Collectors To 'Plate-Up' At Shannons Melbourne Sale

MELBOURNE – Aug 10, 2010: Collectors of rare, black and white numeric numbers have the perfect opportunity to ‘plate-up’ at Shannons Melbourne Classic Auction on Monday (August 16).

Twelve special Victorian Heritage enamel number plates – including five prized three-digit plates – are amongst the 43 cars and motorcycles and 31 items of automobilia in the sale.

The numerically-low ‘329, ‘412’ and ‘599’ are the main course, and all are expected to command bids in the $50,000-$80,000 range. The plate ‘599’ has particular value to the tifosi because of its association with Ferrari’s two-seater V12-engined flagship, the 599 GTB Fiorano.

However ‘773’ and ‘955’ are also expected to sell in the $40,000-$70,000 range.

The four-digit plate ‘1.777’ is expected to sell in the $18,000-$24,000 range, while ‘2.506’, 6927’, ‘7.161’ and ‘9.307’ have a guiding range of $16,000-$22,000.

And for those wanting a numerically interesting Heritage plate at a more affordable price, both ’20.999’ and ’80.000’ are offered with no reserve, with each slated to sell in the $12,000-$18,000 bracket.

‘No reserve’ lots dominate Shannons Melbourne sale
‘No reserve’ cars, motorcycles and automobilia dominate Shannons Melbourne auction on Monday (August 16), with more than half of all lots going to the highest bidder on the night.

The classic and vintage motorcycles in the auction provide the greatest opportunity for restorers and collectors, with all 13 offered with no reserve.

They include a sought-after 1958 model 500cc Velocette Venom Clubman that has emerged from long-term storage ($14,000-$17,000), a 1959 Royal Enfield Constellation 700cc Twin in good running condition ($10,000-$14,000), a restored 1962 BSA Super Rocket 650cc from a large collection ($10,000-$14,000) and a 1929 Scott Super Squirrel 500cc 2-Speed Solo ‘project’ in need of total restoration ($8,000-$12,000).

Other highly desirable bikes include a 1941 BSA WM20 500cc with sidecar that won an award for outstanding restoration from the Vintage and Veteran Motorcycle Club of Victoria in the late 1970s.

It was ridden in the Australian movie ‘The Dunera Boys’ in the mid 1980s and in the 1990s was restored to Army colours and fitted with a matching fibreglass sidecar and tonneau. It is expected to sell with no reserve in the $10,000-$14,000 range.

Other notable motorcycles in the auction are a 1951 BMW R51/2 500cc Solo that has been in the same family for the past 30 years ($8,000-$12,000) and a 1962 model Velocette Venom 500cc ($10,000-$15,000).

The cars offered unreserved range from a two-owner-from-new 1957 Bentley S1 Saloon ($15,000-20,000) to a very tidy 1984 London taxi cab ($10,000-$15,000), a 1972 BMW 3.0SA built for club motorsport and a 1987 Ford F250 Ambulance – both $7,000-$10,000.