Two recently discovered, extremely rare microcars led a buoyant auction at Donington Auctions today, with the Peel P50 setting a new record price for a microcar in Australia. The tiny Peel — made famous when Jeremy Clarkson drove one through the BBC studios on Top Gear — captured bidders’ imaginations worldwide.

Lot 3, the 1964 Peel P50, sold at Donington Auctions’ Collector & Competition Car Auction for an eye-watering $85,000, following a frenzy of bids from Australia and overseas before being secured by a local collector.

Weighing just 59 kilograms, measuring 137 cm long and 99 cm wide, the Peel P50 is officially recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest production car ever built. Manufactured between 1962 and 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, the P50 is one of the most distinctive and collectible microcars in the world.

Recently discovered in a Queensland garage, where they had remained untouched for more than five decades, the 1964 Peel P50 and 1962 Messerschmitt KR200 drew strong interest from collectors both in Australia and abroad.

The Peel P50 sold today is believed to be the only factory-built example in Australia. With just 49 produced and only 27 thought to survive, it represents an extraordinary find.

Donington Auctions’ Damien Duigan said:
“This result reinforces that rarity and unrestored originality remain key factors for collectors in today’s market — and that they’re willing to pay a premium for it.”

Greater capacity for auction consignments and more flexibility for concurrent auctions, are key benefits brought by Donington Auctions’ recent move into an expansive new national headquarters.

Three years in the planning, Donington’s new 1600 sq.m. facility in Dingley will enable the collector car and motorcycle community to engage with its regular, large scale classic vehicle and collectibles auctions, in a modern and professional environment.

“Our new facility gives us the capacity for much larger and more regular auctions, and provides a well-located meeting place for enthusiasts and collectors to get together,” Donington Auctions’ Cameron Sabine said.

“We are a proper ‘bricks and mortar’ operation, not just on-line, so enthusiasts can inspect the cars, motorcycles and collectibles up for auction, talk to us about them, and bid with confidence and clarity.

“Additionally, we now have the room for things like cars and coffee events and club activities … we plan to make our new headquarters a real destination for classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts.”

With over 100 years’ combined expertise, Donington Auctions is a premium European-style auction house, auctioning more automotive-related items than all its rivals combined.

In addition to its new Melbourne headquarters, Donington Auctions has an established Sydney base, located adjacent to the historic Amaroo Park racing circuit site.

As well as vintage, veteran, classic and collectable cars, motorcycles, and trucks, Donington auctions thousands of items of automotive memorabilia, garagenalia, petrolnalia, models, and automotive-related ephemera every year.

It is also a specialist in Single Owner Collections and Classic and Vintage Tractors.

Donington Auctions boasts more than 100 years’ combined market expertise and has extensive experience across all collecting categories, working with top tier dealers and global auction houses such as Christie’s, Bonhams and Sotheby’s.

Victoria’s ‘luckiest’ numerical registration plate, 888-888, has just sold for a record-breaking $230,000 at Donington Auction’s ‘Collector Car & Number Plate Auction’.

Privately owned for the past 30 years, 888-888 smashed the record for the sale of a Victorian custom numerical plate, which was set in 2022, when 911-911 sold for $53,000.

Ironically, 888-888 sold for significantly more than the 2003 Mercedes Benz CL600 V12 which wore this pair of custom plates, bringing a still strong $51,000 at Donington’s auction on Sunday.

“The numeral ‘8’ is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture, and that was certainly the case for the plates’ elderly owner of three decades,” Donington Auctions’ Cameron Sabine said.

“Having an ‘8’ within a registration plate sequence has become the digit of choice among number plate collectors, both for its luck and in the case of this particular plate, its symmetrical format.

“So, we weren’t hugely surprised that it sold so well and were very pleased to have eclipsed the previous record by so much.”

A collection of extremely rare Porsche tractors auctioned by Donington Auctions has set new Australian records for the sale of these little-known agricultural products of the famous German sports car marque.

Donington’s on-line auction of the most comprehensive collection of Porsche tractors in the southern hemisphere, brought over $375,000.

Six Porsche tractors and an additional five Allgaier tractors, also originally from Germany and based on Porsche designs, were all owned and restored by a Victorian enthusiast.

Among them, the sale of a 1962 Porsche 419 Master set a new individual Australian record for a Porsche tractor, selling for $83,000 against an upper estimate of $75,000.

(Lot 4 – 1962 PORSCHE 419 MASTER)

It was the highest priced Porsche tractor ever sold at auction in Australia.

Another highlight was the 1959 Porsche Standard Star 238, which sold for $68,000 against an upper estimate of $45,000. The majority of the lots sold over estimate.

Tractor enthusiasts from Europe and the USA were ultimately outbid by east coast Australian collectors, who recognised the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase these rare Porsche tractors, which were never sold here when new.

This successful sale of the Single Owner Collection of Porsche and Allgaier tractors comes on top of Donington’s record-setting $1 million sale of John and Sue Illingworth’s unique collection of over 150 vintage tractors in Three Springs, Western Australia, earlier this year.

“Despite proactive bidding from international buyers, we were pleased to see the key consignments of the Porsche tractor collection remain on these shores,” Donington Auctions’ Cameron Sabine said.

“Tractor enthusiasts share the same passion as those collecting anything else automotive, as evidenced by the high number of bidders and successful sale of this outstanding collection of Porsche and Allgaier tractors.

“Our vendor was delighted with the auction outcome and particularly pleased to still be able to see these Porsche and Allgaiers at local tractor meets in the future.”

Off the back of the successful sale of the Illingworth and Porsche tractor collections, Donington’s has cemented its place as the ‘go to’ people for Single Owner tractor auctions.

Donington’s is now looking to consign to more Single Owner tractor auctions in 2024.

The Melbourne-based business is Australia’s largest auctioneer of classic automotive items. It is a specialist in Single Owner Collections, vintage and veteran, classic and collectible cars and motorcycles, and automotive memorabilia and ephemera.

The Timed Online Auction of the Badge & Mascot Collection of the Late Dr. David Watson Snr.

Dr David Watson Snr  – 11.4.1924 to 20.3.2005

David acquired his love of cars from his father at an early age.  His father trained in the precursor of auto mechanics, he commenced working at Brodribb’s in 1912 and served in WW1 in the motor transport division on the French front – many of these early connections and friendships remained influential throughout David’s life, including Jack Day and Doug Whiteford.  David’s foray into car ownership started early, with him driving his first acquisition, a 1910 Metallurique, home without tyres or a licence at 16 in the 1930s.

He cut a dashing form while at university studying dentistry driving a Brescia Bugatti, one that he shortened and modified with the help of Jack Day, who donated a Type 39 radiator to streamline the whole affair. A XK120 Jaguar, ex Bib Stillwell, to aid his courting days, followed this.  These marques and a number of other including Bentley, Renault and Chrysler had a profound impact on him over his life.

His practice in Toorak Village blossomed over 54 years, and so did his automotive collection, allowing him to exercise his eclectic tastes in all things car related.  To bastardise a phrase, his belief was: “there are no bad cars – just some are better than others”.  At any one time there were more than a dozen cars in his collection and projects to fill more than three lifetimes.  His web of contacts, including patients, enabled him to collect automobilia, badges and parts from all parts of the globe.  Family road-trip holidays were often thinly disguised treasure hunts for vehicles or automobilia.  His was truly a lifelong automotive passion lived to the full and to the end.

ONLINE AUCTION

Bidding increments increase by $5 per bid

VIEWING

By appointment – please contact us

AUCTION

Lot 1 starts closing on Sunday 31st May 2020 at 2 minute intervals with the last lot concluding at 4pm.

CATALOGUE

To view the catalogue please click here.

HISTORIC Q9 REGISTRATION PLATES SELL FOR A RECORD $363,000 AT AUCTION

Melbourne, Australia – a pair of historic, single digit ‘Q9’ Queensland Registration Plates have set a new auction record after selling for $363,000 at Donington Auctions’ Classic Automotive Auction in Melbourne on November 17.

The Q9 plates were issued to the 9th registered motor vehicle owner in Queensland – a Victor William Croston – and fitted to his Hupmobile on 1 July 1921 in Brisbane. This was only the second time the Q9 plates had appeared on the market in the 97 years since being issued. The buyer, who was present in the room at the auction, purchased these historically important plates with an accompanying certificate of Registration of Motor Vehicle issued by QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Donington Director Cameron Sabine said, ‘We are thrilled for the vendors of the Q9 plates as this outstanding result reflects the recent growth and strength in the Queensland historical number plate market. ’

Of the fifteen classic motorcycles offered, thirteen sold, included the 1939 Triumph Speed Twin 5T Motorcycle with Dusting Sidecar – which narrowly escaped wartime service after it was dismantled and buried by its owner – sold for $39,240, while a 1949 John Deere AR Tractor sold for $18,530, another heritage number plate Q379 sold for $16,350 alongside an impressive selection of automobilia and garagenalia.

Cameron Sabine added ‘as a relatively young auction house, we’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from collectors and motoring enthusiasts alike in our first year or so of We look forward to presenting more exciting auctions to the market in 2020. ’

Donington Auctions are now accepting consignments their April 2020 Collectors Cars’, Motorcycles and Automobilia Auction.

ABOUT DONINGTON

Donington Auctions & Sales specialise in Single-Owner Collections, Fine Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Automobilia, Tractors, Antiques and Collectables. The team of principal and consultant Specialists has significant experience across all collecting categories and each have worked with top tier dealers and international auction houses such as Christie’s, Bonham’s and Sotheby’s. Donington operates in both Australia and New Zealand with the head office based in Melbourne.

For further information contact:

Robert Richards | [email protected] | 0419 393 932

Cameron Sabine | [email protected] | 0421 511 006

doningtonauctions.com.au

The Classic Automotive Auction 

Featuring over 300 Lots – 17^th November 2019, Cheltenham Victoria 

Donington Auctions are proud to announce our upcoming auction ‘The Classic Automotive Auction’. This live auction will be held in Cheltenham, Victoria on Sunday the 17th of November and features a fantastic line up of classic automotive lots including motorcycles, rare and historic numberplates, over 100 lots of garagenalia, and tractors together with hundreds of memorabilia items.

A highlight of the auction is the historic single digit Queensland Registration Plates ‘9.’ This is only the second time the plates have appeared on the market in the 97 years since being issued. The Q9 plates were issued to the 9th registered motor vehicle in Queensland. The pair of Q9 plates and the right to display is sold with accompanying certificate of Registration of Motor Vehicle issued by QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads.

We have over 10 classic motorcycles on offer including the beautiful 1939 Triumph Speed Twin 5T with Dusting sidecar. This motorcycle has an amazing history, from being hidden from war service under a market garden to the father son family ownership. Another exciting feature lot is the rare and collectable 1977 Ducati 750 Super Sport square case, one of a mere 100 built in 1977. Other marques include Norton, Royal Enfield, Ariel, BSA, Velocette and Kawasaki. Also included in the auction is a Jap twin engine and a rare AJ Stevens engine.

On the tractor front we have an beautifully restored John Deere AR tractor and an original BMC Nuffield 4DM.  From the same estate collection is a 1968 Model IH Australian Army 6×6 petrol engine truck.

The auction also consists of a large single owner Caltex collection and other garagenalia from various vendors which includes a c1930 petrol bowser, large original enamel signs, a 1.8-meter Caltex circular illumination sign, globes etc.  The automotive memorabilia includes, impressive mascots, Michelin Bibendum figures, signed limited edition books, rare parts, models and many many more.

Donington Auctions is excited to offer the historic single digit Queensland Registration Plates ‘9.’ These plates are to be offered in the forthcoming Classic Automotive Auction on 17 November 2019 in Melbourne with an estimate of $250,000 – $350,000. Single digit number plates are highly sought after by collectors and motoring enthusiasts alike and these historically important plates present a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of Queensland motoring heritage. This is only the second time the plates have appeared on the market in the 97 years since being issued. The Q9 plates were issued to the 9th registered motor vehicle in Queensland, owned by Victor William Croston, and fitted to his Hupmobile on 1 July 1921 in Brisbane. The plates were purchased by the current owner at the Great Qld Plate Auction in June 1985. The plates were offered by QLD Department of Transport with other low digit plates and since then have adorned a range of vehicles the current owner has driven over 34 years. The pair of Q9 plates and the right to display is sold with accompanying certificate of Registration of Motor Vehicle issued by QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The private collection of over 100 Classic & Vintage Tractors drew crowds from all over Australia and sold for $1,177,312 in a packed warehouse turned saleroom in Geelong yesterday.

Over 600 collectors and enthusiasts – as well as online and telephone bidders – participated in the auction with spirited bidding setting several Australian auction records. The auction was 100% sold by Lot. Acquired by a private gentleman over many years, the collection featured over 100 restored tractors spanning 1919 to 1980. Bidders from Melbourne and interstate travelled to Geelong to witness the once in a lifetime collection go under the hammer.

Australian Auction records included Lot 123, a 1962 Mack B61 Thermodyne Truck with Allison Twin Axle Low Loader Trailer which sold for $61,040; Lot 33, a 1966 Minneapolis-Moline G1000 Tractor which sold for $32,700; Lot 21, a c.1936 Heinrich Lanz – Lanz Bulldog 35 H.P. (MODEL N) D8500 Tractor which sold for $28,340; Lot 39, a c.1919 Moline Plow Co. Universal Model D Tractor which also sold for $28,340 and Lot 29, a John Deere LA Tractor which sold for $19,620.

Donington Director, Cameron Sabine said of the auction, “We are thrilled with the result of over $1 million in sales and 100% clearance rate. This was a once in a lifetime collection, and the response from enthusiasts and collectors all over Australia and overseas has reflected that.”

And, “We are delighted, on behalf of the vendor, that every piece has found a new home. We now look forward to presenting our next auction of Collector’s Cars and Motorcycles in late May.”

Donington Auctions are proud to announce the Classic & Vintage Tractor Auction, featuring a single owner collection including over 100 Vintage Tractors, Crawlers, stationary engines and vehicles. This will be a live Auction taking place in Geelong, Victoria on April 7^th, 2019.

Models include Allis-Chalmers, Allison, B.F.Avery, Case, Chamberlain, Heinrich Lanz, International, John Deere, Massey-Ferguson, Massey-Harris, McCormick, Minneapolis-Moline, Moline Plow Co, and Oliver. Also featured are a Ronaldson Bros & Tippett engine, Ruston and Hornsby engine and a Mack – B61 Truck and trailer.

To request an online auction catalogue please email [email protected]

VIEWING

Friday 5^th April, 9am – 5pm

Saturday 6^th April, 9am – 5pm

AUCTION

Sunday 7^th April, 2019 – 11am

ENQUIRIES

Robbie Richards 0419 393 932

Cameron Sabine 0421 511 006

[email protected]

(03) 9882 1433