Echuca Holden museum auction raises $2.5 million, sets record for FJ sale – UPDATE

UPDATE, 23 May 2024: Almost 800 items – including rare cars and motorbikes – were sold from the collection at the former National Holden Motor Museum last weekend, raising more than $2.5 million.

The highest-selling lot was a 1972 HQ GTS Monaro 350 Coupe, which went for $315,000 before the buyer's premium (BP) ($346,185 with BP), while the sale of a 1955 Holden FJ Sedan for $102,000 ($112,098 with BP) was a record for an FJ.

Another record was set for a Brougham by a 1970 HG Holden Brougham, which went for $116,000 ($127,484 with BP).

According to auctioneer Burns & Co, buyers were made up mostly of Australians, as well as collectors and museums from New Zealand.

Our original story continues on below unchanged.

14 May 2024: The former National Holden Motor Museum is auctioning off its collection this week – which includes several rare and sought-after vehicles – following its recent closure.

Inspections of the items up for grabs began on Sunday, and are set to continue all this week between 10am and 3pm at the site in Warren Street, Echuca, VIC, until the auctions take place this weekend.

Items for sale on Saturday will include; shop stock, signage, genuine GMH workshop fittings, motors, gearboxes, static displays, prototypes, display cabinets, model cars and more.

According to Burns & Co, which is carrying out the auctions, many will be “one-offs”, with a large number rescued from the Holden manufacturing plants and dealerships scattered across the country before the brand shut up shop in 2020.

Sunday, however, is set to be the real event, with examples of many of Holden’s most iconic models – including the 48-215, FJ, HR, HK Monaro, HG Brougham, HQ Monaro GTS 350, HQ Sandman, HB Torana, HSV SV90, and a one-of-three HJ Statesman Caprice coupe – due to go on the block.

Many of the vehicles are being offered on an unreserved basis.

The auctions are due to go ahead on Saturday 18 May at 8am and Sunday 19 May at 9am.

“The Museum is well known and extremely well respected amongst motoring enthusiasts across the country being established back in 1993. It has been the home of some of Holden’s most iconic cars and has been an enormous attraction for the community of Echuca,” Burns & Co said in a statement.

“Burns & Co would like to thank Mark and Tony Galea and wish them all the very best going forward after making the difficult decision to close the museum.”

All items available can be found here.

The Museum was forced to close its doors last month after failing to find a buyer for the site. When it opened in 1984, it was first located in Bayswater before moving to its current location in 1993.

Fans will still be able to see Holden’s history in other Australian museums, including the Mildura Holden Museum in New South Wales, and the Trafalgar Holden Museum in Victoria.