Muscling in on something rare

This sought-after 1974 Ford Falcon XB GS 'K Code' 351 V8 sedan is expected to bring $24,000-$28,000 at Shannons Sydney Auction.

Sought-after classic cars will set lips licking at Australian auction

Three rare Australian muscle cars - including a sought-after 1968 HK Monaro GTS 327 "Bathurst" coupe - will be jostling for pole position at Shannons Sydney summer classic auction on February 4.

The Silver Mink metallic four-speed manual Monaro has created great interest, as it is number 42 of the first 50 GTS 327 coupes to leave Sydney's Pagewood assembly plant in 1968, and is showing just 94,500 miles (believed genuine) in the hands of its fourth owner.

The HK GTS 327 is believed to have been entered in "The Great Race" as a backup car for the 1968 Bathurst Motors race team, but never competed.

The previous owner bought the car in the early 1980s with 70,000 miles on the clock, soon after restoring the body and all mechanicals.

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The car was purchased by the current owner 15 years ago and has been kept garaged, regularly serviced and driven only sparingly.

The car has period chrome rims, its original Goya Red vinyl interior and radio.

Shannons expects the Monaro to sell for A$85,000-A$95,000 ($106-119,000) - a relative bargain.

For Ford fanciers, there is the next best thing to a Phase IV Falcon GT HO in the auction - a 1974 Ford Falcon XB GS "K Code" 351 V8 sedan.

Rare in its day and now sought-after, this four-speed manual, nine-inch diff with sports suspension XB GS Rally Pack sedan has been in the current ownership since 1980, used as a family car until the mid-1990s and clocking up 189,758km, believed genuine. Shannons is quoting A$24,000-A$28,000.

Finally, there is a trophy-winning 1972 Holden HQ SS Sedan with the sought-after 253-cid V8 and four-speed manual gearbox combination, that comes with a letter of verification from the SS Owners' & Enthusiasts' Group.

It is believed to have been restored seven years ago and has also recently had an engine rebuild, with just 400km travelled since.

The HQ engine looks stock, but the internals have been modified extensively for added power.

Its four-speed manual gearbox is also fitted with M21 ratios.

It has Pedders suspension all round and slotted front disc rotors.

Shannons expects it to sell for about A$18,000-A$24,000.