Shannons is one of Australia’s premier auction houses, and their auctions are always eagerly anticipated. They always manage to be able to produce some pretty special vehicles for their auctions, and their upcoming Summer Classic is no exception. There is something in it for virtually every taste, with desirable cars from Europe, the USA, and Australia, set to go under the hammer. One Australian classic to be sold in a No Reserve auction is this 1976 Holden Monaro GTS. Under the hood is the Australian 308ci V8 engine, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. More of a 5-seat grand touring car than an outright muscle car, the auction estimate on this car is $25,000-$30,000. You will find the full catalog of vehicles here at Shannons.

One of the series of American cars to be going under the hammer is this 1975 Buick LeSabre Convertible. Fitted with a 350ci V8 engine and automatic transmission. This car has undergone a repaint at some point in its life, and the seats have been fitted with new covers. The soft-top is said to be a little worn around the edges, but the overall presentation is quite reasonable. This is another vehicle that is being offered with No Reserve, and the auction estimate is $18,000-$22,000.

Another example of American iron that will be going under the hammer will be this 1960 Ford Galaxie Sunliner. Powered by a 292ci V8, and with a 3-speed automatic transmission, this Sunliner was imported from the USA, and in 2001 it was converted to right-hand drive. The overall condition of this car is very good, with a new soft-top fitted, the interior refurbished at some point, and the brakes upgraded to include front discs. The auction estimate for this car is $52,000-$58,000.

For those lovers of fine European motoring, you haven’t been forgotten either. As well as vehicles from Alfa Romeo, Sunbeam, and BMW, there is this rather nice Jaguar Mk1. Power is provided by a 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine, with power feeding to a 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The owner purchased the car in 2005 and then spent $70,000 on having the car restored specifically for use in his wedding. Originally finished in blue, the color was changed to the current Bright Red during the restoration, and the car is also fitted with a very nice grey leather interior. The presentation of this car is exceptional, and it’s one that I really wouldn’t mind owning myself. The guide price on this Jaguar is $32,000-$38,000.

If you are a lover of the blue oval, then this might be the family classic for you. Cars like this 1978 Ford XC Fairmont Wagon used to be a common sight on Australian roads, but they have all but disappeared. This one is in quite nice condition and has been fitted with some nice factory extras. The car was optioned with the GS Rally Pack, which brought non-functioning hood scoops, bumper over-riders, a sports steering wheel, and full instrumentation. The car is fitted with a 302ci V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission. The vinyl trim, with bucket seats and a floor console, all look good, while the car has been fitted with factory GXL wheels, and the rare for Australia two-way tailgate. The guide price of this car is $22,000-$28,000.

For our American friends, this car should look vaguely familiar. This is a 2009 HSV W427 E Series Sedan. Based on the Holden VE Commodore, this vehicle has been enhanced by a separate company which acts as Holden’s own factory tuning house. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) performed numerous upgrades to the vehicle’s engine, suspension, brakes, and body to produce a pretty special car. The 427ci V8 now pumps out 503hp, and this is fed to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. Upgraded springs, shocks, and enormous brakes help to tame and direct the power, while the addition of front and rear spoilers help to provide aerodynamic stability. When Holden updated the VE Commodore in 2013, export versions commenced production, and American readers may recognize the car as the Chevrolet SS, sold between 2014 and 2017. This particular vehicle is another one that is being offered with No Reserve, and a guide price of $80,000-$90,000.

Prior to the establishment of Holden Special Vehicles in 1987, Holden’s performance branding and modifications were undertaken by a company called HDT, which was owned by the late Australian racing legend, Peter Brock. HDT and Holden parted ways after a messy dispute in 1987, but prior to that, not only was HDT contracted to produce high-performance road cars, but to produce the 500 vehicles that were a requirement to compete in International Group A Touring Car Racing. The first of these homologation specials was the VK Commodore SS Group A, sometimes referred to as “the blue meanie.” Powered by an Australian 304ci V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission, the homologation of the car ran late, so although the initial cars were built in late 1985, it wasn’t eligible to race until 1986. With the passing of Peter Brock in 2006, the 502 examples that were built have become highly sought. With only around 10,000km (6,500 miles) on the clock, there is little doubt that the bidding on this car will be strong. I’m quite surprised to see that this car is being sold with No Reserve, and while the guide price is $160,000-$190,000, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if bidding went quite a bit higher.

The undoubted star of the auction will be this particular car. Built in 1969, this is the Holden HT Monaro GTS 350 Coupe. Featuring a 350ci Chevrolet V8 engine and 2-speed automatic transmission, these cars were Holden’s front-line performance car in their day. The GTS 350 in 4-speed configuration was once again something of a homologation special and was designed with one purpose in mind, and that was to win the 500-mile endurance race at the famed Mount Panorama circuit at Bathurst. This is something that the GTS 350 did with style. This car underwent a repaint around 15-years-ago, and there are a couple of aspects of the car that aren’t original. One of these is the striping. While it is factory correct in style, the striping on the vehicle is gloss, where it originally would have been matte. The dual exhaust system is also not standard, but rectifying these issues would be a fairly easy job. This is another car where I’m surprised by the fact that it is being sold with No Reserve. The auction guide price is $160,000-$180,000.

That’s just a taste of what is going to be sold at this auction. There are quite a few other cars which would appeal to most tastes, along with a good supply of motoring memorabilia. The auction will run from the 16th-17th February, and I will be keenly watching the last three cars that I have featured, as I suspect that the bidding on these will be especially strong.