Ex Dick Johnson “Greens Tuf” Ford Mustang for sale at Motorex

A very original Australian-delivered Nissan R32 GT-R first owned by Orbital Engine Corporation founder Ralph Sarich is one of 31 special vehicles and 29 items of automobilia in Shannons Custom & Collectable Vehicle Auction at Meguiar’s MotorEx this weekend.

Now in the hands of its third owner, the black 1991-model GT-R was one of just 100 R32 ‘Godzilla’ imported and sold by Nissan Australia in the early 1990s following the racing GT-R’s successes at Bathurst and in the Australian Touring Car Championship in the hands of Jim Richards and Mark Skaife.

The car to be auctioned has covered less than 100,000km since new and retains its original mats, tool kit, spare wheel, and keys, while its six cylinder twin-turbo 2.6 litre six cylinder engine is untouched and unmodified. It is expected to sell in the $42,000-$50,000 range.

The GT-R is amongst a number of unique high performance vehicles in the Shannons MotorEx auction, which will be held from 2.30pm on Sunday in the Main Exhibition Halls at the Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay.

The most decorated of these is the original ‘Greens-Tuf’ Ford Mustang GT raced by Dick Johnson to second place in the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship.

The Ford was first of two German Zakspeed-built Mustangs imported by Johnson to contest the touring car title under the new Group A regulations and was raced with his famous No 17 for two seasons before being sold to New Zealand racer Robbie Ker.

It has since been totally restored to its original 1985 racing specs by well-known New South Wales muscle car driver Ross Donnelley and is expected to attract bids in the $190,000-$220,000 range.

Not a racing car, but the progenitor of many is the totally original and undisturbed 1977 Torana A9X Hatchback that was the very first of just 100 two-door Hatch and 305 four-door Torana A9X sedans built for sale to the public between August and December 1977.

The A9X initially was one of two GM-H press and promotional vehicles before being acquired by leading Sydney Holden Dealer and racing driver Ron Hodgson. It has covered just 16,000km since new in the hands of a series of careful collector/owners and Shannons are predicting strong interest in the $270,000-$290,000 range.

Elfin aficionados have a choice of two virtually brand new V8-engined MS8 models  – a 2007 Clubman and a 2008 Streamliner – both with nominal kilometres and in showroom condition.

The Elfins are being offered on behalf of an investment company and are expected to sell at a substantial saving off current new prices. Shannons are quoting a guiding range of $62,000-$68,000 for the silver MS8 Clubman and $62,000-$72,000 for the yellow MS8 Streamliner.

Other rare sporting cars in the Shannons MotorEx auction include a two-owner, 1978 Morgan Plus 8 Roadster with only 21,715 miles on the clock ($66,000-$76,000); a meticulously-rebuilt 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Coupe ($52,000-$58,000); a 1998 TVR Griffith 500S Convertible believed to have covered just 13,000km since new ($48,000-$54,000)\; a 1989, four-owner, Australian-delivered Ferrari Mondial 3.2 coupe presented in as-new condition ($46,000-$54,000) and an immaculate 1954 MG TF that has been the subject of a recent total nut and bolt restoration which is expected to sell in the $30,000-$36,000 range.

Finally, Shannons will also be auctioning some impressive left hand drive Americans at MotorEx, including a stunning factory-built 1971 Dodge Charger ‘Super Bee’ coupe fitted with a 440-cid Big Block V8 ($52,000-$58,000); a spectacular 1959 Chevrolet Impala 348 ‘Tri-Power’ Convertible ($60,000-$70,000) and an original and correct 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, which is expected to sell in the $100,000-$120,000 range.

Meguiar’s MotorEx is the largest and most prestigious motoring event of its kind in Australia and is being staged over the weekend of July 24-25 at the Sydney Showground.

Show times are: Saturday from 10am – 7pm, Sunday from 10am – 6pm.

The Shannons auction starts at 2.30pm on Sunday, July 25.

All details of all MotorEx auction lots visit www.shannons.com.au