GM to auction historic fleet
January 8, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Seemingly strapped for cash, General Motors is auctioning off more than 200 of its historic and most unique cars, including a Cadillac made for Pope John Paul II and a presidential limousine replica used in several films.
The auction will free up some space in GM’s Heritage Centre, which currently displays about 200 of its collection of 1000 vehicles and is expected to raise around US$5 million.
“We’re trying to get the collection to the right size,” said Heritage Centre manager Tom Freiman. “At the end of the day, I think we’re going to end up with a better mix of heritage vehicles.”
The vehicles offered include cars built to serve as pace cars in races or for car shows and a collection of historic vehicles. A white 1998 Cadillac convertible made for Pope John Paul II has a step-up throne-like chair which rises and falls with a hydraulic lift.
While the pontiff blessed the car, he never rode in it because it was deemed unsafe by his security team.
The 1986 presidential limousine replica was used in movies such as The American President and In the Line of Fire.
Other vehicles for sale include a 1967 GTO used in the action film XXX (pictured above), a hand-built Buick Blackhawk – made to celebrate Buick’s 100th anniversary in 2003 – and a 1925 House Car, which is an early version of a camper.
Print it: 
I though they were going to sell their entire collection. Oh jolly well they didn’t, as the Chevrolet Corvair would be to good to loose. Salam.
I think this is a mistake, in spite of the financial woes. It amounts to rationing paper clips and staples in the overall scheme of things.
If the company is to die, this won’t save it – it should be allowed to keep its soul even unto death.
are there any pictures of the full collection they are selling?
I think its fair enough, it doesnt seem they are selling anything of great significance to the companies history (from what this article says anyway) apart from maybe the 100th anniversary buick
Once they’re gone you can never get them back – such a shame really.
This is not how you save a dying company. Cutting costs and selling assets can only do so much.
They need to start (really fast) making cars that will sell in numbers 2-5 years down the track. Something different, something that will change the face of the US auto industry. There is no other way. Invest time and money in the future or just give up.
Problem here is, it could be too late.
I agree with Reckless. It’s wrong for GM to sell off their heritage.
Holden have a collection of their iconic cars on display in the forecourt of their HQ in Melbourne the rest are at the National Motor Museum – Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills
Holden have received several offers made on a number of thier Concept cars etc – most notably a Sheik who offered Richard Felazzo approx $2m for the 06/07 International Hot Rod of the Year – the Efijy.. which he rejected.
So If GM simply want to make some room why don’t they send their cars to the National Motor Museum in the USA [if they have one] – so all Americans will be able to enjoy and admire them just as us Aussies can with our Holdens
Because the money they get from the auction won’t really save them
Rationing paper clips i agree.
A waste of time and further demoralising for the people involved.
The maybe 5 million might just pay a weeks canteen bill………..
Just pitiful.
Quote: [Crouchy]: “They need to start (really fast) making cars that will sell in numbers 2-5 years down the track. Something different, something that will change the face of the US auto industry.”
In order for them to to that they are going to have to get rid of all thre Rulers in their US design studios and going by the looks of the latest Caddilacs Buicks and Chevs [apart from the Aussie designed Camaro and the Corvette] that hasn’t happened yet.
However; GM are investing time and money in their future – because they have just given the go ahead to Holden and Opel to start work on a couple of new project cars which will most likely be exported to the USA.
Maybe they realise there is no real future in the USA as its too expensive to build cars there compared to other countries – American Auto Workers get paid $40p/hr..
and look at the quality of the cars they produce
Crouchy says it all. I can’t disagree.
One of the Bathurst 24hr Monaro’s are there too. I think its the red one..
Well thats it then……..once a company starts doing stuff like this you really know they are heading down the toilet…………GOODBYE GM !!!!!
oh yeah…GOODBYE GM-HOLDEN as well !!
Scrap Metal – Going by the “Logic” behind your comment:
Well thats it then……..once a company starts doing stuff like this you really know they are heading down the toilet”
What you’re saying is that anyone who has to sell or trade in their existing car inorder to buy either a new car or home; do some home improvements or go on holiday etc is also heading down the toilet.
I mean surely if they were doing okay they would keep their old car[s] and still be able to buy that new car wouldn’t they?
But no. most people sell or trade their cars in when they’re buying a new car because the car they have is superfluous or no longer suitable to their needs.. in the same way these cars are to GM. Therefore they have decided to auction them off.
In Life and in Business you do whatever you need to inorder to survive.. there is no point in keeping something if you don’t need it or use it anymore is there?
none of them must be worth much if they only expect $25,000 each on average.
Quick sale????
If they want to raise some cash, perhaps look at some assets that will bring in decent coin
Well wheelnut it is a desperate and seems like a last ditch effort to not save themselves, but to decrease as much of their 60 billion debt before going bunkrupt…..which is really the smart thing to do. with all of GM’s bad decisions over the years they have a chance to make a really good one at last……..bankruptcy.
One of the best ways to save themselves would be for GM to Pull oUt of America which is probably the most expensive country to build cars in ATM given that the American Auto Workers get paid $40p/hr + penalties and yet make cars with build quality etc thats marginally better than Korea.
Given that the UAW are refusing to accept a $15p/hr pay cut which will not only help them keep their jobs but is a condition of the bailout.. as is ending the retirees health benefits scheme. They may be forced to do just that – and leave the USA.
wheelnut,
if Gm pull lout of america, who is gonna run it??
and dont say holden will save the empire……..
The ultimate idea would for them to go Bankrupt and re structure whilst wiping their debts, and hope like hell they learnt something
GM will still be able to operate as normal.. although it need a bit t of “pruning” at the top.
Its just that: The cost of Labour in the USA; The various plants operating at less than 60%; and the number of similar specced cars they have are 3 of the main reasons GM are in trouble.
I am merely suggesting that [as part restructuring] they set up regional offices with the power to make more decisions.
As I said; over the years [under Rick Waggoner] GM has operateed under the Idea theat just because Rick Waggoner drives a big ugly SUV that the rest of the world wants a big ugly SUV.
However European; English Australian Canadian and Japanese tastes are completely different to American tastes.
If the regional offices had more descison making power they would be able to react more quickly to changes in the market as they have a better understanding of what peopl ewant and go about delivering a car to meet thier needs etc
I wonder if the EV1 will go under the hammer?
Perhaps they will lease it out again.
The best way for GM to cut costs and maybe even make a bit more money would be to stop making cars which are sepcifically designed for one particular market – that is LHD Only.. or cars that have parts which are unique to that particular model.
These days more and more car companies are starting rto realise its more cost effective to produce a range of cars that are built on a more flexible platform a platform that can be used on a number other of cars in a number of other countries.
I’d say that VW are probably the best at it ATM because not only do they share platforms but engines gearboxes drivelines etc.. The more parts that can be shared between cars the less you need to spend [time and money] in R&D and Tooling.. It’s the way of the future
The cars could also have a more “international flavour” in terms of the way they look