A PACKED saleroom in Sydney witnessed spirited bidding on a number of motor cars at Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia auction which made a total of AUS$ 1,180,583.  

The highlight of the sale was the 1926 Bugatti Type 38 restoration project – completely dismantled, incomplete and lacking engine and body – which realised $ 110,400 (£68,000), some seven times its pre-sale auction estimate. Seven telephone bidders fought against six absentee bids and five people in the room with a northern hemisphere telephone bidder victorious.
 
And Britain had success on Australian soil with a 1925 Bentley 3-litre Speed Model VdP Tourer and an ultra rare right hand drive 1949 Jaguar XK120 Alloy roadster selling very well at $ 329,500 (£203,000) and $ 249,200 (£154,000) respectively. Over 75% of the lots offered in the Automobilia and Motor Car sale found new homes with buyers from the USA, UK, France bidding against the home market.
 
Robert Glover said, 'Given the strength of the Australian dollar against other world currencies we were pleasantly surprised by the level of overseas bidding at the sale. Whilst the Australians often won out, it clearly demonstrates the reach and importance of Bonhams global motoring network.'