Car fit for a King go under the hammer

A WW1 replica plane and a car fit for a King go under the hammer this weekend

Lovers of classic cars and WW1 planes will get the chance to secure a piece of history when the King of Tonga's 1986 Pontiac Eureka Limousine and a replica of Charles Nungesser's 1916 Nieuport 17 Scout go under the hammer this weekend at Turners Car Auctions.

The King of Tonga bought the Pontiac Eureka Limousine new in 1986 for use while in New Zealand. This rare factory limo was built by Eureka in Canada and is a 5000cc V8 Auto. Finished in black with grey velour trim it has travelled 33,000 miles over New Zealand and is virtually unmarked.

Turners Auctions General Marketing Manager Todd Hunter says there is already a great deal of interest in the classical limousine.

"It is a chance to own a piece of the King's legacy and as a car it has the grace and style of a 60s or 70s classic. It is the sort of limousine you could imagine President Kennedy driving."

The ¾ scale replica of a 1916 Nieuport 17 Scout is also generating a great deal of interest among collectors and enthusiasts.

Built in the South Island in 1992 the WW1 replica biplane has a 1600cc 4 Cylinder Single Propeller and was still being flown up until 1997.

The plane's colours are a testament to the dashing daredevil French pilot Charles Nungesser who was reputed to have spent more time in hospital, and the beds of various women, than he did in the air.

Among the seventeen injuries he suffered while flying for France in the First World War was a fractured skull, two broken legs, a smashed arm, a multiple fractured jaw, a scorched foot and a burned hand.

He also shot down an estimated 45 German aircrafts, he survived the war and in 1927 attempted to be the first man to fly the Atlantic.

"This auction represents an exceptional opportunity to purchase some very rare pieces that carry with them great legacies," said Mr Hunter.

The auction takes place at 2pm on Saturday March 3 at Turners' Penrose branch. The auction can also be viewed online via Turners' real time web-based car auction facility Turners Live.

For a list of auction items or more information on the auction please visit www.turners.co.nz

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About Turners
Turners Auctions is New Zealand's leading car sales channel accounting for 10 per cent of all cars sold in New Zealand every year. Turners' specialist Auctions include ex-lease, cars, trucks, plant, damaged vehicles and general goods. Turners Finance also offers finance on vehicles sold at Turners Auctions.
www.turners.co.nz

About Turners Live
Turners Live allows customers to view cars at an upcoming auction via an online catalogue posted prior to the auction with photos and important information on each car. Bidders then register on the website and participate in the auction, bidding against other floor and online bidders. The auctioneer channels all bids with the current selling price appearing both on the website and on large screens on the auction floor. Real time audio and video feeds allow online customers to see the car and hear the auctioneer throughout the auction.

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