Final Valiant riding high

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The last Chrysler Valiant built in Australia has sold at auction for A$37,000 (NZ$42,500) - more than four times its original new price of A$8780 ($10,000).

The 1981 CM V8 automatic - the 565,338th Valiant built at Chrysler's Adelaide plant over 20 years - rolled off the assembly line in August of that year.

It was presented to Sydney Chrysler dealers Purnell Brothers, who have kept it as a museum piece for the past 22 years. It has never been registered and has only 26km on the clock.

Chrysler Valiant collectors Ivan and June Smith from Kyneton, Victoria, bought the car at the Shannons auction in Sydney the other day.

It completes their extensive Valiant collection, which starts with the 26th Valiant ever built, a March 1962 R-type, and includes examples from every year, including Charger and Pacer models.

"It won't be driven," said Ivan Smith. "But it will have a special place in our private museum and we will share it with other enthusiasts.

"A lot of people will be surprised at the price the Valiant brought, but where else could you find a car like this?

"My wife was pushing my arm up at the auction while I was trying to keep it down."

The Smiths were among many enthusiasts who spurned the latest and greatest new cars on display in the Sydney motor show to pay nearly A$1.4 million ($1.6 million) for 28 of the 36 special, vintage and classic cars and motorcycles up for auction.

A new BA Falcon XR6 turbo ute donated by Ford and painted in trademark style by larrikin Broken Hill artist Pro Hart, also did better than its show sister model. It sold to a Queensland Pro Hart enthusiast for A$55,000 ($63,000) - about A$10,000 more than retail price.

Top price was A$425,000 ($488,000) paid for a 2002 Bentley Arnage Red Label long wheelbase saloon. A 1978 Ferrari 512BB coupe brought A$124,000 ($142,500).

Two Chevrolet Corvette roadsters were in high demand with muscle car enthusiasts. The 1959 left-hand-drive roadster sold for A$69,000 ($79,000) and the fully restored 1968 427 L71 convertible reached A$76,000 ($87,000).

Classic Mercedes-Benz roadsters were also sought after. A restored 1957 190SL Roadster sold for A$60,000 ($69,000). A beautifully presented 1970 model 280SL brought A$48,000 ($55,000).

Older cars also did well. One of the auction's cover cars, a 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Tourer sold for A$100,000 ($115,000), and a 1932 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Tourer brought A$80,500 ($92,500).

The 10 motorcycles and scooters also attracted spirited bidding, with a 2001 Ducati MH 900E Evoluzione selling for A$30,000 ($34,500) and a Ducati 1979 MHR 900 reaching A$12,000 ($13,800).

Two early 1960s Vespa scooters sold for A$4000 ($4600) and A$4500 ($5170).

Honda's first sports car sold in Australia, an S600 roadster, sold for $6500 ($7475).