Classics popular across ditch

A 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 sold for A$31,000.

Consumer confidence in the classic vehicle market in this part of the world is back with a bang, if the results from an auction in Melbourne are any measure.

More than 90 per cent of the lots offered by auction house Shannons sold for a total of more than $1 million, an outcome the company said pointed to "renewed confidence" in the market.

The top-selling vehicle was an original 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0, which sold for A$74,000 ($94,530), followed by an ex-US 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 with manual transmission that fetched A$67,000.

Among the outstanding results was the A$31,000 paid for an original Australian-assembled 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 sedan with just 29,000km on the clock.

A smart-looking 1973 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 5.0 sedan brought A$33,000 and a 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series I 2+2 coupe made A$39,000.

Pre-war classics were in strong demand, headed by a green and white 1934 Nash 1220 Sedan selling for A$30,000 after a restoration believed to have cost almost double its sale price.

A 1930 Essex Super 6 Sedan sold for A$12,500; a 1924 Dodge Tourer sold with no reserve for A$9250 and a refurbished 1934 Hillman Ruskin sedan made A$9000.

Post-war British and American cars also did well, with a right-hand drive 1948 Packard Series 22 Sedan selling for A$25,000, while a restored 1949 Morris Minor Low Light sedan made A$9500 - the same as a restored 1950 Ford Prefect.

A white 1969 Holden HK Kingswood sedan sold well above its estimate for A$17,000 - half as much again as the A$12,500 paid for a 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow saloon.