all that, the total amount was Au$705,000 (US$535,800), a new world record price for a Holden sold at auction.
Auction Results – including buyer’s premium in Australian dollars
- 1977 Holden Torana A9X Hatchback $705,000 (US$535,800)
- 1956 Austin-Healey 100M $246,750 (US$187,530)
- 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster $196,812 (US$149,577)
- 1962 Porsche 356B T-6 Notchback $99,875 (US$75,905)
- 1953 Alvis-Healey (Project) $39,950 (US$30,362)
- 1913 Ford Model T $35,250 (US$26,790)
- 1966 Triumph Bonneville T120TT Special $19,975 (US$15,181)
The following cars went unsold:
1926 Packard 120; 1933 Reo Flying Cloud two-door coupe; 1936 Rolls-Royce 25-30 HP; 1940 Packard One-Ten Drop Head Coupe; 1953 Alvis TA21G Fixed Head Coupe; 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Saloon; 1959 Porsche 356 ‘A’; 1964 Aston Martin DB5; 1970 Aston Martin DB6 M2 Vantage; 1983 Porsche 911 (930) 3.3 Litre Turbo; 1986 Ferrari Testarossa; 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 60th Anniversary; Maserati Tipo 61 Recreation.
