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Opposites Attract At Shannons Motorclassica Auction


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MELBOURNE – Sept 22, 2010: They were both built in 1973 and develop similar power, but two of the most sought-after sporting classics in the Shannons Collectors' Auction at Melbourne's Motorclassica on 24 October could hardly be more different.

The silver Dino 246 GT coupe going under the hammer is a well-presented original right hand drive example of Ferrari's first mid-engined, rear drive volume sports car.

Powered by a transverse-mounted 2.4-litre V6 engine developing 195HP (145kW) mated to a five-speed transmission and clothed in a beautiful 'cling-wrapped' Pininfarina-designed body, the Dino 246 was originally the cheapest Ferrari you could buy, with nearly 2,500 coupes built from 1969-1974.

However today the Dino 246 has become a collectors' item more highly prized than some of its once-pricier V8 and V12 engined Ferrari brethren.

The UK-delivered Dino coupe being auctioned by Shannons at Motorclassica was shipped to Queensland in 1977 and has since changed hands a number of times before the current owner purchased it 13 years ago.

The Dino has since been used sparingly and from 2005-2008 considerable mechanical refurbishment was carried out on the car's clutch, brakes, suspension, gearbox and exhaust system. More recently the seats were re-trimmed in leather.

Eye catching in its silver paintwork, the Dino still sports its original Cromodora rims shod with the correct Michelin XWX tyres.

Shannons expect it to sell in the $150,000-$180,000 range.

Built the same year, the LJ Torana XU-1 in the Motorclassica auction was Holden's lowest-volume car of its era, with just 1,667 built.

Designed to repeat Peter Brock's historic 1972 Bathurst victory in the previous LC Torana, the LJ XU-1 was very low-tech by Ferrari standards. It was powered by a longitudinally front-mounted 3.3-litre straight six-cylinder engine fed by three Zenith Stromberg carburettors to develop 190HP (142kW), with the rear wheels driven through a close-ratio four-speed gearbox.

The rare Salamanca Red car being auctioned has covered just 1,970 miles since a comprehensive bare-metal restoration was completed two years ago.

Sold new by Kevin Dennis Motors in Melbourne and with all previous owners known, the XU-1 is correct in every detail and offered in showroom condition. Shannons are quoting a guiding range of $75,000-$90,000.

Around 40 vehicles and 30 items of memorabilia are in the Shannons Collectors' Auction at Motorclassica. All lots will be on display in the Royal Exhibition Building throughout Motorclassica, with the auction held at 2.30pm on Sunday October 24.