Frankie J Holden’s FJ Holden is going to auction

For their July Muscle, Classic & Collectable Car & Motorcycle Auction, Burns & Co. Auctions have secured a real ‘star car’ in the form of a 1955 Holden FJ Standard sedan owned by renowned Aussie singer, actor and entertainer, Frankie J Holden.

The car, mostly stock but with some subtle modifications for safety, will be offered with no reserve on Night 1 of the three-night July auction – Monday, 28 July.

Frankie J Holden (not his real name, but that’s another story!) was born in Sydney, raised in Darwin and spent a lot of his youth in Holdens. Frankie’s father, a petroleum company executive, had an FC ute for work, with an FC station wagon for the family. In that wagon, Frankie’s parents would ferry him and his two brothers through remote parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland on their annual Christmas holidays, catching some Sunshine State beaches before journeying down to Tamworth and Sydney, where extended family lived. From there, the clan would drive on to Adelaide, load the FC onto The Ghan to Alice Springs, then drive home to Darwin – a journey covering thousands of kilometres - all in a stock Holden.

Given that history, it should be no surprise that Frankie’s first car was a Holden (an HT wagon), with most of his subsequent vehicles being Holdens, too.

In 1975, Frankie chucked in a job as an accountant and adopted his now famous stage name to front the rock band Ol’ 55. Success with Ol’ 55 opened the door to acting roles on the small and big screen, most notably in Round the Twist, Police Rescue, Return Home, Something in the Air, A Place to Call Home, Underbelly and many others. Frankie also presented the revamped version of In Melbourne Tonight and fronted the travel program, Discover Downunder.

Now running a caravan park on the NSW South Coast, but still involved in the entertainment industry, Frankie retains a love of Holdens, too. For more than a decade, he owned an HR Premier wagon that performed a similar family hauling role to that of his father’s FC.

Obviously, an FJ Holden seems a more natural fit for Frankie than an HT or HR, but an ‘FJ Holden for FJ Holden’ only came to fruition recently.

Talking to Burns & Co. ahead of the July auction, Frankie explained that having an FJ of his own was one of those ‘right place, right time’ moments, secured locally from a long-term owner and enthusiast after selling his HR Premier in 2017.

“I wasn’t looking for an FJ, but this one came up and I thought, ‘I have to have it’. I can’t go to my grave calling myself ‘FJ Holden’ without owning one!” Frankie laughed.

“There was an old bloke called Charlie, who’d been told by his wife that it was time to get rid of the FJ – a common story, I’m sure! He approached me and asked if I wanted to have a look at it.

“As soon as I looked at it, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna buy it!’. It’s a beautiful vehicle, runs really well and is solid as a rock.”

As offered for this auction, the FJ is largely unchanged from how it was when Frankie purchased it almost eight years ago. An older restoration that still presents well today, the repaint in original Surf Green carries through to the interior, with Blue Green vinyl seat trim and doorcards also authentic to the original spec.

Being an FJ Standard (now a relatively rare model), this car lacks the additional stainless steel trim and two-toning available on the FJ Special, but the previous owner added some bling in the form of a bonnet emblem, sunvisor, dual mirrors, driver’s side weathershield, wheel trim rings and rear wheel spats - all typical NASCO accessories available in period. Frankie adds that the NASCO ‘Warmaride’ heater has proven to be invaluable in cold winters.

For safer driving in modern traffic, the previous owner added indicators front and rear, additional driving lights up front, radial tyres and a conversion to 12 volt electrics. Under Frankie’s ownership, seat belts have been fitted.

The past owner’s addition of a Speco valve cover to the 132.5ci six-cylinder ‘grey motor’ is more of a cosmetic touch, as the intake and exhaust systems appear to be stock. The original-style narrow radiator and oil bath air cleaner remain, too.

“In not a big believer in zhuzhing them up,” Frankie said. “It’s a bit like getting work done on your grandma – it just doesn’t seem right!”

Although his FJ has been on display at the Trafalgar Holden Museum for the past four years, Frankie said he’s enjoyed his time with the car, adding that every drive has been a memorable event for the positive reactions it inspires.

“I’ve loved every minute I’ve had this car. It’s been a beautiful car to have, but you’ve got to let these things go - sadly,” Frankie said, adding that this FJ not only represents great memories, but also a great time in Australian history.

Frankie says he chose Burns & Co to sell his FJ because he wanted the sale to be handled properly and had heard good things about Burns & Co. from friends in the auction industry.

“The process has been great. [Burns & Co.] give the vendor a lot of support and advice. The way it’s been displayed has been great, and there’s a real personal touch – I’ve always been able to get hold of someone when I wanted to.

“From my point of view, it’s been the right decision.”

Frankie J Holden’s 1955 FJ Holden Standard sedan will be offered with no reserve as part of the three-night July Muscle, Classic & Collectable Car & Motorcycle Auction. Pre-bidding is open now ahead of the live auction, which for this vehicle, will be conducted on the evening of Monday, 28 July (Night 1).

For further details and more photos of this car, click HERE.

Burns & Co’s July Muscle, Classic & Collectable Car & Motorcycle Auction

Night 1
DATE: Monday, 28 July, 2025
TIME: From 6:00pm AEST
LOCATION: 4 Market Drive, Bayswater, VIC, 3153
Bid in person, online, by phone or absentee form

View the Night 1 Catalogue & Bid Here

Night 2
DATE: Tuesday, 29 July, 2025
TIME: From 6:00pm AEST
LOCATION: 4 Market Drive, Bayswater, VIC, 3153
Bid in person, online, by phone or absentee form

View the Night 2 Catalogue & Bid Here

Night 3
DATE: Wednesday, 30 July, 2025
TIME: From 6:00pm AEST
LOCATION: 4 Market Drive, Bayswater, VIC, 3153
Bid in person, online, by phone or absentee form

View the Night 3 Catalogue & Bid Here

Inspections

In-person inspection of vehicles in the three-day July auction can be carried out on the following days at 4 Market Drive, Bayswater, VIC, 3153 and 1/26 Craftsman Close, Beresfield, NSW, 2322.

Note: the location watermark (‘NSW’ or ‘VIC’) on each vehicle’s image identifies its location.

Wednesday 23 July - 9am-3pm
Thursday 24 July - 9am-3pm
Friday 25 July - 9am-3pm
Sunday 27 July - 9am-12pm
Monday 28 July (day of Auction) - from 1pm
Tuesday 29 July (day of Auction) - from 1pm
Wednesday 30 July (day of Auction) - from 1pm (if needed)
Other times strictly by appointment.

For those who cannot attend an inspection in person, Burns & Co. can organise a video inspection of any vehicle. Call on (03) 8657 4292 for details.