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When it comes to classic sports cars, not everyone wants
the real thing, particularly when it costs around 10 times that of an excellent
imitation.
Shannons on Monday is auctioning replicas of two classic
sports cars that most enthusiasts would find difficult to pick from the
original, but will probably give their new owners similar pleasure.
The left hand drive 356 Speedster replica being auctioned by
Shannons on Monday (September 3) in Melbourne was originally built with great
attention to detail in the United States in the 1960s, with the body moulds
taken from an original Speedster.
The car’s gauges, headlights, vents and wheel trims are all
believed to be correct Porsche 356 items, while it is equipped with full wet
weather gear and lots of nice touches like an Italian Nardi wood rim steering
wheel.
Like most Speedster replicas, its running gear has Volkswagen
origins and includes a big-bore 1600cc engine with twin carburetors .
Importantly for potential purchasers, the car is being sold
registered and comes with import approval, title and a Victorian roadworthy
certificate supplied after the sale.
Shannons is predicting a guiding price range of
$26,000-$32,000.
For the more adventurous enthusiast, Shannons also has a 1959
Lotus 11 'Replica' Roadster in Monday’s auction.
Conceived as a road racer by Colin Chapman, the Lotus Eleven
arrived in 1956 and was hugely successful in the 1100cc sports-car category in
the late 1950s.
Its streamlined body was the work of aerodynamicist Mike
Costin, with the wheels almost fully enclosed and both tail and front sections
of the body were hinged to improve access to the mechanicals.
Built in Geelong, Victoria by a motoring enthusiast around a
Westfield chassis frame sourced from England, the lovely Lotus Eleven replica
being sold by Shannons has been fully engineered and certified, as well as road
registered.
The car's running gear is a Nissan four-cylinder with
four-speed manual gearbox, along with MG suspension, steering and brakes.
The attractive body was designed and built locally and the car
reportedly is great fun to drive.
It is being auctioned with copies of all relevant build
information and engineering data, with a Victorian roadworthy certificate
supplied after the sale and is expected to attract bids in the $20,000-$25,000
range.
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