‘Motoring Through the Ages’ is a timed-online auction that features motoring literature from the library of the late Geoff Deacon of which Classic Cars and Motorsport were a lifelong passion.  This passion was sparked on the 3rd March 1967 when he attended his first race meeting at famous Longford circuit in Tasmania.  Geoff’s enthusiasm for motoring literature and memorabilia grew into one of the largest private collections in Australia.

This auction celebrates over 100 years of motoring with an array of interesting rare books and racing programmes signed by such motor racing legends as Juan Manuel Fangio, Colin Chapman, Jim Clark, Innes Ireland, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Stirling Moss, Denny Hulme, Peter Revson, Vern Schuppan, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and many more.

The exciting auction titled ‘Australian and New Zealand Motorsport’ features memorabilia drawn predominantly from one collection, the estate of the late Geoff Deacon.  This Trans-Tasman sale features rare automotive books, photographs and limited-edition prints, many signed by drivers including such late greats as Peter Brock, Sir Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme and Juan Manuel Fangio.  Other signatures include Norm Beechey, Jim McKeown, Harry Firth, Alan Jones, Jim Richards, Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife, Greg Murphy, Paul Radisich, Mark Winterbottom, Shane van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard, Scott McLaughlin, Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, James Courtney, Garth Tander, Mark Webber and many more. 

Geoff Deacon secured many of his signatures at race meetings as he was an active member of the Australian Motor Racing Photographers Association (AMPA) which is recognised and accredited by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).

This auction celebrates the rich motor racing heritage in Australia and New Zealand and the diverse range of motor racing categories.  It also coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Australian Grand Prix which started in Phillip Island as the 100 Miles Road Race back in 1938.

The 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato or Grand Touring Homologation), a car often viewed (and definitely priced) as the finest embodiment of one of the world’s most recognisable brands, Ferrari. Everywhere the fabled 250 GTO is seen it commands a certain and distinct mystic. Powered by a formidable 3 litre V12, the GTO was designed to compete in the FIA Group 3 Grand Touring Car category with opponents that included Jaguar, Aston Martin and Shelby Cobras.

Built between 1962 and 1964, 36 250 GTOs were produced with 33 series 1 cars and three series 2 cars (with four series 1 cars retro fitted with the updated series 2 bodywork in period). Several cars were originally available for sale (provided Enzo Ferrari personally approved the sale) for USD$18,000.

Due to the extraordinary and exponential growth in value, these cars have become the poster child for the classic car scene, and a beacon for how well an astute investment in a classic car can perform. The car reportedly holds both the largest private sale price (USD$70 million) and largest realised auction price (USD$48.4 Million) ever achieved for a car, with both achieved in 2018.

Interestingly, the cars have gone down in price at two points in their lifespan. The first was seen soon after the initial launch where one car reportedly went on to sell at the 1969 Kruse International Auction for just $2,500 and then another (much more violent move) again in 1990s where the price of classic cars (after just experiencing a price boom) took a sudden and sizable hit due to general economic issues that hurt investments across the board, in this instance the value went from the seemingly dizzying heights of $13 million (1990) to “just” $3 million (1993), and $2.2 million (1997). A fast-paced price recovery followed closely.

The cars have since seen a meteoric rise in price and desirability with current prices placed high in the eight-figure range. The rise has been so explosive that values have increased by well over $10 million in a single year. The recent results will ensure that a frenzied interest will always be present whenever another is brought to the market.

The 100-Million-dollar question is whether these remarkable cars are at, near, or even have a price ceiling, or is the sky (stars and beyond) the only limit? Only time will tell.