Why Holden Monaro, Torana, Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III and other classic Australian cars are hitting the auctions

The Holden Monaro is expected to fetch six figures in car auctions these days.

Australian cars are indeed back in vogue and the record prices for sought-after rares seen in recent auctions are expected to last for at least another three years.

This was announced by the manager of the national auction Shannons Christophe Boribon. Cars Guide that interest in a wide range of increasingly rare Australian gold has not yet cooled off.

He said the combination of a pandemic that keeps people at home looking for toys and interest rates at historic lows means the classic car market is booming.

"Money is cheap, people don't go abroad, and people who have always wanted a classic car are going out and buying," he said.

“We will see this trend, especially in Australian vehicles, continue for at least the next few years.”

Recent sales have drawn attention to Australian vehicles. In January of this year, the HSV GTSR Maloo W1 cost $1.05 million, and a month later it was overtaken by the $1.15 million spent on a 1971 Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III.

Providence ranks highly in the Australian car price rankings. The Holden Torana LX, which was raced in the hands of legendary driver John Harvey in the Australian Touring Car Championships in 1977, 1978 and 1979, cost $910,000 last November, while the Torana A9X went for $450,000.

A rare ex-Bob Jane Thorana L34 SLR5000 auctioned off last week by Lloyds couldn't meet the reserve, with a top price of $360,000.

Even those who have never seen the competition are snapping up a 1969 Holden Monaro HT 350 GTS 715,000 for $2020 in mid-194,000; and the Ford Falcon XC Cobra coupe listed for sale for a relatively modest $50,609, as well as the XB coupe at auction for $XNUMX.

“We’re seeing generation-by-generation things happen, like 1970s cars getting massive bang for their buck to pre-GFC levels as baby boomers and Gen Xs start spending,” Mr. Boribon said.

“Baby boomers are really returning to the market, but the money that is there is mostly from Gen-X buyers, so the main buyers are people aged 35 to 65.

"Some Australian cars from the 1980s and 1990s - and even some more recent cars, especially HSVs and FPVs - are of great interest to Generation X buyers."

Mr. Beauribon suggested there was some movement in the Gen-X towards Australian muscle cars and perhaps a slight retreat from Japanese performance cars.

Interest is caused not only by rare Australians.

“We are noticing that the latest HSV and FPV models, and even early developments in the Commodore VR and VS series, are of interest to enthusiasts,” he said.

"These cars have gone up in value because the HSVs and FPVs of that era are now more available in the used car market."

But Mr Beauribon warned that not all early Australian cars made big money.

“The general rule of thumb for Australian muscle cars is that you have to buy the right limited production car with the right history and foresight, with the right books and service papers – that’s what it takes to offer a better price to sellers now and higher revenue in the future. for buyers." Watchlist Aussie Classic

Australian Classics Watchlist (prices correct at time of writing)

Model	Price
Ford Falcon XV Coupe 1974	Current bid: $50,609 (gray)
Holden Monaro HK GTS 1968	Current bid: $100,109 (gray)
Ford Fairmont Ghia ESP 1982	Current bid: $62,009 (gray)
Ford Sierra RS500, former Glenn Seton racer, 1987	Current bid: $95,000 (Lloyds).
Ford Falcon AU V8 Supercar ex Tony Longhurst 1999	Current bid: $92,000 (Lloyds).
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo Stock Car Australian Championship Specification 2007	Current bid: $11,000 (Lloyds).
Holden Monaro HK 327 1969	Starting Bet: $100,000 (Slattery)
Holden Ute SS-V Redline Magnum 2017	Starting Bet: $30,000 (Slattery)
Holden HD Premier since 1965.	Starting Bet: $40,000 (Slattery)
Holden Commodore SS VK 1984	Starting Bet: $50,000 (Slattery)
1970 Ford Falcon HV GT	Estimated: $150,000–$170,000 (Shannon)
Ford Falcon FPV F6 Taifun $293	Estimated: $30,000–$40,000 (Shannon)
Holden Commodore AND HDT Group A 2009	Estimated: $58,000–$68,000 (Shannon)
Holden Torana LC GTR 1971	Estimated: $65,000–$75,000 (Shannon)