Australian-made Holden models spanning three decades have dominated the first Shannons classic car auction for the year, with a pale yellow 1968 HK Monaro GTS 327 ‘Bathurst’ coupe topping the charts and landing a $302,000 winning bid.

The GTS 327 homologation special used a small-block V8 borrowed from Corvette and a four-speed manual teamed with rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential to attempt to trump the Falcon GT at Mount Panorama. It did, winning the Hardie-Ferodo 500 in 1968.

From the same year, a silver mink Monaro GTS 186S coupe landed $92,000 and, from a half-decade later, a HQ Monaro GTS 308 manual sedan saw $60,500 after the 600-strong crowd went silent at the event held in Melbourne earlier this week.

1969 Ford XY Fairmount GT

That price was just $1K more than a 1973 HQ Monaro GTS 308 manual impeccably finished in tangerine orange.

Blue Oval fans could save a little extra cash with a 1969 XW/XY Fairmont GT ‘replica’ selling for $55,000 and a 1965 XP Falcon coupe for $33,000. A cool little 1972 Escort Twin-Cam GT eclipsed both locals, selling for a staggering $72,000.

Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III sedan

Shannons’ next classic car auction will be held on May 8 in Melbourne.