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.

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 are proud to present the ‘The Historic Racing Car & Motorcycles Auction’ – an online auction featuring world renowned cars and motorcycles including iconic brands such as Brabham, Honda, Jaguar, Lotus, Kawasaki and Chevrolet.

A highlight of this auction is the Brabham BT16 Climax which was originally sold to John Coombes Racing and raced in Formula Two by Graham Hill on his quest to became Formula One World Champion. The car also has significance closer to home with it being campaigned by Frank Gardiner in the Tasman Series where he finished equal second in the 1967 championship with Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart, as well as coming home in 3rd place at the 1967 Australian Grand Prix.  The car is currently in its Tasman Series spec, featuring a 2.5-liter Coventry Climax engine. This car underwent a full restoration which was completed in 2009 with no expense spared.

Also featured is a 1964 Jaguar 3.8 MKII Group N Historic Touring Car. This well-known MKII Jaguar was meticulously built by Graeme Lord in 2003 and has been in continual development since. This car was the winner of the 2010 Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan trophy for Nb Touring Cars and is sold with a CAMS Historic Group Nb Logbook.

If you’d prefer to go historic production sports cars racing, the romping genuine 7 Litre 427 cubic inch 1969 Chevrolet Corvette roadster will get you up and going. This competitive Group Sb car is sold with a CAMS Historic Logbook.

Also, on offer is wonderfully Australian racing special called a ‘BWA’.  It has been commonly imagined that the BWA stood for ‘B….y work of art’ , however this is not so.  It is an acronym from the 3 friends who constructed it in 1938 being Gib Barrett, John White and Alan Ashton.  With Gib Barrett at the wheel at Bathurst in 1946 it recorded fastest race time while later at the historic Rob Roy hillclimb it took the class record. It also raced at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.  Fitted with a 1.5 litre Lea Francis engine with General Motors supercharger.

On the two wheel front the racing theme continues with two striking examples including a 1962 Honda CB72 250/350cc and a 1972 Kawasaki S2 350cc.

The auction also consists of a large collection of racing memorabilia which includes original racing posters from the 1960’s and 1970’s and a rare and interesting Harley-Davidson trophy race cup from 1927.

More exciting consignments will be announced shortly but consignments close soon.

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.”

‘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.