Estimated at just short of $1 million and offered for sale for the first time in 60 years, a rare 1926 Bugatti Type 37 with significant Australian Grand Prix history will be the hero of Donington Auction’s live simulcast ‘Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction’ on 25 February.

It will be joined in the Donington spotlight by a unique 1969 Cadillac Sport Wagon hand-built by legendary Hollywood customizer George Barris for entertainer and movie star, the Rat Pack’s Dean Martin.

Australia’s largest auctioneer of classic automotive items, Donington Auctions has more than 100 years of combined expertise in the classic and collectable market as a specialist in vintage and veteran, classic and collectible cars and motorcycles, Single Owner Collections, and automotive memorabilia and ephemera.

Headlining Donington’s live simulcast ‘Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction’, the Grand Prix Bugatti is one of 27 automotive classics offered for sale on 25 February.

Straight out of six decades of single-family ownership and expected to bring between AUD $700,000 and $900,00, the Bugatti is one of only a handful of Type 37s remaining in Australia and is arguably the most storied, having contested no less than six Australian Grands Prix, finishing second three times in 1930, 1931 and 1933.

In contrasting automotive style, Dean Martin’s Barris-built one-off Rat Pack Cadillac has also been in Australia for many years but hidden away in private collections, now available at public auction.

With its provenance confirmed by Barris Kustom Industries, the wild Eldorado Sport Wagon is in “barn find” condition, ready to be restored to its former glory.

Operating nationally but previously Melbourne-based, Donington Auctions has also expanded its automotive auction offering to fill the space vacated late last year by the now-defunct market leader, opening its first-ever Sydney operation.

Appointing several key staff and consultants from the former market leader to its already highly experienced team, Donington’s has expanded both its schedule of auctions and its capacity, with its new Sydney home located in Sydney’s Annangrove in an original historic building at the former site of the iconic Amaroo Park race track.

Its new Sydney operation offers on-site auction previewing, as well as extensive classic car and motorcycle expertise, and ultimately the new facility will be a ‘go to’ destination for enthusiasts and car clubs.

“Donington always planned to expand its activities with more collectible and classic vehicle auctions in 2024 anyway, so with the opening of our Sydney base we are now well positioned to offer the market capacity previously available elsewhere,” Donington Auctions’ Cameron Sabine said.

“We are a proper ‘bricks and mortar’ operation, not just online, so enthusiasts can come and see the vehicles up for auction, talk to us, and bid with confidence and clarity.”

Other highlights of the February ‘Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction’ include a rare one-of-one 1940 Lincoln Zephyr V12 coupe, a collection of concours winning Mercedes including a 1960 190SL sports and 1986 560SL sports, and a 1975 Holden HJ Kingswood Vacationer II.

There’s also two MGTC Specials with significant Australian racing history – one, the first TC ever to arrive in Australia, the other a Grand Prix winner – and a Valiant Charger owned by the head of Chrysler’s racing program in the period.

A 1954 Healey Silverstone replica – one of just 10 built – rubs shoulders with a beautifully restored 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, and a 1928 Chrysler Royal Series 72 sedan, among the many other vehicles to be auctioned in February.

Donington Auction’s team of principal and consultant specialists offer real-world advice to customers and consigners, having extensive experience across all collecting categories, including work with top-tier dealers and global auction houses such as Christie’s, Bonhams and Sotheby’s.

Pre-bidding for the live simulcast Donington Auction’s ‘Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction’ opens on 18 February 2024.

Inspections are welcome 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Donington Auctions is located at: 5 Wandarri Court, Cheltenham, Victoria.