Lloyds Classic Car Auctions sold a rare Ford GTHO Phase III, once owned by former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson, for just over $1 million at its auction in Kelso on June 16.

Head auctioneer Bill Freeman said the price for the vehicle – which sold for just over $5000 when it came on to the Australian market in 1971 – was a first for Australia.

Another rare car, a Holden Torana SS A9X GMP&A, car 1 of only 33, sold for $500,000 at last month’s Kelso auction.

The auction company says a collection of Peter Brock race cars gathered by HDT (formerly Holden Dealer Team) owner Peter Champion and his mate Brock himself will now be put to auction in the hopes of “funding a revival of Australian car manufacturing”.

“I am honored to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event and the idea that this iconic collection of Peter Brock’s cars can continue his legacy by reigniting car manufacturing in Australia after Holden’s closure in 2017,” Mr Champion said.

Head auctioneer Mr Freeman said the Ford GTHO Phase III Falcon sale for over $1 million at Kelso last month “shows that the interest and passion for Australian-made cars is still there”.

“We want to take these extremely rare cars on tour and display them across the country in coming weeks, in what could be the last time ever to see them all together,” he said.

“This auction has a purpose and not only honours Brocky but will mark a truly special time in Aussie motoring history for enthusiasts in years to come.”

Mr Freeman said the cars in the collection are rare and well-known to Brock fans around the world, including the King of the Mountain’s most famous ride, “The Big Banger”, along with many more that have dominated the Mount Panorama track.

Brock, who won the Bathurst 1000 nine times, was killed in a race accident in Western Australia in 2006.

A Lloyds Classic Car Auctions spokesperson said the auction has been scheduled for towards the end of September, close to the running of the Bathurst 1000, but an exact date has not yet been confirmed.