Holden’s heritage cars to go on display
GM confirms locations for historic Holden cars, concepts and engines – and they’re all in AustraliaGeneral Motors has confirmed that Holden’s entire collection of more than 80 heritage production vehicles and concepts, and 30 significant powertrains, will remain in Australia and will be displayed at car museums across the country.
It has also announced that a special collection of some of Holden’s most iconic vehicles will be exhibited at the National Motor Museum of Australia in Birdwood, South Australia, from mid-December.
These will include the 48/215 – the famous Holden Number 1 launched by then prime minister Ben Chifley in 1948 – as well as a host of milestone cars and some of the best-known concepts, including the Hurricane, Coupe 60 and Efijy.
As carsales reported in October, almost the entire collection of Holden’s concept and heritage vehicles had been allocated to temporary homes around Australia while a plan was being thrashed out to protect and preserve them.
There had been fears that key models would be shipped back to GM’s headquarters in the US, sold off or even crushed, following the American auto giant’s decision to axe the Holden brand earlier this year.
However, GM has today detailed the locations of all the key vehicles and powertrains – and claimed it never intended to ship any of them back to Detroit. (See list below)
“There has been considerable speculation with regards to what was going to happen to these iconic pieces of automotive heritage, and I’m pleased to reveal we are displaying our vehicle collection in Australia,” said GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Marc Ebolo.
“We have never thought about sending it overseas.
“The vehicles which make up this multimillion-dollar collection have been loaned to a variety of museums and will go on display in the very near future.
“This will be the first time the entire collection of Holden production and concept vehicles has been released simultaneously for public viewing.”
Ebolo also said the company was planning to launch a dedicated Holden Heritage Collection website next year, which will provide details about the collection and where they can be viewed.
“We more than anybody recognise how important this collection is to Australia and particularly to the people who have worked at Holden and owned Holden cars,” he said.
Holden’s heritage vehicles and where they’ll be displayed:
National Motor Museum of Australia, Birdwood, SA
Concept cars: Hurricane, Torana GTR-X, Monaro, Monaro Convertible, Monaro 427 HRT, Sandman Van, Utester, SS-X, Torana TT36, EFIJY, Coupe-60
Production cars: 48/215 (Holden’s first), EJ Premier Sedan (1 millionth), HK Brougham (2 millionth), VC Commodore SL/E (4 millionth), VX Commodore SS (6 millionth), VE Commodore Sedan (7 millionth), VF Commodore SS Redline (last Australian-made Holden)
Engines: 2004 V6 3.6L Alloytec First, 2016 V6 3.6L Alloytec Last
National Holden Motor Museum, Echuca, Vic
Cars/concepts: HJ Statesman Concept, EJ Ute, VB Commodore SL/E Sedan, VF Caprice V (last Caprice), VF Ute SS Redline (last Ute), VF Chevrolet SS Sedan, WB Caprice (last WB Statesman)
Trafalgar Holden Museum, Trafalgar, Vic
Cars/concepts: Sandman Ute Concept, FC Sedan, EK Special Sedan, HR Premier Sedan, VL Commodore Convertible, VZ Monaro CV8Z, VF Commodore Ute ‘McQueen’, VF Commodore SSV Sedan (pilot)
Engines: 1948 L6 2.15L Grey, 1963 L6 2.8L Red, 1984 L6 3.3L Black, 1980 L6 3.3L Blue, V6 Stop Start (experimental), GM Rotary (experimental), V8 5.0L OHC (experimental), V8 5.0L Orbital INJ (experimental), 1999 V8 5.7L (sectioned)
Shepparton Museum of Vehicle Evolution, Shepparton, Vic
Cars/concepts: Colorado Xtreme Concept, VE Sportwagon Concept, Chevrolet Cruze Concept, Chevrolet Adra Concept, Chevrolet YGM Concept, ZB Commodore (cutaway clay), Chevrolet Camaro (LHD), EcoCommodore, VF Magnum Ute (pilot), EV-1, Volt EV, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Buick Avenir (scale)
Engines: 1988 V6 3.8L Buick, 1995 V6 3.8L Ecotec, 1996 V6 3.8L Ecotec, 1997 V6 3.8L Supercharged, 2004 V6 3.6L, 2010 V6 3.0L (sectioned)
Holden Manufacturing Heritage Association, Lionsgate Business Park, Elizabeth, SA
Cars/concepts: Cruze CDX Sedan (first Cruze), VX Pontiac GTO 2 Door Coupe, Cruze SRI Hatch, VY One Tonner Ute, Adventra Wagon, VF Chevrolet SS, VF Calais V Wagon, Cruise SRI, VF Chevrolet SS, VE Commodore SS Ute, VE Commodore SSV Sportwagon
Engines: 1995 V6 3.8L (sectioned), 2016 V6 3.6L (sectioned), Opel L4 2.0L DOHC (sectioned), Holden L4 2.0L SOHC (sectioned), Holden L4 2.0L SOHC (last)
Winton Motor Raceway, Winton, Vic
Cars/concepts: VF Commodore SS Design, LX Torana Hatchback, VX Pontiac GTO 2 Door Coupe, VE Pontiac GXP Sedan, VE SSV Redline Ute, VF Chevrolet SS Sedan (pilot), Camaro (LHD pilot)
Engines: 1968 V8 5.0L Red, 1969 V8 5.0L (sectioned), 1988 V8 5.0L PFI, 1999 V8 5.7L (last), 2007 V8 5.7L and transmission
National Motor Racing Museum, Bathurst, NSW
Cars/concepts: VB Commodore Sedan Brock, RB Gemini SL/X, 1988 V8 5.0L Group A Engine
WA Motor Museum, Whiteman Park, WA
Cars/concepts: EH Special Sedan
Ridley’s GM Motor Museum, Bertram, WA
Cars/concepts: WN Caprice Police Pursuit
Mildura Holden Motor Museum, Buronga, NSW
Cars/concepts: Cross 8 Crewman Design, VK Commodore Berlina, VR Commodore Equipe, VF Calais Sportwagon (Last Wagon)
Gippsland Vehicle Collection Motor Museum, Maffra, Vic
Cars/concepts: 48/215 Station Wagon (Cordell), HQ Premier 25th Anniversary, Chevrolet Bolt EV, VT Commodore SS (2000 Olympics Torch Relay Car)
Collins Holden Collection, Toowoomba, Qld
Cars/concepts: Colorado Concept, SST Concept, Jack 8 Concept
Elfin Heritage Centre, Moorabbin, Vic
Cars/concepts: Elfin Clubman (Holden Design), Elfin Streamliner (Holden Design)
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