- Fabulous well-preserved 1924 Packard with Sports bodywork
- 1926 Sunbeam 14/40 Sports Tourer with extensively refurbished mechanicals
- 1934 Buick Series 40 Roadster with right-hand-drive Holden body
- 1930 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan from The Great Gatsby film
There are some superb veteran cars in Shannons Timed Online Autumn Auction from May 17-24.
Dominating the line-up is a large and imposing right hand drive 1924 Packard Single Eight Model 136 Sports Tourer that will be on the short-list of any Packard enthusiast.
Packard straight eights are amongst the most coveted of all American classics, with superb engineering, imposing styling and high build quality putting them in a class of their own.
That Packard were able to survive the Great Depression and managed to sell relatively large numbers abroad is further proof of the inherent quality of their vintage cars.
The imposing Model 136 offered in Shannons Autumn auction is a true American classic – an unrestored 1924 Straight Eight with desirable Sports Tourer bodywork offered from long-term Australian family ownership.
One of the best-preserved pre-war American cars left in Australia, this 1924 Packard is a fabulous survivor from the Roaring Twenties.
The car with its low-slung Sport Touring bodywork was one of a handful delivered new to Australia by Sydney dealers Ira L & A C Berk.
Its first owned reported it as being too big and fast for his wife to handle and in 1927 it passed to the owner of Cooma Station, around 50 kilometres from Moree.
In a twist of fate, the Packard in 1928 was purchased by John "Ironman" Burton – the salesman who originally sold the car to its penultimate owner after first persuading him to buy a new Packard Club Sedan.
Burton was a record-setter who held the fastest times for the Perth to Sydney run in a Studebaker (in both 1915 and 1924), a Hupmobile (in 1918) and a Vauxhall (in 1923), but the Depression intervened and he never attempted to reclaim the record in the Packard.
After falling in love with the car, he ultimately kept it for 32 years, eventually selling it to renowned Sydney Packard enthusiast and local identity Sam Irwin, in 1960.
Repainted many years ago in Dust Proof Grey with black mudguards and bright red wheels, the Packard has a black leather hood and Spanish leather upholstery, plus a nickel finish on its brightwork and has been kept in the family since Irwin's passing.
Also in a remarkable state of preservation, the 1924 Single Eight was maintained in almost exactly the same condition for the next 62 years.
As one of the last largelyly unrestored Pre-War cars left in the country, it is deserving of a full nut-and-bolt restoration, but the Packard could equally be sensitively preserved in its present cosmetic state.
The car was driven to Shannons' Sydney showroom under its own power, but will require some mechanical recommissioning to return it to the road after standing for some years.
For all these reasons, it is expected to attract international interest and sell in the $70,000-$90,000 range.
Other great early vehicles in the upcoming Shannons Timed Online Autumn Auction include:
- A lovely, older restored 1926 Sunbeam 14/40 Sports Tourer upgraded with a four-speed gearbox in strong running condition ($40,000-$50,000);
- A 1934 Buick Series 40 Roadster with a right-hand-drive body by Holden ($40,000 - $50,000);
- a nice 1924 Buick Master Six 24/45 Tourer still presenting well after an older restoration ('no reserve', $22,000 - $30,000);
- A nicely-done 1931 Chevrolet Sportline Roadster replica 'Project' ('no reserve'$15,000 - $25,000);
- A 1930 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan (LHD) Project presented as a New York taxicab that was used in the filming of 'The Great Gatsby' ('no reserve' $10,000 - $15,000).
To view all auction lots, visit www.shannons.com.au To talk to a Shannons Auction Team member directly, call the 1300 078 500.