KEY POINTS:
A 1977 Holden Torana A9X sedan that had sat neglected behind a block of flats in Melbourne for 12 years sold for A$192,000 ($221,136) at Shannons Melbourne motor show auction, a record price for the model.
The yellow four-door went on the block in showroom condition after a nine-year restoration. Another Torana, a white 1977 LX Torana SS 5.0 hatchback, sold for A$53,500, around A$20,000 more than expected.
"The auction was a celebration of high-quality cars," said auction house Shannons national manager, Christophe Boribon. "The vehicles that sold well were all exceptional examples."
The stand-out result was a restored right-hand drive 1935 Ford V8 Coupe that sold for A$47,000, well above its A$30,000 estimate. The V8 Coupe was linked to notorious gangsters Bonnie and Clyde in pre-auction publicity.
Other Americans pulled in the punters. A red and white 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner with a retractable metal hardtop sold for A$82,000.
An even longer red and white right-hand drive 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville fetched A$73,000, while a 1956 right-hook Ford Thunderbird made A$65,000, the same price as a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe.
Other vehicles to attract special attention were a 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT Coupe (A$92,000); a low-kilometre 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT coupe (A$180,000); a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet (A$67,000); and a 1962 Volvo P1800 coupe (A$31,500). Vintage cars also sold well. A 1927 Studebaker Erskine sedan with trailer brought $A23,000.
