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Sydney, Monday July 24: The rare and elegant 1955 Bentley S1
Continental Park Ward Coupe originally owned by screen legend Gary Cooper was
back in the spotlight last night, selling for $135,000 at Shannons Sydney Winter
Auction.
Four years after starring in the cult Western ‘High Noon’, Cooper had the
imposing right hand drive coupe delivered to Paris, where he was making ‘Love in
the afternoon’ with emerging screen siren Audrey Hepburn.
It arrived by air on January 23, 1956 and was used by Cooper during his
breaks in filming, before being sent to his home in Los Angeles.
Following Cooper’s death from cancer in 1961, the Bentley migrated back to
England and then returned to the USA, before finally being dispatched to its
current home, Australia.
While now 50 years old, the stylish Continental is fitted with power steering
and air conditioning was eagerly sought after by both floor and telephone
bidders at the Sydney auction, with a local buyer ensuring that the car will
remain in Australia.
Classic American cars also fared well at last night’s Shannons auction, with
a fully-restored left hand drive1956 Chevrolet Bel Air two door coupe finished
in white over turquoise selling for a very strong $56,000, a 1996 Ford Mustang
GT convertible bringing $43.500 and a beautiful 1960 Chrysler New Yorker 2-door
coupe owned by motorsport identity Mark Oastler selling for $34,000.
Notable sporting car sales included a 1990 Porsche Carrera 4 four wheel drive
coupe ($53,000) and a Holden LX Torana A9X sedan that brought $46,000.
Interesting for collectors was the $19,500 paid for a very original, red 1959
Austin Healey ‘Bug Eye’ Sprite roadster – $500 more than the $19,000 paid for a
1966 Morris Mini Cooper S Mk I – while a green Austin-Healey Sprite Mk2A
Roadster with wire wheels sold for $13,000.
Amongst the unusual sales of the auction, a pair of iconic 1986 and 1987
Citroen 2CV 6 sedans sold for $12,250 and $11,250 respectively, while a 1957
Goggomobil TS300 – not the Dart – sold with no reserve for $3,700.
With a clearance rate of more than 70 per cent, Shannons National Auction
Manager Christophe Boribon said the Sydney auction demonstrated that the market
remains buoyant for interesting and affordable classic cars.
“This is an excellent result for Shannons– particular our ability to attract
buyers for vehicles of the calibre of the Gary Cooper Bentley,” he said.
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