Prototype Holden 48-215 to be auctioned

While old Holdens have attracted attention in the past, this one will possibly trump the lot, as it's one of the 'prototype' cars built before 48-215 production commenced locally in 1948.

As noted in the revised edition of Don Loffler's 'Still Holden Together,' five prototypes of what later became known as the 'FX' Holden were built between 1946 and 1947; three in the USA, followed by two here in Australia. The vehicle to be auctioned by Theodore Bruce is the first of the two local prototypes.

Largely hand-built in early 1947, using a combination of American and local componentry, prototype #4 carries a number of unique features, as well as a few it shares with only the earliest production 48-215s. Being a prototype, the car initially carried no identifying Holden badging, which was reflected in later registration documents referring to the car as a 1946 Chevrolet.

Kept 'in-house' at GM-H for a number of years, Loffler has evidence indicating the car served as a staff training aid during this time before it was sold to a Holden employee in the early 1950s. With Victorian registration KJ-400, prototype #4 went through at least a couple of changes of ownership before its provenance was discovered in the 1960s and it was preserved in Victoria, albeit with non-factory metallic grey paint and seats re-trimmed in non-original cloth.

Purchased by noted car collector Peter Briggs in 1980, the Holden was displayed in his York Motor Museum (where it was erroneously, but innocently, referred to as the first prototype, instead of the first Australian prototype) and Fremantle Motor Museum in Western Australia.

During this time, Briggs discovered that prototype #4 was several hundred kilograms heavier than a production 48-215, which he attributed to the amount of lead used to smooth out imperfections and gaps in the hand-crafted Holden's body.

When the Fremantle museum closed in 2011, Briggs put KJ-400 on the market as part of a sell-off of much of his collection, speculating its status as the first true Australian Holden put its value in the region of $2 million.

Unsurprisingly, there were no takers at that price, but there's no doubt that KJ-400 is still a valuable vehicle, especially given its status as one of only two survivors from the five prototypes built, and the only one in private hands; the other - prototype #1 - resides in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

Just how valuable KJ-400 is will be determined at the Theodore Bruce auction at RACV Motorclassica on Saturday, October 26.

In addition to the Holden, other cars consigned for this auction include a very rare and original 1913 Nazzaro Tipo 2, as well as 'Project 500' the jet car built to challenge Donald Campbell's Bluebird land speed record. Also on offer will be a 1947 Allard L-Type tourer, 1927 Talbot 14/45, 1926 Salmson and vehicles of more recent vintage, including a classic streamlined Tatra, Alfa Romeo 2600 coupe, Lancia Aurelia B20, and Austin Healey 3000.

Further details at http://theodorebruceauctions.com.au and www.motorclassica.com.au

UPDATE:
When JUST CARS contacted Don Loffler for his thoughts on the value of KJ-400, he agreed with us that the car is hard to put a value on, and will ultimately come to whether there are cashed-up bidders interested in the vehicle at that particular time.

"The car is a rarity, but a complex one," Loffler said. "On the one hand, it has had a partial body replacement, but on the other, it incorporates genuine prototype features that are so unique that they are almost beyond price."

"The price the car achieves will depend entirely on who is, and who isn't, taking part in the auction," Loffler added. "Of course, the best case scenario would be to have two or more eager people bidding against each other!"