PREVIEW - BURNS & CO. HOLDEN MUSEUM AUCTION - JUST CARS

PREVIEW - Burns & Co. Holden Museum auction

Words & Photos: Supplied

Holden owners and enthusiasts Australia-wide were saddened to hear of the closure of the National Holden Motor Museum in Echuca this April. But the light in this darkness is that the museum’s collection of cars and memorabilia – including many unique pieces – will be going to auction this May.

PREVIEW - Burns & Co. Holden Museum auction

Back in January, at the same time that they announced that the museum was closing, directors Tony and Mark Galea confirmed that selected contents from the museum would go to auction with Burns & Co. Auctions.

“Burns & Co are delighted to be appointed auctioneers of the iconic National Holden Motor Museum,” said Burns & Co. Auctions’ director and head auctioneer, Ashley Burns.

“The museum is extremely well known and respected amongst motoring enthusiasts across the country. It’s been the home of some of Holden’s most iconic models and visited by thousands on a yearly basis.

“Tony and Mark are looking forward to a well-deserved retirement, which provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for all. I’d personally like to thank them for favouring Burns & Co and wish them all the very best going forward.”

30+ Years

While it’s been located in Echuca for more than 30 years, the National Holden Motor Museum’s first home was in the Melbourne suburb of Bayswater, opening there in 1984. A relocation to Bendigo, then Wangaratta in regional Victoria followed, before the museum moved to the Murray River town in 1993.

Since settling in Echuca, the museum’s displays have changed regularly, but the cars on show have always covered the breadth of Holden production, from the 48-215 to the VF Commodore. Many of the vehicles on display were on loan from private owners, so regularly changed over the years, meaning Holden fans usually encountered something fresh with each visit.

Cutaway Holden engines and engineering studies have been part of the museum’s attractions, too, along with dealership signage and all manner of promotional material.

18 and 19 May

To be held on site at the museum on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May, the Burns & Co. auction will present Holden enthusiasts with a huge – and possibly never to be repeated – opportunity to purchase Holden cars, engines, engineering display pieces, signage and workshop fittings, manuals and other literature, posters, model cars and more. Who knows, someone may buy up big and start their own Holden museum!

“It will be a massive two-day auction,” Burns added. “With cars, motorcycles, automotive signage, Holden dealership pieces, GM-H prototypes and much, much more, it’s going to be a ripper.”

A variety of display engines and transmissions will be available. — *There will be plenty of items to fill the man cave!*

Day 1 – Saturday 18 May – will be devoted to the collectables, with genuine GM-H workshop fittings, motors, gearboxes, dealership signage, manuals, flags, etc. Items from the museum’s gift shop, like scale models, books, tin signs, apparel and period brochures will be auctioned on this day, too, along with generic items from the museum itself, like display cabinets and signage.

Day 2 – Sunday 19 May – is all about the cars. The full catalogue was still to be confirmed at time of writing, but should include a 48-215, FJ, HK Monaro, HQ Sandman, Torana, HR, HQ Monaro 350, Brougham and an HSV90 Statesman.

There’s also a super-rare HJ Statesman Coupe up for grabs; one of three known to be built by GM-H in the 1970s and regarded as something of a unicorn, even among aficionados, until one appeared for sale in 2021.

Many of the cars will be offered without reserve, but it should be repeated that not every vehicle in the museum will be auctioned, as some of the display cars are on loan from private owners.

A good spread of classic and vintage motorcycles will be part of the auction, too.

Rare Stuff

Of the Holden manufacturing items in this auction, Burns says many are one-offs that have been part of the museum display for years. As an example, the museum has a working replica of a late-model Commodore airbag that operates at a fraction of the normal inflation speed to show how this protective piece of technology works.

While items like this have a very specific audience, other pieces will have a much broader appeal and wouldn’t look out of place in any man cave. Obviously, for a Holden-themed man cave, this auction will present a treasure trove of opportunities.

Get in Early

Cataloguing of the museum’s contents is due to commence immediately after the final day of operation – 14 April – with the full catalogue expected to include more than 450 lots.

The catalogue will be available on the Burns and Co website – burnsandcoauctions.com.au - in late April (TBC), but enthusiasts can ensure they’re the first to receive the complete catalogue by emailing – [email protected] – for a PDF copy.

Additionally, Burns & Co. Auctions will allow a small number of outside vehicles to be added to the two-day auction catalogue. Space is limited, though, and only relevant vehicles will be considered. Those interested in adding their vehicles should contact Ashley Burns directly on 0408 618 294.