Holden to auction several heritage cars from collection

Eight separate listings on an online auction site suggest Holden is clearing some space in its heritage garage, with several ‘first’ and ‘last’ versions of some of its models joining some notable cars in being sold off.

According to the listings, the auction is set to begin on midday, November 18.

Holden has responded to MOTOR's inquiry about the auction with a statement clarifying its reason for the auction. It says the sale of several cars is "necessary to ensure the safe storage and display" of the rest of its fleet.

“We would keep them all if there was room to do it sensibly, but the fact is some of them have to be found new homes," says heritage curator Vic Garra.

“It has led to some difficult decisions, but when we have two examples of the same car, a first and last built for example, the decision is almost always the keep the last one built.”

Of the eight cars for sale, five are duplicates of others Holden already has. Holden also has long-term plans to "acquire one or two cars missing from its collection."

Amongst the cars for sale is the first-ever Holden VFII Commodore Motorsport Edition, resplendent in Holden’s traditional red and showing only 9km on the odometer. The starting bid for the six-speed auto is listed at $65,000.

29

Car number one of 1200 built for Australia (another 151 went to NZ) is listed with 'SOLD ON BEHALF OF HOLDEN AUSTRALIA' in its description, as are the others Manheim is offering for auction.

Similarly, the first VFII Director, the Calais-V based executive sedan, is up for grabs (also starting at $65,000) also with just nine klicks on the clock.

29

The first copy of Holden’s acclaimed VF series, built in 2013, is also for auction, with a $30,000 starting bid and a mere 56km on its odometer. Also a six-speed auto, the first VF is a Calais-V painted in Prussian Steel.

29

Its VEII predecessor is also represented here, with the last VEII built (a 2012 SS in Chlorophyll Blue) up for grabs with a $45,000 opening bid.

29

If something a little rarer might take your fancy, Holden is also offloading its first V2 Monaro CV8, this one with 3742km travelled under the power of its 5.7-litre LS1 V8.

Bidding for the CV8 is set to begin at $40,000.

29

Some cars which have also undergone significant achievements are also included in the auction, like the 1995 Commodore VRII rally car driven by Ed Ordynski to victory in the 1995 Round Australia Trial, covering around 19,000km. The odometer shows 47,306km and bidding starts at $12,000.

29

A 1990 Barina which Holden used for a world record economy run and as a Round Australia Trial car is included in the auction, with a $5000 starting price.

29

Lastly, A 1980 VC Commodore driven around the country in 10 days by two motoring writers, Evan Green and Matt Whelan, features as the oldest member of the auction lineup, with $10,000 as its starting bid and with a relatively low (given where it’s been) 20,235km showing.

29

So, what do you think of Holden shuffling eight of its heritage motors out the door? Will you be online, wallet in hand? Let us know in the comments below!