Jan 0 1948 Mercedes-benz A320 Cabriolet Sold for $350,000 at the 2007 Melbourne Auction

In the news: Last March 12 at the Melbourne International Motor Show auction conducted by the Shannons, a unique 1948 Mercedes-Benz A320 two-door cabriolet that has never made production was sold for $350,000 in front of huge crowd consisting of around 1,500 people at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Despite the limited lots available as compared to previous years, the Melbourne International Motor Auction was able to sell more than $2.7 million and obtain an outstanding clearance rate of over 90 percent of all lots. Out of the $2.7 million, around $600,000 was spent on vehicle number plates of which five VicRoads’ new signature plates have been sold for a total of $154,000 ahead of their public launch which was scheduled yesterday, March 13.

The sale of the rare Mercedes-Benz was the highlight of the auction. The striking two-tone blue fully restored vehicle was discovered in an isolated state in Indonesia in the year 1980 and was then brought to Australia where it was restored. Quality Mercedes parts such as the Mercedes brake caliper was used in restoration of the 1948 A320. A Mercedes-Benz brake caliper is an important component of any vehicle since it induces a speed-stopping amount of friction that slows down or stops a Benz vehicle and the 1948 A320 Cabriolet is not an exemption. The 1948 A320 two-door Cabriolet embodies the luxury image of Mercedes-Benz before the devastation of its German factories in World War II. Unfortunately for the A320 instead of making production was overtaken by the more technically advanced 300 series models.

Aside from the A320 Cabriolet, the 1930 Invicta S-Type Low Chassis which was previously owned by the Shannons’ founder Robert Shannon became an additional attraction at the auction. The bidding for the Invicta has also turned out to be an emotional event for both Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon and veteran auctioneer Bill Wellwood. The Invicta was sold in for $950,000.

Also for auction at the Shannons was the totally-restored 1971 Chrysler Charger R/T E38 coupe sold for a record price of $140,000 surpassing the record of a previously sold Charger R/T E38 at $128,000 which was auctioned last year at Shannons’ Sydney Motor Show auction.

Other cars sold at the auction includes a 1969 Holden Monaro HK GTS 327 coupe in superb condition was auctioned for $120,000, a 1968 Monaro HK GTS 307 coupe was also bought at $50,000 while a 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT sedan was sold for $34,500.

Here are some of the auction results:

• A fully-restored 1956 Holden FJ Utility sold at $61,000

• An un-restored one-owner 1957 Ford Mainline Utility sold for $33,000

• A well preserved one-owner Ford Fairlane ZC 351 V8 sedan sold for $21,000

• A magnificent vintage 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Saloon auctioned for $100,000

• Three-digit Victorian vitreous enamel plate ‘765’ was sold for $75,000 followed by the big-block plate ‘429’ which was sold for $70,000 while the ‘353’ was sold for $63,000

• Four and five-digit plates: the ‘2123’ was able to make $34,000, the ‘8168’ with $32,000, the ‘9.444’ gained $31,000 while the ’30.000’ and ’66.111’ which are considered the best of the five digit plates were sold for $27,000 each.

• The new VicRoads ‘Signature series’ personalized number plates did remarkably well with the GT selling nearly three times its estimate at $53,000 while the ‘RR’ and ‘SS’ were each sold for $36,000. The GTO was sold for $17,000 and the ‘RT’ was taken for $12,000.

2011 Audi Q5 Hybrid Confirmed

AUDI HAS CONFIRMED that it will bring a hybrid Q5 model to market in 2011, the first mass-market hybrid vehicle for the German brand.

Specific details on the Q5 Hybrid are still under wraps, but, like the Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid, it will likely be destined for the US market.

No commitment has been given to manufacturing the Q5 Hybrid in right-hand drive, meaning we may never see Audi’s eco-friendly softroader on Australian roads.


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Opinion is split on whether Audi will use nickel metal hydride or lithium ion batteries in the Q5 Hybrid. However odds are high that the powertrain will be similar to the 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine and 300Nm electric assistance motor used by the upcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne hybrid, 2010 Porsche Panamera hybrid and 2010 VW Touareg hybrid.

Up until now, Audi has resolutely stuck to clean diesel technology as its answer to emissions reduction.

It remains to be seen whether the automaker will follow up the Q5 Hybrid with more petrol-electric models. Some commentators postulate that the petrol-electric Audi is less about reducing CO2 and more about profiting in the hybrid-friendly US market.


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Audi, like its compatriot Mercedes-Benz, favours all-electric powertrains as its long-term answer to reducing environmental impact. The company has revealed that it intends to launch a battery-electric version of its R8 supercar by late 2012, with the technology to eventually work its way down the Audi range.

For now though, the company is keen to demonstrate what it can do with petrol-electric technology. The Audi Q5 Hybrid is due to be officially unveiled in late 2010, most likely at the Los Angeles Auto Show.