Two of Australia’s rarest classic cars net more than $1.5 million between them

Australian classic car auctioneers expect to be “inundated” by owners of the legendary Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III after a unique example set a new auction record of $1,030,000 on the weekend.

This pristine example once owned by Australian cricketer Jeff Thomson broke the million-dollar barrier — the first Australian production car to do so — at Lloyds Auctions in Bathurst on Saturday.

Fetching more than 200 times the car’s new price in 1971 (a little over $5000) almost 50 years later, the ex-Thommo ‘Hoey’ shattered the previous record auction price for a classic Aussie muscle-car — $750,000 for another 1971 GTHO Phase III, in June 2007.

Thomson bought the prized Falcon for $23,000 in the late 1980s and it still bears its original seat belts, carpets, spare tyre and log books. It even came with photos of Thommo, who was once the world’s fastest bowler, in the car.

Powered by a circa-300hp/225kW 351ci Cleveland V8 driving through a four-speed manual gearbox, the GTHO was billed as the world’s fastest four-door production car in the early 1970s.

It’s believed there are now fewer than 100 fair-dinkum GTHO Phase IIIs remaining in existence and the seven-figure auction price for this special example is expected to spur more sales activity from other owners and investors.

“Now we have taken it into the seven digits we expect to be inundated by Phase III owners and buyers, which is exciting for all classic car collectors and investors around Australia,” said Head Auctioneer at Lloyds Classic Car Auctions, Bill Freeman.

The iconic Ford wasn’t the only Aussie muscle-car in demand from cashed-up baby-boomers on Saturday, when an extremely rare Holden Torana A9X GMP&A sold for $500,000.

One of just 33 examples built, the unique Torana had travelled just 14km and was kept in a bricked-up garage for more than 30 years in near-new condition.

“This sale shows that the buyer interest in Fords and Holden classics is continuing to grow after Australia’s car manufacturing closed down,” said Freeman.

More than 1000 people attended the record auction in Bathurst, which is now the headquarters of Lloyds Classic Car Auctions.