KEY POINTS:
Demand for Australian muscle cars remains strong at auction across the Tasman, despite gloomy talk of global warming, carbon offsets and fluctuating fuel prices.
Top price at auction house Shannons' classic sale in Sydney was the A$135,000 ($172,466) paid for a 1970 Vermillion Fire Falcon XY GT, which had a non-matching Cleveland V8 engine under the bonnet linked to a Top Loader manual instead of the original automatic gearbox.
Other muscle cars to sell well included a left-hand drive 1969 Shelby Mustang GT 500 Fastback for A$113,000, while a one-owner Yellow Glo 1972 Falcon XA GT with 34,861 original miles on the clock brought A$70,000.
Heading the British and European classics, a 1967 right-hand drive Mercedes-Benz 250SL Pagoda roof convertible sold above estimate for A$71,500, and a 1948 Daimler DB18 Special Sports Drophead fetched A$41,000.
An original 1971 Holden Sandman Ute sold for A$14,000 and a 1965 Falcon XP Futura sedan went for A$13,700.
