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American Excess for Sale at Shannons


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MELBOURNE - february 16, 2010: Some of most outrageous American cars from the late 1950s and early 1960s era are amongst the ‘barnfind’ private collection of vehicles going under the hammer at Shannons Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction on March 15.

Believed to be the largest ‘no reserve’ collection offered at public auctioned for many years in Australia, it represents a now-retired Melbourne interior designer’s fascination with the excesses of American automobile styling in the cashed-up Post War period.

Spectacular American cars in the collection include three huge right hand drive Cadillacs – a 1960 Coupe de Ville in very good condition ($26,000-$34,000), a 1960 Series 62 Four-Window Sedan in original condition, but in need of some TLC ($16,000-$22,000) and a eye-catching 1962 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible ($28,000-$36,000).

There is also stunning pair of Chryslers Imperials – a 1955 Newport two-door Coupe with an amazing ‘Star Wars’ interior and mudguard-top tail-lights ($20,000-$26,000) and a 1962 South Hampton LeBaron sedan ($18,000-$24,000) with unique ‘pod’ head and tail lamp styling.

The Collection also includes two stylish Buick Riviera coupes – one a magnificent 1971 right hand drive ‘Boatail’ model ($15,000-$20,000).

Other landmark cars from the Collection include a well-presented 1926 Lancia Lambda 6 Series Torpedo Tourer ($40,000-$70,000), which the collector purchased in the late 1950s, an Art Deco-influenced RHD 1935 Terraplane ‘Ruskin Body’ Roadster ($20,000-$26,000) and a 1961 Holden EK Holden Special, which was acquired because its outlandish finned Australian design mimicked American Chevrolet models of the late 1950s.

The same Collection also includes a number of significant classic motorcycles that are also being sold with no reserve prices on March 15.

Dating from 1923, they cover many sought-after classic brands, such as Ariel, Benelli, BSA, Norton and Vincent.

Particular highlights include a rare Italian 1937 Benelli 500 TN solo ($12,000-$20,000) and a very desirable British 1949 Vincent HRD Rapide ‘B Series’ ($30,000-$40,000).

Other motorcycles from the collection are three early BSAs – a 1923 Colonial S25 model ($7,000-$10,000), a 250cc ‘Round Tank’ ($5,000-$8,000) and a 350cc solo (6,000-$9,000), both from 1924.

Ariel enthusiasts have a choice of four models consisting of a pair of 1937 Ariel VB 600 models in different states of repair ($3,000-$9,000), a 1948 VH500 $5,000-$7,000) and a 1950 Square 4 Mk 1 ($8,000-$12,000).

There is also a pair of early 1950s Mac 350 Velocettes ($5,000-$7,000), a 1957 Norton Dominator 88 ($6,000-$8,000) and a 1947 Malvern Star Autocycle, which is expected to sell in the $1,500-$3,000 range