Classic Aussie muscle cars under the hammer

It might not have quite the credibility of the famed Phase III GTHO Falcon, but Ford's XW-based GTHO Phase II was actually the car that reclaimed the company’s Bathurst glory by winning the 1970 event and nullifying the disappointments of the original Phase I XW GTHO at the race a year earlier.

With its further-modified 224kW Cleveland V8 and numerous tweaks to the driveline and brakes, the 1970 Phase II GTHO was an even more track-focused car that was able to run standing 400-metre times in the low 14-second bracket.

But although it took out the first two positions at Bathurst in 1970, the Phase II GTHO didn’t quite match the achievements of the following year, when Phase IIIs were present in all but one of the top-five placings.

If you’re a classic Ford fan and you’d like a chance to buy a pristine GTHO Phase II, a visit to the Shannons Autumn Auction to be held in Melbourne on May 8 could pay off.

Included among the classic cars to go under the hammer is a 1970 XW Phase II GTHO from Brisbane that's been thoroughly restored to bring an expected price of between $180,000 and $220,000 at auction.

Although the car was repainted in the mid-1970s and fitted with orange GT stripes replacing the original gold stripes, it will be sold with a set of original gold stripes. And, after wearing five-slot Globe alloy wheels for much of its life, it is now fitted with the correct riveted steel wheels, complete with trims and caps.

Alongside the Phase II, the Shannons Autumn Auction will also feature its arch-rival in the era, a 1969 Holden Monaro GTS 327 that has been in the same family since it was bought new.

The South Australian Monaro will be sold with its original receipts and, apart from a repaint “at some stage”, has never been restored.

It’s showing around 72,000 miles on the odometer and, adding to its authenticity, it includes dealer-fitted air-conditioning and an Air Chief radio installed at the time of original purchase.

The GTS 327 comes onto the open market for the first time in 48 years and, like the Phase II GTHO Falcon, is expected to bring between $180,000 and $220,000 at auction.

Chrysler is also getting a leg in at the Shannons autumn auction: A 1971 E38 Six Pack Track Pack Chrysler Charger R/T will also be up for grabs.

The car, which was fully restored in 1998, is fitted today with a reworked Six Pack engine and a four-speed gearbox in lieu of the original three-speeder, but will come with both the original E38 engine and gearbox.

The E38 Charger is expected to auction for between $160,000 and $180,000.

Shannons will also be putting two imported Mustang muscle cars under the hammer at the autumn auction: a 1966 Shelby GT 350 Hertz and a 1969 428 SCJ.

The former is expected to bring between $180,000 and $210,000 and the latter between $85,000 and $100,000.