Finance your vehicle

Auction of important Veteran, Vintage, Classic and Sports cars
Exhibition Park, Canberra - Sunday June 29 1997

Specialist Auctioneers Wemyss will hold their first automotive auction in Canberra this Sunday.

An excellent array of vehicles spanning eight decades, and a selection of automobilia will be offered.

Auctions often bring interesting items ‘out of the woodwork’ and some quite exceptional vehicles are included in the sale. Early veteran cars very rarely come into the marketplace, and the Wemyss sale includes some fine examples - three immaculately presented veteran Oldsmobiles being star attractions of the sale. These vehicles have already created considerable interest in motoring circles and are expected to see spirited bidding.

Oldest is a 1903 "Curved dash" Oldsmobile. This charming two seater car was delivered new in Western Australia and has tiller steering instead of a steering wheel, and has been used extensively in veteran car rallys. It has won several awards, including the best veteran award at the national 1 & 2 Cylinder Rally in 1995. The Curved Dash Oldsmobile was the first car in the world mass produced, using a then-new process incorporating interchangeable parts. This example is expected to reach $40,000-45,000.

Very unusual is a 1904 Oldsmobile Light Delivery Wagon. Discovered in New Zealand, this practical little load carrier has scarce "C" cab van body.Brass oil lamps are fitted. Also with tiller steering this exceptionally charming vehicle is finished in bright red. Estimate is $40,000-$45,000.

Imported from the USA a 1904 Oldsmobile Rear Entrance Light Tonneau is an exceptionally rare vehicle. Only three are known to have survived world-wide, and this example has a vast record of award winning, with over 60 concours trophies! The rear entrance tonneau seat is removable, allowing the car to be converted to a sporty two-seater roadster. Interestingly the steering wheel is adjustable for rake. Estimate on this remarkable car is $45,000-48,000.

Among the other significant cars included in the sale is a 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe. This landmark motorcar was the first vehicle to use the name GT - for Gran Tourismo, and became the benchmark for many sporting coupes to follow. With magnificent styling by Pininfarina, this car is finished in striking deep blue paint, with cream leather interior. Winner of several Concours d’Elegance awards, this car is one of very few in Australia. Estimate is $50,000-60,000.

At the other extreme is a massive 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Formal Limousine. A factory-built limousine, this car is exceptionally rare - only 699 were made, and a fraction of these remain in existence. With special high roof, long wheelbase and extra seating, this is a very spacious vehicle. Originally supplied to the Embassy of Ghana, the car then spent some years in China, and then New York before coming to Australia for use as a diplomatic car. This is a very striking car, finished in black, and featuring Jet Age inspired styling. The 1961 model Cadillacs had upper and lower rear fins, and a 6.4 litre V8 engine. This car has featured in television and print advertisements and films in Australia and overseas. Estimate for this car is $44,000-46,000.

Sports cars in the sale include an early MGB Roadster ($12,000-14,000), a lovely 4-seater Morgan ($45,000-48,000) and a magnificently restored 1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupe (Estimate $75,000-78,000). One rather special sports car is a 1926 Ford Model T "Mercury" Speedster. Very rare, this is thought to be the only running example in Australia, and features wire wheels, including side-mounted spare and low rakish bodywork, finished in bright yellow.

The other T-Model Ford included in the sale has a fascinating past. This 1925 model has recently completed a marathon 45,000km journey circumnavigating Australia. Fitted with polished aluminium bodywork, this car is fitted with long range fuel tanks, water tanks, telephone and CB radio. "Whistling Dixie" as the car is known has featured on television and many newspaper and magazine stories. This unusual car is expected to sell for between $10,000 and 12,000.

Big Jeep wagons are so fashionable today, but their ancestor, the 1954 Jeep Station Wagon, to be auctioned is a very rare vehicle. Sold as a more practical and user-friendly version of the original military Jeep, the Station Wagon retains much of the original Jeep character, and is a practical six-seater. A versatile and unique classic, this vehicle is expected to sell for between $8500 and $12,500.

The vehicles will be displayed for inspection at Exhibition Park in Canberra on Friday 22nd, Friday 28th and Sunday 29th of June from 9am each day, with the sale taking place from 2pm on Sunday 29th. Illustrated catalogues with detailed descriptions are available from Wemyss.

A full listing of the vehicles in the sale is below. If you require any further details or pictures of any of the vehicles, please call Wemyss - (02) 9283 4900, or fax (02) 9283 5600.

Auction report

Wemyss auction of veteran, vintage, classic & sports cars

Canberra - June 29th, 1997

Wemyss held another successful auction of cars in Canberra at the end of June, an event which attracted a very broad range of vehicles for sale. The heated pavilion at Exhibition Park proved an excellent venue.

Oldest was a trio of very well restored veteran Oldsmobiles. Two were Curved Dash models, one of which was a charming, very rare and authentically restored Delivery Van. A lovely 1904 Oldsmobile Rear Entry Tonneau, with removable rear seating area and adjustable angle steering wheel (proving that there is nothing new under the sun), attracted keen bidding, eventually selling to a rural New South Wales buyer for $64,450, belived to be a record for such a vehicle.

Another Oldsmobile to sell was a fully refurbished 1928 F28 Tourer. This 6 cylinder car with body work by Holden was excellent value for the buyer, selling for a very reasonable $16,500.

Two cars sold to Western Australian buyers - a nice 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, and an exceptionaly attractive, metallic light green 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL with hardtop and soft-top.

A 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which had apparently had one owner from 1964 to 1996 did not reach reserve, as was the case with an unusual 1926 Ford Model T "Mercury" Speedster. A sale was made however, on the well known 1925 Ford Model T called "Whistling Dixie", which had completed an epic 40,000Km round Australia drive.

A meticulously restored 1955 Jaguar XK 140 FHC failed to sell, although the auctioneer had considerable interest in the vehicle after the auction. Post-auction negotiations have seen sales of a charming 1954 Jeep Station Wagon and a 1951 Peugeot 203A Sedan which were included in the auction.

A large selection of automobilia was offered, which included books, mascots, veteran lights and several brochures. Canberra Rolls Royce Silver Ghost expert Ian Irwin was very pleased to be the buyer of a rare veteran spotlamp.

The first Canberra auction for Wemyss was a great success in spite of the terribly cold, wet weather, and will now be followed by annual Wemyss sales in the ACT.

Wemyss Fine Art Auctioneers Pty Ltd

AUCTION OF VETERAN, VINTAGE,
CLASSIC & SPORTS CARS,
BRISBANE, SEPTEMBER 27TH 1997 AT 7PM

Following very successful sales in Perth and Canberra, WEMYSS is pleased to announce a Brisbane auction of Collectors’ Motor Vehicles, on Saturday 27th september at 7pm.

Wemyss has assembled an excellent array of fine motor cars spanning all eras and interests. The highlight will be the magnificent and unique Bentley Supersports.

The Brisbane sale will take place in the historic Cannery Building in Tennerife from 7pm. Further details and illustrated catalogues will be available ($12 posted) by calling the Sydney (02-9283 4900) , Perth (089-9381 3581) or Brisbane (07-3254 1855) offices.

WILL EMAIL YOU AN IMAGE FILE SHORTLY

1925 Bentley 3 Litre "Supersports 100mph" offered for sale at the Wemyss auction of veteran, vintage, classic and sports cars. Estimate $300,000/350,000

This exceptional sporting Bentley is one of only 18 of the "Supersports 100mph" chassis models produces. The 3-litre 2-seater car was specially designed for use in hillclimbs, sprint events and races of the day.

Shipped to Australia when new, it was displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show in 1925. It was fitted in Australia with spectacularly styled sporting bodywork, which the car retains to this day. It is the only Bentley ever to have been fitted with such bodywork.

The car became a part of the famous Harrah Collection in the USA before returning to Australia in recent years.

The car can be described as being in excellent condition throughout, and its sale offers the buyer the opportunity to own a unique and very special Bentley with exceptional Australian history.

Other vehicles to be offered include: 1927 Cadillac La Salle Roadster, 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC, 1962 Renault Floride Convertible, 1960 Borgward Isabella Coupe, 1963 Jaguar Mk2 3.8, 1954 Willys Jeep Aero Station Wagon and many others.

Auction: Saturday 27th September 1997 at 7.00pm
Viewing: Friday 26th & Saturday 27th September 9.00-7.00pm
Specialists in charge: Antony Davies (02) 9283 4900
Paul Blank (09) 9381 3581
Venue: The Old Cannery, Dath St, Tennerife.
DO NOT MISS THIS IMPORTANT AUCTION.
Catalogue now closing.