Rare Rolls Royce leads the charge in collectable car auction

A 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost with a catalogue estimate of $320,00-$350,000 is the highlight of Mossgreen’s forthcoming Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia auction from 2.30pm Sunday April 30 at 935 High Street, Armadale.

The car, now fitted with a body by Sydney firm Bradbury and with continuous provenance, was brought to Australia from London aboard the SS Karamea, arriving in Melbourne on October 22 of its year of manufacture.

While the Rolls Royce is the undoubted major drawcard, there are several other vehicles in the auction more than worthy of buyer attention.

Two are striking Chevrolet examples bound to excite fervent enthusiasts. One of these is a highly modified (with C4 upgrades) 1958 Panama yellow Corvette C1, making for a fascinating and usable weekend cruiser.

The other is a 1959 El Camino Ute – a Chevrolet retaliation to the highly successful Ford Ranchero.

Not only was the El Camino the coolest vehicle America had seen, it also was purportedly the fastest utility in the world. This stunning black example is a multiple concourse award winner.

British representation at the auction includes the 1948 HRG Bristol Prototype Historic 2-litre Sports Racing Car – brought for the first time to the auction market.

This rare Bristol powered HRG was an experimental chassis built in 1948/49 specifically for the 2-litre engine, which eventually found its way to a New South Wales farm shed where it rested for 40 years.

Another British highlight is the 1967 Lotus Elan Plus Two held in current ownership for 48 years.

The early Lotus cars were often aimed at racing privateers and this car, with 61,000 miles on the clock and the mysterious “Black Badge”, was originally sold to Australian Grand Prix driver Reg Hunt.

An Australian delivered 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220SE coupe with the rare four- bucket seat configuration (believed to be one of only three imported new into Australia) is another great opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire a German classic.

A 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe is another German offering along with a low mileage 2003 BMW M3 Coupe E46 finished in Titansilber Metallic Silver belonging to the late Geoff Deacon collection featuring motorsport books and programs.

Motorsport was Decaon’s lifelong passion and his enthusiasm for literature and autographs grew into one of the largest private collections in Australia.

The auction also features a range of historic motorcycles including a fully restored 1930-31 AJS R7, owned by a woman for 49 years.

One of the last R7s built, it is a great opportunity for connoisseurs of genuine vintage AJS racing era classics.

The pre-war Grand Daddy AJS R7 (as it is affectionately known) is complemented by a 1953 AJS 7R Boy Racer and a 1932 Velocette KTT 350cc Mk IV.

The Velocette is listed on page 187 of Velocette “Technical Excellence Exemplified” by Ivan Rhodes is one of only 148 built.

Motorcycle collectors also should be interested in a 1918 Indian Powerplus 61 C1 Model N owned by the same person for more than 50 years – and with only two owners in its 99-year history.

The motorbike was made famous by Cannon Baker who, in 1916, established a world record in Australia when he covered 1027 miles (1643 kilometres) in 24 hours. 

Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren also made the Powerplus name even more famous when they became the first women to ride coast to coast across America seated on two of the motorbikes.