• Log In
  • Become A Subscriber
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
Reading
Record Price for Australian Holden
ShareTweet
Roadcar Articles

Record Price for Australian Holden

Avatar photoPatrick Quinn

Melbourne-based auction house Mossgreen dipped its toe into the Sydney automotive auction scene on Sunday May 28 as 20 vehicles went under the hammer in the Carriageworks facility at Eveleigh, just south of the Sydney, CBD.

Strategically positioned to catch the eye as you walked in, was a two-liter Aston Martin DB1 that finished 10th in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949. While not to be auctioned, it was available through Mossgreen by private treaty.

The car that drew the most attention, however, was a Holden Torana A9X Hatchback that helped Australian privateer driver Bob Morris win the 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship ahead of the official Holden factory team headed by Peter Brock.

Initially built for U.S. drivers Johnny Rutherford and Janet Guthrie for the 1977 Bathurst 1000, it was later driven at such diverse circuits as Sandown, Symmons Plains, Wanneroo, Calder, Oran Park, Lakeside, Amaroo Park and Adelaide International Raceway.

In 1980 it was bought by West Australian enthusiast and collector Peter Briggs, who would go on to race the car a number of times at Wanneroo before it was retired to the York and Fremantle Motor Museums.

It was clear that a lot of people were at the Mossgreen auction specifically to see how the Torana would fare, especially as it was virtually exactly how it was last raced back in 1980. A time-warp piece of Australian motor racing history!

Bidding started at Au$480,000, but it quickly rose to Au$490,000 and then to half a million. The bids came in quickly, and the auctioneer clearly didn’t have to prompt for more. The half a mil was soon left behind when it was increased to $550,000 and then $600,000 where it was sold, to tumultuous applause. With buyer’s premium, taxes and all that, the total amount was Au$705,000 (US$535,800), a new world record price for a Holden sold at auction.

Auction Results – including buyer’s premium in Australian dollars

  1. 1977 Holden Torana A9X Hatchback $705,000 (US$535,800)
  2. 1956 Austin-Healey 100M $246,750 (US$187,530)
  3. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster $196,812 (US$149,577)
  4. 1962 Porsche 356B T-6 Notchback $99,875 (US$75,905)
  5. 1953 Alvis-Healey (Project) $39,950 (US$30,362)
  6. 1913 Ford Model T $35,250 (US$26,790)
  7. 1966 Triumph Bonneville T120TT Special $19,975 (US$15,181)

The following cars went unsold:

1926 Packard 120; 1933 Reo Flying Cloud two-door coupe; 1936 Rolls-Royce 25-30 HP; 1940 Packard One-Ten Drop Head Coupe; 1953 Alvis TA21G Fixed Head Coupe; 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Saloon; 1959 Porsche 356 ‘A’; 1964 Aston Martin DB5; 1970 Aston Martin DB6 M2 Vantage; 1983 Porsche 911 (930) 3.3 Litre Turbo; 1986 Ferrari Testarossa; 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 60th Anniversary; Maserati Tipo 61 Recreation.

 

Tags
People (Bob Morris)People (Janet Guthrie)People (Johnny Rutherford)People (Peter Brock)

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.

Avatar photo
Patrick Quinn
Related

Lamborghinis on Lake Como

Gordon Murray Group Receives King’s Award

Cavallino Classic Modena 2025

2025 Hagerty Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh

Petersen Museum Salutes 80s & 90s Icons

Marketplace: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Free Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Paid Subscription
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Cars For Sale
  • Special Feature
  • The Cars
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Meet the Team
Copyright © 2025 A07 Online Media
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
All Access
  • Free Newsletter
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
Featured (Racecar Feature) Events All The Market (Auctions & Market) The Market (Auctions) Featured (Vintage Car Racing)
See all results

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.