Keen bidding for classic cars

This 1960 Porsche Cabriolet sold for nearly $12,000 more than the auctioneers thought it would fetch.

At least two of New Zealand's rarest cars are heading overseas after the family of a dead car-enthusiast emptied out his garage.

Seventeen of 18 classic cars owned by collector and restorer Francis Baptist, who died in 2006, sold at auction yesterday, and many of them fetched well above the expected price. The 18th was expected to sell overnight.

In one of the largest single-make car auctions in New Zealand, the highest bid came from an Australian buyer who paid $36,800 for a red 1960 Porsche 356 Cabriolet, originally from New York.

Andrew Bayliss, a collector and a friend of Mr Baptist, said he was surprised at the bid and saddened the car would disappear overseas.

"It went for a lot of money. It's a major project ... but I guess they're not making any more of them.

"It is the end of an era ... seeing Francis's collection broken up and go in different directions. It is a little difficult to see. But they all went to people who will cherish them."

The centrepiece of the auction, a 1952 Volkswagen Beetle known as "Snifter", sold to local collector Colin Hardy for $36,500.

Mr Bayliss was hoping the top bid on a 1955 Volkswagen would be retracted overnight, as he was second in line for the car. The vehicle had not met its reserve.

"It would be nice to get something from Francis's collection, especially because that was one of my favourites. It's a lovely old car," he said.

If he fails, some of Mr Baptist's collection will live on in the Volkswagen of Mr Bayliss's son, for which he bought spare parts.

Nearly 400 people at the auction, as well as online bidders, snapped up seven of Mr Baptist's motorbikes and nearly every one of 400 lots of car parts.

Rob Herbert, Turners Auctions' general manager of sales and marketing, said the family were delighted with the auction.

"It has brought this long sale process to a close, and everything went apart from a few parts which probably should have been thrown out anyway."

GARAGE EMPTIED

* 1960 Porsche Cabriolet. Ex-New York, major restoration needed. Price guide: $25,000. Sold for $36,800 to Australian bidder.

* 1952 Volkswagen Beetle. Left-hand drive, oval windows. Price guide: Up to $100,000. Sold for $36,500 to local bidder.

* 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. New Zealand new, original engine. Price guide: $25,000- $30,000. In negotiation, expected to sell for $15,000.