WESTERN Victoria's distinctive Bentley ute is going home after it was sold over the phone on Monday to a UK collector.
The unknown buyer paid $40,000 for the ute which by the time it arrives back in the Old Dart will owe him about $45,000.
This is well above the $22,000-$32,000 expected by auctioneer Shannons.
Once a familiar sight on Western District roads with its bright yellow livery, the 1956 Bentley S1 was converted to a ute in the early 1990s by flamboyant sixth Earl of Stradbroke, Keith Rous, of the Mt Fyans stud near Darlington. Earlier this year, it was donated to Trinity Grammar School to be either used by the school or sold to raise funds.
Also selling at auction was a fully restored 1959 Porsche Junior diesel tractor for $27,000.
Other notable sales were a Holden EK utility believed to have travelled only 33,215 miles in 49 years and selling for $27,500. And a rare roll of 16mm silent film of the first 48-215 Holden produced in 1948, sold for $1500 or $300 a minute.
But the highlight was the $320,000 paid by a Melbourne collector for a Holden FX "Brock Goodwood Special" sedan, built for the late Peter Brock in 2006.
