Gosford Classic Car Museum closes its doors

The Gosford Classic Car Museum has closed to the public after almost three years of operation on the NSW Central Coast.

An ongoing dispute with the Australian Taxation Office has been labelled the reason for the museum’s closure, with the ATO reportedly disagreeing with the Gosford Classic Car Museum’s operation as both a showroom and museum.

“Due to an ongoing & unresolved dispute with the ATO, It is with great sadness and disappointment that today we announce Gosford Classic Car Museum has closed and all cars will be auctioned on the 6th and 7th April,” an announcement on the museum’s Facebook page reads.

Gosford Classic Cars’ webpage now displays a prominent ‘CLOSED’ sign. Opening hours read similarly.

It’s reported that 40 jobs will be lost in the closure, with concern for the extra Central Coast tourism generated by the museum also being expressed.

Speaking with the Central Coast Express Advocate, museum workshop manager Jason Fischer said the ATO’s reasoning for pursuing the museum hadn’t been fully explained.

“The ATO… declined to explain why they consider promotion of trading stock using the museum concept is a secondary purpose, and therefore unacceptable, while other dealerships buying vehicles as a means of promoting their stock is acceptable,” Fischer told the NewsCorp outlet.

“We still have no answer from the ATO on why, as a matter of principle, promoting new vehicles by purchasing cars for test driving and inspection only is acceptable, while promoting the sale of cars using the museum concept is not.”

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Reports say the ATO’s requirements for the business to continue were for the word ‘Museum’ to be removed from its name, and for the entry admission fee to be renounced.

The auction, set to be managed by Lloyds, will feature the entirety of Gosford’s collection to go under the hammer in one multi-million dollar swoop.

According to the museum, more than 300 cars are currently on display with a total value that has in the past fluctuated up to $70 million.

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The cars that are to be available at the auction range from the likes of a LaFerrari or Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, all the way to less pricey Nissan 300ZXs and oddball Euros like the Tatra 603.

MOTOR has attempted to contact Gosford Classic Cars owner Tony Denny or a representative to no avail, but will update this story if further information arises.