Unique Cars Australia

hang on

MAYBE WE should preface this by pointing out you should never, ever, accept financial advice from me – or any of the Unique Cars staff – without first getting a second opinion from someone who might actually know what they’re talking about. Right, here’s my tip for the day: do not sell that toy. Okay, that is kind of a sweeping statement, and relatively easy to say from the comfort of an over-crowded shed. But stay with me on this. Almost everyone at the moment is saying that now is a bad time to sell given the uncertain state of the economy and the hair-riasing job losses, and there’s probably a little truth to that. However the market had already flattened out to more realistic price levels and there may not be…

shannons go online

AUSTRALIA’S prominent automotive auction house Shannons will conduct its late Autumn auction of both its Melbourne and Sydney locations as one timed online event from May 20 to June 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the theatre of a live auction will be missing, in every other way it will be identical to a regular Shannons auction event however the bidding will take place over a 15-day period rather than a single evening. According to Christophe Boribon, Shannons National Auctions and External Relations Manager, the response by vendors to the timed online auction has been very positive. “Our vendors have embraced the new way we are conducting this auction and have been very supportive. “Overseas auction houses have also been conducting their events online and have achieved remarkably positive results and there…

prototype shelby at mecum

ARGUABLY THE most significant Shelby Mustang, the 1965 prototype GT350 R-model, is going under the hammer at Mecum’s Indy online auction on June 23-28. An estimate hasn’t been set, however Mecum President and founder Dana Mecum told a national television audience on NBCSN, “If there’s ever a car that could surpass what the Bullitt car (sold in January for A$5.59million), you’re looking at it now.” Commonly referred to as 5R002, this is the first Shelby Mustang to win a race and the only R-model built in this configuration. It was driven extensively by Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, Peter Brock, Chuck Cantwell and Jerry Titus. The R-model was Shelby’s answer to Ford’s desire to create a high-performance image for the Mustang, moving it away from the perception of it being a “secretary’s car”. Shelby produced…

vale stirling moss

SIR STIRLING MOSS, the greatest driver to never win an F1 world championship has died after a long illness, aged 90. Announcing his passing Lady Moss said, "It was one lap too many and he just closed his eyes." Moss was the first British driver to win his home Grand Prix, at Aintree, and over a seven-year F1 career from 1955 to 1961 he finished as championship runner-up four times and third the three other times. Moss won 212 of the 529 races he entered across a variety of motorsport categories, including the 1956 Australian Grand Prix, but tragedy struck in 1962 with a career-ending crash at Goodwood that left him in a coma for a month and the left-hand side of his body partially paralysed for six. It would be a year before…

auction action

Black party WHAT’S MOVIN' AND SHAKIN' TOYOTA COROLLA TWIN CAM The Toyota Corolla is a small, reliable mode of transport. It was never on enthusiasts shopping list until the Twin Cam Corolla in hatch and liftback body styles arrived in 1986. This pair changed the Corolla’s perception. Power came from a 1.6 litre twin cam engine that loved to rev and emit a raspy exhaust note and it was a fun car to drive. Not many are left but if you stumble across a good one you won’t stop grinning after every drive. Before parting with your coin check the body for rust and damage and also that the timing chain, CV joints and running gear has been maintained. Expect to pay upwards of $8k. LIVE AUCTIONS MIGHT BE ON HOLD RIGHT NOW BUT…

ones that got away

Lost or lucky Tell us in 60 words the car you should have bought, or were lucky enough to buy! Send your tale to uniquecars@bauertrader.com.au with ‘Gotaways’ in the title LANCIA BETA About a decade ago a local panel shop had moved premises and decided to abondon a pair of Beta’s in the front holding yard. The poor Lancia’s were eventually scrapped with the building demolition taking place. What a shame I let them go, I have grown quite fond of the Beta in recent years and could have made one good car out of the two. LOUIS DOZZARO - BOX HILL, VIC APRIL 1988 AUSTIN A95 By 1988 in a market where some old cars had suddenly become items of value, big Austins from the 1950s were still worth next to nothing and being slaughtered…