It’s becoming clear the Covid bubble for inflated car prices has popped, meaning asking prices for many cars are dropping to more reasonable levels The advantage has swung back to buyers, and it’s a perfect time to start prowling the auctions for some good deals.

Speaking of good deals, this XW GTHO Phase I, sold at Grays last week unreserved for $139,340 ($149,093 with buyers premiums). It needed some work but represented good value for the lucky buyer.

This week’s Grays classic car auction has plenty more bargains, as well as a few quirky machines we thought were worth highlighting. All are live now, with bidding closing early next week.

Our first pick is this XW wagon. It’ll need a new tailgate for starters and some work, but she’s all there and offered for no reserve. Given it’s a base model 500 with a six-pot, it could be a cheap way into the XY-XW market, plus you get the cool of a wagon! Check it out here.

Another Aussie wagon up with no reserve is this VL Commodore Executive. She’s a tidy girl, and we reckon you’d do well to slap a basic turbo kit on the RB30, leave the KFC car park stance as is and cruise the wheels off it. As we write, bidding is only at around $1800, so it’s worth a watch. Suss it here.

If it’s a true cruiser you’re after, they don’t get much more plush and lazy than a 1964 Buick Riviera. It’s already right hand drive, and has the full fat 425ci (seven litre) nailhead Buick V8 to whisk along the behemoth of 60s Americana. See the listing here.

We’re still not quite sure if an AU Falcon qualifying for enthusiast car status is the longest running joke in Aussie car history or now an actual thing, but it means we’re highlighting this AU XR8. 

She’s a later 2001 model with the 220kW Tickford V8, leather interior and 185,000km. The no reserve auction is only sitting at $1200 as we type, so it could go cheap. See it here.

A car that seems to be somewhat immune to the fluctuations of the classic car market is Kombi vans; they’re always worth way more than they really should be.

This one is a 1976 Transporter Type 2. It’s not amazing, but it’s also not terrible. If you’re looking for a resto project it could be a goer, and one of the few you may still make money on if you decide the 60s fantasy is rubbish, and that you should really sell it and buy something else. View it here.

Another van up for grabs is this 1986 Suzuki Carry, a van shape you may remember Richard Hammond rolling over on some big car TV show back in the day.

They make cool little kei vans, especially if you chuck a Hayabusa or rotary motor in them. Check it out here.

Our last pick isn’t a shitter, in fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s not often you see a bog standard Evo, and this one being an IX MR makes it one of the more desirable pickings.

It is a grey import, but with 158,000km she still presents like a gem. The reserve is probably quite high, but if you’re in the market for one then we recommend saving her off. See it here.

You can view all the rest of Grays classic car offerings this week right here.