Fords, Maseratis, Valiants and more - Uncle Phil's picks

By: Phil Walker

Date: 10.07.2024

Uncle Phil has been out searching for classics and collectibles for you to enjoy now the weather is on the up.

Uncle Phil's pick of the month - a 1981 Ford Falcon XD ute

1981 FORD FALCON XD ute

SALE: $54,990

Every now and then you stumble across something special. Like this totally original, matching-numbers XD Falcon ute. Under the bonnet rests a 302ci V8 paired with a column auto. What’s more, it has only covered 79,315 klicks.  

Sno White with contrasting brown vinyl trim, the interior looks new as does the paint. It is by far the best example I’ve seen in decades and a credit to its custodians, who have maintained it superbly and obviously kept it garaged all its life. The Bathurst 15-inch mags add a period-correct sporty touch too. The tie-down tonneau is in excellent condition and even the tray looks like it has hardly done any work. It comes with the original dealer folder, logbooks, owners-manual, two sets of original keys and Ford mud flaps.

1979 MASERATI KHAMSIN

SALE: $209,950

When this car was made, Maserati was back in the hands of the Italians and an Argentinian industrialist, Alejandro DeTomaso. Only 71 right-hand drive versions were made of the total run of 430 Khamsins, so this is classed as a rare find. Although not well-known, Khamsins are considered to be among the best GTs of the day. The 5.0-litre V8 and five-speed manual allowed it to easily sit on 230km/h all day long; but don’t try that here though. This one arrived here in 2000 and kept as a static display. Its odometer reads 29,763 and based on information about the car, are probably genuine miles.

1967 MAZDA 1500 DELUXE

SALE: $17,500

If you're after an affordable and reliable ’60s classic, that’s a bit left field, this could be the one. The 1500 was one of the earliest Mazdas to grace our roads and this one has been with the one family for more than 50 years. Nuccio Bertone and Giorgetto Giugiaro designed it, which is why it looks so good.  The 1500 was leaps and bounds ahead of the local and pommy cars of the time. You wouldn’t know it’s a ’60s car looking at it and this one still sports its original Victorian rego plates. It has an operations manual, service book and a sales brochure! Roll up to a cars and coffee event and expect to be swamped. 

1969 VALIANT VF HARDTOP

SALE: $55,000

back in The ’60s, the VF hardtop added a new level of style to the Valiant range, its pillarless body looked sleek and Chrysler enlisted the services of one Stirling Moss to spruik the virtues of its big luxo two-door. With the 318 V8 in its nose, these things were pretty rapid in the day and many were tricked up to go even faster. This one has the V8 and a three-speed manual, on the tree! It had a resto a while back, and a recon engine and box plonked in it a couple of years ago. A mate had one and we’d pile in and crank down the windows and cruise. Good times. 

1993 WGR PROTOTYPE

SALE: $65,000

After his motorcycle career, Wayne Gardner turned to four wheels, racing V8s on the track and building special edition Commodores for the road. Buyers brought their Commodores to Gardner’s race shop, where the blokes that built the race cars also fettled these road warriors, just like the early days of Shelby and Brock. This one was used as the marketing car and featured in Unique Cars. Alan Heaphy was team boss and ensured these cars were a trick thing. Believe me, they nailed it. In many ways it reminds me of my much-loved Blue Meanie. 

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

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