Multiple racers with Australian Grand Prix heritage, including an ultra-desirable 1926 Bugatti and the 1951 handicap-winning MG TC Special, headline the Donington Auction’s live simulcast Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction on 25 February.
 
Estimated at just short of $1 million and offered for sale for the first time in 60 years, the incredible 1926 Bugatti Type 37’s legacy includes six Australian Grand Prix starts, from which the car finished second in 1930, ’31 and 33.
 
One of only a handful of genuine examples of the model remaining in Australia, the Bugatti heads a comprehensive list of classics being offered for sale, many for the first time in generations.
 
Another machine with AGP pedigree is the 1948 MG TC ‘Tillett’ Special, which won the 1951 race on handicap, with that Narrogin (WA) race the final to feature handicap honours.
 
With a distinguished competition record, the piece is valued at an estimated $50,000 – $60,000, which is sure to be on the radar of competition enthusiasts.
 
Elsewhere, a 1971 Chrysler VH Valiant 770 Charger is certain to turn heads, with the machine campaigned in modern times by the legendary Leo Geoghegan alongside navigator/owner John Ellis, the late ex-Competitions Program Manager for Chrysler in Australia.
 
Other motorsport-centric lots include the 1948 Austin A40 Weir & Male ‘Wylie’ Special, which has been a regular competitor since its construction, while the log-booked 1953 Jaguar-Ford Special has been similarly on track from the 1950s through to contemporary historic competition.
 
Also offered for sale is a range of road-going vehicles, including the unique 1969 Cadillac Sport Wagon, formally owned by the Rat Pack’s Dean Martin.
 
Hand-built by legendary Hollywood customizer George Barris, the wild Eldorado Sport Wagon is in “barn find” condition, ready to be restored to its former glory, with the unreserved lot estimated to fetch $25,000 – $35,000.
 
Other highlights of the February Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction include a rare 1940 Lincoln Zephyr V12 coupe, a collection of concours-winning Mercedes including a 1960 190SL sports and 1986 560SL sports, and a 1975 Holden HJ Kingswood Vacationer II.
 
The highly sought-after three-digit South Australian heritage plate ‘980’ leads the number plate offering, which is expected to fetch between $120,000 – $140,000.
 
Australia’s largest auctioneer of classic automotive items, Donington Auctions, has more than 100 years of combined expertise in the classic and collectable market as a specialist in vintage and veteran, classic and collectible cars and motorcycles, single-owner collections, plus automotive memorabilia.
 
With a national footprint, Donington Auction’s Melbourne-centric automotive offering has recently expanded to encompass the company’s maiden Sydney operation, filling a significant hole in the marketplace.
 
Housed in an original historic building at Amaroo Park in the north-western Sydney suburb of Annangrove, the Donington Auction’s team has expanded its roster to include numerous key staff and consultants, who bring considerable experience in the field to the business.
 
The facility is set to feature on-site auction previewing and will become a go-to destination for motoring enthusiasts and clubs, paving the way for an expanded auction schedule.
 
Pre-bidding for the auction opens on 18 February 2024 at www.doningtonauctions.com.au, with inspections for the various pieces welcomed.