• Fierce bidding for early 1970s Australian Muscle Cars
• $38,000 bid for 1957 Messerschmitt 3-wheeler micro car
• Bids increase for Classic Japanese sporting cars

Record prices expected with one day to go in Shannons Timed Winter Auction.

A number of Heritage number plates and Classic vehicles are locked in vigorous bidding duels as bidding in the online auction close progressively from 7pm Tuesday, June 15.

Amongst the fiercest duels:

• Bidders are yet to decide which iconic Australian Muscle Car to put in their garage, with $17,000 bid so far for a 1973 Ford Falcon XA GT; $118,000 offered after 31 bids for a 1969 Falcon XW GT-HO Phase I sedan and $100-000 bid for a distinctive 1971 'Plum Dinger' LC Torana GT-R XU-1. Both the GT-HO and XU-1 have yet to meet their reserve prices;
• Bidders have the unlikely prospect of deciding between three very different Classics –  a sleek, 1985 Lotus Esprit Turbo offered at 'no reserve' (latest bid $37,000), an impressive visual replica of a Ferrari 250LM and a quirky 1957 Messerschmitt KR200 three-seater micro car (the latter two currently sitting at $38,000) – all three currently 'on the market';
• A high-performance 2002 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG has currently attracted a top bid of $10,000, while a 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite MKIII sits at $9,600 after 32 bids – both offered at 'no reserve' and therefore 'on the market';
• Those planning to beat COIVID travel restriction by heading inland may be choosing between a Classic 1978 Bedford CF Franklin motorhome( 'no reserve', current high bid $17,567), or an original short wheelbase c1966 Land-Rover Series II ('no reserve' $17,500);
• The most popular of the 16 motorcycles in the auction is a rare, 'no reserve' 1938 Matchless Model X, with 17 bids so far, leading at $34,500, but equally desirable for some enthusiasts is a 1959 BMW R50 motorcycle and sidecar, which has currently attracted bids up to $31,000.
• The top bid in the online auction remains the $500,500 offered after two bids for a fully-restored, early model 1971 Ferrari Dino 246GT Coupe – still below its reserve price – with its closest competitor being a magnificently-restored 1966 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series Roadster, also yet to meet its reserve at $265,000 after five bids.
• A rare 1995 Australian-modified Mazda RX7 SP is still the most sought-after Japanese sporting car and is now 'on the market' at $135,000 followed closely by a very low kilometre 1994 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R offered with 'no reserve' and sitting at $131,500).
• All 16 Victorian and New South Wales numeric number plates are now 'on the market' after reserve prices have been either met or passed, with the top offer so far being $250,000 for the NSW three-digit Heritage plate '809' after 19 bids.

However, there is a running duel for the three Victorian triple-digit plates in the auction  – '481', '623' and '827' – all facing top offers in the $150,000-plus range, with the top four-digit plate being 'lucky' Vic '8.338', which now stands at $115,500, followed by Vic '2.688' at $110,500.

The auction closes progressively from 7pm Tuesday, June 15.

To view all auction lots, visit www.shannons.com.au

To talk to a Shannons Auction Team member, call the 13 46 46, Option 6 (Auctions), or email auctions@shannons.com.au