Print Page - Collecting Holdens

Good point Phamton, sorry 'bout that :-/
Rather than a scan (which might be hard to read) here is the article, and "breakout"...

"Collect, by Peter Vincent

ALL REVVED UP

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Holdens dominated Australian car sales, peaking in 1958 when an extraordinary 50.3 per cent of all cars bought were FC Holdens.
It’s this remarkable fact – more than the investment potential – that has underpinned the mushrooming popularity of collecting old Holdens.
Thousands of the Holdens made in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are still running decades later – and it seems a growing number of people want to own one, do it up and
show it off.
In fact, so many people collect old Holdens that there are more than 50 Australian clubs, many of which are devoted to one particular model. The Australian-designed FE and FC models (1956-58), the American-influenced FB and EK (1960-61) and the EH (which sold a record 256,959 in 1963) are the most popular models. Each has at least one club in all states
and territories.
There are also Holden clubs in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Indonesia. The latter’s motto is “Up the Holdeners”.
Wollongong’s Jim Smoother – or “Smooth”, as he is known by fellow collectors – says the appeal of early Holdens is the memories they spark. “When we take our cars out, someone will invariably come up and say their father or grandpa had one and they remember going to the beach or the mountains in one,” he says. “There were so many Holdens at one point that a lot of Australians were probably conceived in the back
of one.”
Richard Thomas, of the FE/FC Holden Car Club of NSW, reckons the look was all-important. “New cars look pretty similar today. But go back 30, 40 or 50 years ago and
(Holdens) made a much bolder statement – they had shiny chrome and used flashier colours.
“The concept of the drag coefficient hadn’t been thought of yet. Car design was about bold, attractive-looking cars.”
Although there are Holden collectors of all ages, Thomas says
most are baby boomers. “A lot of people in our club had a
Holden when they were 20 and thrashed it. Now they have decided to buy another one and recapture their youth.”
Holden gatherings are quieter affairs these days – usually family picnics, barbecues and beach outings. Collectors also scour the internet for parts and rare accessories, such as tow balls or venetian blinds, that were originally sold as optional extras.
An essential part of the appeal, Thomas says, is that early Holdens were mechanically simple: “Anyone with a modicum of mechanical know-how can have a go at fixing them. The parts are still reasonably plentiful. “You can restore one to showwinning standard for between $12,000 to $15,000. To do the same with a ‘57 Chevy would cost you twice that.”
Smooth believes these unpretentious benefits helped the brand become a cultural icon. “Holden lovers are a patriotic lot. And why not? Our cars have stood the test of time,” he says. “You just can’t be more Australian than owning a Holden. In fact, I’d go further and say to not own a Holden is un-Australian.”
To buy an unrestored early model Holden costs between $1000 and $3000. You can get a restored car (in most models) for less than $20,000, depending on the quality of the paintwork and accessories.
Thomas says Holdens that are fully restored appreciate in value, while modified cars – typically those with bigger engines – usually don’t hold their value. But, he adds, even authentic restorations won’t net more than a modest return.
The exceptions are Holden Monaros, especially the GTS models produced in 1968 and 1969. According to Anthony Shaw of the Monaro Car Club of NSW, a restored HK Monaro 327 (which won the Bathurst 1000 in 1968 ) sells for anything from $35,000 to $80,000, while an HT 350 can fetch up to $60,000. Shaw also believes the Monaro’s reputation as one of the first “muscle cars”, with their big V8 engines and “war paint” stripes, may have helped. Holden’s decision to produce a new model Monaro in 2002 also helped spike demand for the original."

(http://photo.starblvd.net/hewart/1-5-4.jpg)

Cheers ;)
Les....

FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

General => General Board => Topic started by: Hewart on April 01, 2004, 04:17:41 AM