Classic Holden Monaro could sell for $1 million
Holden’s first factory-built race car expected to sell for mega-bucks at auctionThe first-ever factory-built Holden race car is predicted to sell for more than $1 million when it goes under the hammer at midday this Saturday (June 27).
At the time of writing online bidding had reached almost $150,000, but it's unlikely to match the record-setting $2.1m price paid for the famous 82/83 Holden VH Commodore that Peter Brock raced to twin Bathurst victories.
Holden has a storied history in motorsport and this particular HT Monaro racer is recognised as the vehicle that shot the Holden Dealer Team (HDT) to prominence. HDT had some epic battles with arch-rival Ford in the 1970s and 1980 – and was victorious in many of them.
The auction is a rare ray of sunshine for GM Holden in recent times.
The iconic Australian car brand has been mired in controversy since announcing its shock exit from marketplace in February and entering a prolonged battle with its dealers over the amount of compensation they’re entitled to.
But the provenance of this HDT Monaro racer could be deemed more valuable by Holden's departure and it may even rekindle some pride for the lion brand by some of its long-standing dealers and owners.
“The enquiry on this car is massive from all over the country," said Lee Hames, Lloyds Auctions chief operations officer.
The 1969 Holden Monaro made its race debut at the 1969 Sandown 300 but a crash ended its race prematurely.
Harry Firth prepared the vehicle which eventually saw Colin Bond and Tony Roberts claim victory at Bathurst in 1969. Rookie Peter Brock also finished in third.
“This car is a significant piece of Australian motorsport history, not only shaping the success of Holden as a company but also setting the stage for the domination by Holden and Peter Brock for the following two decades,” said Hames.
“While we’re seeing rare classic cars like Holden Torana’s and GT Falcon’s selling for hundreds of thousands, none have the colourful backstory or cultural significance of this Monaro, which is what makes it so rare and special.”
Interested parties can bid online at Lloyds Classic Car Auctions.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
