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Shannons has been entrusted with the sale of the FM Collection, a single-owner collection encompassing cars from a wide range of marques and eras.

The collection will be offered on Shannons timed on-line Spring auction from November 8-15 this year. Most of the vehicles are being sold with ‘no reserve’.

The collection was assembled by the Late Fred Matatko, who was born in Czechoslovakia and then moved to Australia. 

Fred began trading in second-hand cars and established a business in the Illawarra region on the NSW South Coast. FM Car Sales became something of a local institution, trading for over 30 years. 

Fred Matatko built a diverse vehicle collection, housed on his property, adjacent to Shellharbour airport at Albion Park.

Fred recently died at the age of 99 and his iconic collection of  rare vehicles includes four Czech Tatras and several American classics of the 1920s and 1930s, along with other rarities.

All 14 cars will need some mechanical recommissioning, after their extended period in storage.

A highlight of the vehicle colleciton is a superb 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 that was formerly part of Robert Holmes a Court’s collection. This Packard is one of fewer than 10 surviving Dietrich Convertible Victorias out of the 960 built in 1934 and is acknowledged as one of the most significant Packards in Australia.

The Citroen 11B Traction Avant Faux Cabriolet in the FM collection is an extremely rare two-door variant of Andre Citroen’s monocoque-bodied, front wheel drive Traction Avant models that were launched in 1934.

Only 478 Citroen 11B coupes and 3524 roadsters were made, because of their high retail pricing and it is estimated that are no more than 100 survivors.

Showing just 12,146 miles on its odometer at the time of cataloguing, the 11B Faux Cabriolet is expected to attract world-wide interest from Citroen collectors and sell in the A$60,000-80,000 range.

Other notable pre-war American classics include a 1932 Cadillac 370-B with seven-passenger limousine bodywork by Fleetwood (estimate A$50,000-60,000); a rare 1931 Ford Model A with collectible convertible sedan body style (estimate A$30,000-50,000); a 1924 Oldsmobile Model 30 with tourer body by Holden (estimate A$20,000-30,000) and a 1928 Nash Special Six Coupe (estimate A$20,000-30,000).

A 1934 Chrysler CA Six featuring rare Australian-made coupe bodywork by T J Richards of Adelaide was Fred’s final restoration and he passed away before it could be finished. Offered in partially completed condition, the car is estimated to sell for A$10,000-20,000.

Also on offer is a replica Pierce-Arrow, powered by an Austin truck engine and fitted with open tourer body crafted by Bob Bradbury of Sydney (estimated at A$25,000-$35,000).

Other rarities on offer include a 1943 Chevrolet C15A ‘Blitz’ (estimate A$15,000-20,000) and a 1963 Standard Vanguard Six utility (estimate A$18,000-24,000).

The left hand drive Tatras in the collection are: a 1987 Tatra 613/3 Sedan (estamet A$10,000 – $15,000); a 1939 Tatra 57B Saloon (estimate A$20,000 – $25,000); a 1937 Tatra 75 Cabriolet (estimate A$35,000 – $45,000) and a 1930 Tatra 12 Weymann Saloon (estiame A$25,000 – $30,000).

To view all auction lots, visit www.shannons.com.au To talk to a Shannons Auction Team member directly, call 1300 078 500.

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