The eclectic personal collection of the late automotive industry figure and racing driver, Alan Hamilton, who died earlier this year, is set to offered for sale by Donington Auctions.
Hamilton, together with his father Norman, spent three decades as Australia’s official Porsche importer – the world’s second oldest outside of Europe – in parallel with a successful racing career, culminating in victory in the 1977 Australian Sports Car Championship and a trio of Hillclimb Championships.
He was also a key part of the famous Ford 1-2 at Bathurst in 1977, finishing second with Colin Bond.
Donington’s exclusive ‘Mr Porsche Australia – Featuring the Garage & Collection of the Late Alan Hamilton’ auction featuring over 500 lots will be conducted on-line only, with bidding opening on 2 February.
The on-line auction will then be concluded over two days, 14 & 15 February.
“Alan was an important figure both in the industry here, as a racing driver and in Porsche’s history, and his amazing collection reflects that incredible life,” Donington’s Robbie Richards said.
“There are some truly unique pieces of history and provenance that only Alan had, which simply won’t be available again in this context. It’ll be an exciting auction for collectors.”
Needless to say, Porsche is heavily represented among the auction’s lots with offerings that include items unique to Hamilton, as well as exceedingly rare collectibles from the German marque.
Headlining the vehicles of offer is the 1971 McLaren M10B that Hamilton himself raced in the early ‘70s and later re-acquired, restored and ran for his long-time driver Alfredo Costanzo, in historic racing.
The McLaren is fully restored and is being offered, alongside the ultra-rare one-of-four built 1987 Penske PC16 Indycar in the collection.
With significant Australian racing heritage is the 1957 Sabakat, a Lotus 12-based special with both unusual provenance and interesting history, while another locally-built car to be offered at auction will be a 1973 Farrell Clubman sports car, at one time raced by Hamilton’s son Travis.
An unusual Maserati 250F ‘tribute’ completes the small collection of cars, which is accompanied by a large array of automotive memorabilia and ephemera.
Porsche-related items dominate, from sets of factory blueprints for the 917, 908 and 906 racing cars, to statues, models, signage and even inscribed doorhandles from the former Hamilton dealership.
There are copious artwork and posters featuring Porsches, along with rare original factory parts catalogues, sales brochures, even bound business documentation between the dealership and German factory, along with many large mounted photographs from Hamilton’s career as a driver and entrant.
Trophies, medallions, books and slot cars related to Hamilton’s career racing Porsches and outside, racing Fords for Allan Moffat and his own F5000 exploits, are all on offer in the collection, which includes items from his many diverse motor racing interests.
Pre-bidding for the ‘Mr Porsche Australia – Featuring the Garage & Collection of the Late Alan Hamilton’ will open on-line on 2 February.
A premium European-style auction house, Donington Auctions is Australia’s largest auctioneer of classic automotive items. It boasts more than 100 years’ combined market expertise as a specialist in vintage and veteran, classic and collectible cars and motorcycles, Single Owner Collections, and automotive memorabilia and ephemera.
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.
Rare and exotic amusement machines from Australia’s largest ‘retro’ games arcade are set to go under the hammer with No Reserve prices, with Donington Auctions early next month.
More than 100 working and regularly maintained ‘vintage’ amusement games are to be offered in the on-line auction, which takes place on Sunday 5 October.
“Like a step back into our childhood and the ‘Timezone’ arcades of the ‘90s, this collection of retro amusement machines is truly amazing, and will bring back many memories,” Robbie Richards from Donington Auctions said.
“Significantly, all these machines are being sold without a reserve price, so this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a piece of your childhood at potentially a bargain price.”
One of the highlights of this Donington retro amusement machine auction will be the sale of the ‘Shooting Zone’ game (Lot 104) which runs the master system cartridges, and is one of less than a dozen known to exist in the world. The last one sold is believed to have changed hands for $10,000.
Other notable Lots include examples of the Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Daytona USA and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games.
All of these vintage amusement machines are come from the popular ‘Arcade Garage’ licensed venue in Thornbury (Melbourne) – the largest of its type in Australia – now closing its doors due to the owner’s change of circumstance.
As a key part of the broader ‘Welcome to Thornbury’ entertainment precinct, the ‘Arcade Garage’ retro amusement game parlor saw these machines used daily and service regularly.
Included in the Donington auction too are various hard-to-find circuit boards and other parts crucial to the maintenance and repair of these vintage amusement games.
A total of 193 lots are going under the Donington Auctions’ hammer on Sunday 5 October.
Prior to the auction, buyers are even offered the opportunity to try the games out at ‘Arcade Garage’ or inspect the machines at Donington Auctions’ headquarters in Dingley (Melbourne).
For over 4-decades the exceptional Cremorne Garage of David Jones has been the envy of classic car enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors. It was an exclusive privilege to be invited in to David’s Aladdin’s cave nestled behind the imposing red brick Bryant & May Match Factory in Richmond Victoria.
David’s shed/warehouse has always been rightly regarded as one of the best of the best in vintage/classic cars and collectables. His 1972 Ferrari 246 GT Dino and triple concours winning MGTF are almost dwarfed by the wall of garage memorabilia, which conjures up thoughts of what some of the big service stations in St. Kilda or Camberwell junctions may have looked like in their hay day.
Scarcely seen garaganalia including petrol pumps are spread throughout the warehouse, a highlight is the Rolls-Royce of pumps, the 1923 Wayne ‘Corinthian’ 5-gallon petrol pump. This pump is so large and imposing, it’s almost like the Acropolis overlooking Athens!
Antique display cases are full, and the walls of the garage are lined with some extremely desirable advertising material and signs, most being Australian oil companies. With David working for Mobil Oil Company in his youth he was actively collecting oil related memorabilia dating back 40 years and well before the boom of the collecting category. Fortunately, he had the both a keen eye and means to buy good quality items which he always did.
David’s automotive passion also extended to model cars and related collectables. He had amassed a sizeable array of various sized models, which often related or mirrored the 1:1 scale counterparts which were housed in the garage, owned at some stage or on the wish list!
The quality of this 1000+ lot auction of an institutional figure like David Jones AO OBE KstJ, is rarely seen on the market these days, and a collection of this quality and diversity is unlikely to be replicated.
Numerical number plates continue to be hot property in the collector market, with a select consignment of just over a dozen six digit Victorian plates achieving outstanding results in Donington Auction’s ‘Numbers Only Plate Auction’ on 31 October.
Offered on behalf of VicRoads, book-ended combinations saw strong, competitive bidding with ‘966.699’ achieving $11,000 at the close of bidding, and ‘8’ combinations continued to be sought-after by collectors whether for synergy or numerology reasons.
Australia’s non-heritage six-digit numerical plate market has dramatically increased in value in recent years, fueled by new collectors entering the market. Another contributing factor to this collectability is that these types of plates are no longer available for purchase directly from VicRoads.
This year, Donington Auctions has set several benchmark results for custom numerical and six-digit Heritage plates.
In August, the revered ‘123 456’ plate eclipsed Donington’s pre-auction estimate of $250,000 – 300,000, selling for $363,000. And earlier in the year, ‘888 888’ achieved an equally impressive $230,000, smashing the previous auction record of $53,000 set in 2022 for the non-heritage plate ‘911 911’.
“We are thrilled with the response and auction participation, which resulted in a 100 per cent sale rate,” Donington Director Cameron Sabine said.
“This offering from the vaults of VicRoads demonstrates the growth in this segment of the market, which was reflected in the large number of first time bidders in the auction.
“We received good feedback about this latest plate offering and the new and more modern aluminium framed Prestige format, and one of the factors behind that is that many of the coveted low-digit heritage plates are now so valuable that they are out of reach for many enthusiasts and collectors.”
Donington Auction’s next sale ‘Collector Car & Number Plate Auction – Featuring the Fine Stables of the Late Ric Begg & Turner Foundation’ is scheduled to close in early December.
It will also offer a healthy selection of desirable Victorian registration plates, with a highlight being the enamelled Heritage plate ‘123-567’ which is sure to create a stir in the market.
Three vintage trucks with storied history in Australian film and television productions are part of a prominent collection to be auctioned on-line by Donington Auctions between 14 & 27 October.
Put together over many decades by a family patriarch and two brothers from Victoria’s Western District, the Provan Collection includes eight vintage trucks, two cars, 11 motorbikes and various rare spare parts.
“Our vendor remembers spending her school holidays being dragged from farm to farm seeking out these automotive gems,” Donington Auctions Cameron Sabine said.
“The Provan Collection now being offered includes three rare REO Speedwagons and trucks that range from 1923 to 1930, while the motorcycles stretch more broadly, from a 1912 Douglas to a circa 1970s Honda GL-175.
“All are offered at No Reserve and are in varying condition, from those that need some recommissioning to others that are little more than a jumble of parts.”
Sharing the spotlight in the film Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman was the oldest truck, a 1923 Ford TT, along with the Provan Collection’s 1927 Chevrolet AA Capitol tow truck and a 1928 REO Speedwagon Model G Heavy Duty. The trio also appeared in The Far Country television mini-series with Michael York and Sigrid Thornton.
On offer too is the Collection’s 1926 Auburn and 1934 Graham sedans, three early bicycles – one of them motorized – and some interesting and doubtless now very rare vintage parts and equipment.
A 1913 Fiat Tipo 2B rolling chassis is also being auctioned on-line, together with an Italian stablemate, a 1950 Fiat Topolino C Estate with an interesting family history.
Donington Auctions’ Provan Collection on-line auction will go live on 14 October and conclude on 27 October.
Donington Auctions are proud to offer a fine selection of 19th Century horse-drawn carriages in the Collector Car, Number Plate & Horse Drawn Vehicle Auction being held on August 25, 2024.
Three carriages will offered including a Victoria dating from the 1850s (estimate of $13,000-18,000) , a circa 1880s Brougham (estimate $22,000-28,000) and the undisputed star, a fabulously ornate Vice Regal Ceremonial Town Coach built for the Maharaja of Mysore (estimate $60,000-70,000). Built by renowned coachbuilders Simpson & Co., a firm who catered to wealthy customers from royal households around the world, the carriage reputedly carried Edward Prince of Wales during his tour of Madras, Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad. Preserved in the Mysore stables until the early 1970s, the carriage made its way to Australia.
Recalling a bygone era of transport before the motor car was invented, the carriages are available for viewing at Donington Auction’s Sydney facility at Amaroo Park by appointment.
Donington Auctions are proud to present the Porsche Auction featuring rare memorabilia and parts , including items from the collections of marque specialists Jeff Dutton and Austin King.
Jeff Dutton is synonymous with the Porsche marque. Jeff Dutton’s grandfather, Albert Octavio Dutton, built a modest service station and repair workshop at 341 Burnley Street Richmond, Victoria in 1911. From there, the Dutton car showroom moved to 525 Church Street in 1989, and from this location, the sale of many rare and collectable pre-owned automobiles took place. Jeff Dutton initially bought and renovated an old chocolate factory, and then created an iconic space for a prestige luxury car dealership – ‘DUTTONS’, which subsequently became one of the most exclusive and well patronised showrooms for clients from around Australia and overseas. The walls were adorned with memorabilia and covered with the signatures of racing and sporting identities, together with worldwide celebrities who visited their showrooms.
Another name renowned in Australian Porsche circles is Austin King. Austin started with motor cars in March 1963. He worked with Porsche Sales for 44+ years of that span of 60+ years in the motor trade. Austin enjoyed many years of service to the Hamilton Porsche and the Porsche Centre Melbourne, becoming one of the most successful salesmen that Porsche had seen in Australia.
Donington’s is proud to present the collection of these two esteemed Porsche specialists, plus other vendors from both Melbourne, Sydney and beyond. The majority of the auction is offered without reserved.
The auction includes many rare parts, with rare competition parts being a highlight. (lot 1) a rebuilt 2.8 RS Porsche Aluminum 7R cased engine, being Ex – Porsche Race Department and likely used for the factory car “Baby” – a Porsche 935. A rare set of four , (lot 13a) circa 1984 six-spoke factory Porsche 956 / 962 magnesium alloy front and rear racing wheels, ex-Rothmans works cars. Another decorative potential wall hanging (lot 3) a complete side panel set of John Harvey’s #76 Porsche 911 in Grace Brothers race livery is also offered, never before been seen on the open market.
High performance parts for road going Porsches are also available, (lot 13) a set of 1973 Porsche 911 2.8 RSR, IROC or 3.0 Litre RS black FUCHS wheels for example. Or are you after that elusive 356 or early Porsche 911 parts? A genuine Porsche 901 gearbox (lot 6). A Porsche 915 aluminium close ratio gearbox (lot 28), is sure to attract strong bidding from local and overseas bidders. Many hard to obtain parts such as these are included in the auction.
Porsche manufactured high quality tractors between 1955 and 1963 and presented in the auction in the signature red finish, is a collectible Porsche ‘Junior’ Series 108 single cylinder diesel tractor in restored condition.
In addition, various automobilia and associated Porsche items are throughout the auction. Featured is a wonderful library of high-quality books, prints, posters and scale models all offered at no offered. Of particular interest is (lot 8) – the iconic ‘HOT.911’ Victorian registration plates, sold with rights to display. These plates featured in the 1980s Castrol advertising campaign on the very well known ‘hot’ 911 RSR. This advertising piece adorned the walls of many enthusiasts at the time.
From this small snippet, it can be seen that this is the premier stand-alone Porsche auction that has been offered to the market in many years. We expect bidding to be fierce from both Australian and International enthusiasts alike.
DR RYAN STORY AM LAUNCHES MOTORSPORT MEMORABILLIA AUCTION IN BID TO RAISE $200,000 FOR CHARITY
Dr Ryan Story AM, co-owner and Team Principal of the Shell V-Power Racing Team (Dick Johnson Racing), philanthropist and a prominent figure in motorsport, is excited to announce the launch of his highly anticipated Motorsport Memorabilia Auction. Teaming up with the experts at Donington Auctions, this exciting timed online auction gets underway on Monday 17th June, concluding on Sunday 30th June, and promising a superb showcase of some of motorsport’s finest memorabilia. Every bid and all vendor proceeds of this auction will be donated to and fuel ‘The Ryan Story Worthy Causes Fund’, specifically benefiting Camp Quality and the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia.
With a target of $200,000, Story is releasing a treasure trove of coveted items that will set hearts racing for collectors and fans alike. From an original autographed Mark Webber driving suit from his Jaguar Formula 1 era to a helmet donned by Webber during his F3000 days, and even the iconic driving suit worn by Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin in his triumphant 2020 championship run, this auction promises adrenaline-fueled excitement. Not to mention the set of wheels and tyres that propelled McLaughlin to a record-breaking “Lap of the Gods 2” Pole Position at the 2017 Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama, which are expected to reach a bidding frenzy, with estimates surpassing $15,000.
Story explained his motivation to create the auction, “Philanthropy has always been a passion of mine, but my time as an ambassador for Camp Quality and the Prostate Cancer Foundation has reaffirmed just how important giving back is. These organisations help ordinary Australians who are facing extraordinary circumstances and seeing first-hand the positive impact they have motivated me to launch the Ryan Story Worthy Causes Fund in 2023.”
Dr Story continues, sharing his excitement for the auction “When I launched the Worthy Causes Fund last year, I wanted to have a major fundraising effort annually in addition to my own contributions. I’ve kept a number of items that hold significant personal value and with a collection so large that it needs its own warehouse, why not auction the lot for charity!”
Anne Savage, Chief Executive Officer, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia shared her gratitude “We are extremely grateful to Ryan Story and the Worthy Causes Fund for making such a remarkable contribution to the work of PCFA. Ryan Story’s unyielding passion for supporting Australian men and families impacted by prostate cancer is truly commendable. Ryan has gone above and beyond to guide our growth and expand our reach over the past three years, establishing himself as one of Australia’s great philanthropists. The Motorsport Memorabilia Auction will make a significant difference to our mission, funding life-saving research, awareness, and support. We thank Ryan for his generosity and brilliance.”
Deborah Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Camp Quality echoed these remarks “Camp Quality is incredibly grateful to long-time ambassador Ryan Story for raising much-needed funds for kids and their families impacted by cancer. It is extraordinary people like Ryan who make it possible for Camp Quality to support families from the moment they receive the devastating news their child has cancer, through every step of the cancer journey.
The auctioning of Ryan’s legendary motorsport memorabilia is sure to excite motorsport fans around the country and we look forward to seeing who wins the valuable kit. Thank you, Ryan, from all of us at Camp Quality and the ~10,000 kids registered for our services. Your generosity and unwavering commitment to bringing positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer provides some beautiful light for families during their darkest days.”
Donington Auctions is a premium European-style auction house and the largest auctioneer of classic automotive items in Australia. Donington operates nationally with a team of principal and consultant specialists, bringing extensive experience across all collecting categories, ensuring an exceptional auction experience for buyers and consignors alike.
Cameron Sabine, Director, Donington Auctions shared his excitement “For the dedicated Scott McLaughlin or Dick Johnson fan, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase some significant and historic memorabilia and artifacts, many of them unique. Dr Story’s collection will also have broad appeal to Formula 1 enthusiasts too with Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and our own Australian stars Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber among the names associated with an eclectic mix of Grand Prix auction items.”
The Motorsport Memorabilia Auction will be conducted online, allowing bidders from around the world to participate and contribute to these worthy causes. Interested individuals can register for the auction and preview the collection of memorabilia items on the official auction website: charityauction.org.au
Join Ryan Story in supporting Camp Quality and Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia through the Motorsport Memorabilia Auction and help make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
About Camp Quality and the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia
Camp Quality brings positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer.
We are there for kids (0-15 years) dealing with their own cancer diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a sibling or parent, every step of the way.
Our supportive services and programs help families build optimism and resilience by building supportive communities, giving families the chance to reconnect following hospital treatment at our Family Getaways, providing a break from cancer at our Camps and curriculum based in-school education programs with the Camp Quality puppets.
Our services also include digital resources and counselling, accessible whenever and wherever they are needed. We’re proud to have improved the quality of life for kids impacted by cancer, and their families for over 40 years.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia is committed to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners, families, and the community through awareness, research, and support programs.
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