Historic racing car among decorative arts auction mix

A ‘Clement’ Austin Seven Special is a major highlight of E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming two-day auction from 11am each day Saturday August 11 and Sunday August 12 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

In 1963, John Clement built this historic Australian racing car and competitively raced it in South Australia for the next three years at the Mallala Motorsport Park and Collingrove Hillclimb track in the Barossa Valley.

Throughout the 1960s, the car appeared in different body configurations including being fitted with a Renault 750cc powerhouse.

From 1978 to 2002, several people owned the car before it was purchased by Jeff Redin who nine years later began an extensive five-year restoration.

The car was returned to its 1964 body configuration with an aluminium skinned tubular steel frame on Austin Seven chassis rails.

The four-cylinder Austin Seven engine is fitted with Renault conrods, Phoenix crankshaft and a Roots type supercharger with single SU carburettor.

The car is an affordable historic racer for interested buyers the CAMS logbook should be easily obtainable given the sale includes copies of period photographs and provenance paperwork.

The auction contains selected items from deceased estates and private consignments including fine English antique glass and sterling silver from an Armadale home – some purchased from Kozminsky in Melbourne.

Other attractions include fine French antique furniture and 19^th century English and French porcelain such as 25 pieces of decorative Moore china.

Other highlights include 18^th and 19^th century Dutch art, superb mirrors and mantel clocks.

Typical of the offerings is an elm rush seated rocking chair, an outstanding French Sevres jewel casket and a three-piece decorative French bronze and ormolu mounted clock with a cherub on top.  

Two Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) vessels – one of bronze on a stand and the other a bronze ritual wine vessel – are other important historic items.