Humpy Heaven at Shannons

MELBOURNE – May 26, 2010: It will be ‘Humpy Heaven’ for lovers of Australia’s first Holden car at Shannons Melbourne Winter Classic Auction on Monday (May 31) with two original early 1950s Holden 48-215 ‘FX’ models going under the hammer with no reserve prices.

Introduced on November 29, 1948, the 48-215 with its unitary construction, 60HP six cylinder overhead-valve engine and three-speed gearbox with column shift soon became Australia’s best-selling passenger car and more than 120,000 were produced before the FX was replaced by the FJ model in September 1953.

Collectors at the auction will be particularly interested in the 1951 sedan that originally came from Croydon in Melbourne’s outer east and had been sitting in dry storage since 1985, when the current second owner discovered it.

The car then underwent a complete bare metal respray in its original Seacombe Green metallic paintwork commencing in May 2007, with new chrome, rubbers and roof lining fitted as part of its comprehensive regeneration.

In the process, the car’s engine bay and ‘Grey Motor’ were also detailed and a number of rare NASCO accessories were fitted, including a bonnet mascot and a rear Venetian blind. However its interior remains unrestored.

Great care was taken to keep the Holden factory original, right down to retaining its six-volt electrics and vacuum-operated windscreen wipers.

With just 92,400 miles (believed genuine) showing on its odometer, this early Holden provides a rare opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to acquire one of the finest examples of ‘Australia’s Own Car’.

Humpy Holden enthusiasts on a tighter budget have another chance to acquire one at the auction, with a 1953 ‘FX’ Holden sedan also being offered with no reserve.

This late production FX was purchased by the current owners in Victoria in 2006 and according to Shannons, is a good, straight example. While it is an older restoration in white with original grey leather upholstery, its appearance has been enhanced with brand new whitewall tyres.

Driven sparingly on weekends, the vehicle has been converted to 12-volt electric and the wheels have recently been re-rolled, sandblasted and repainted and the hubcaps have been restored. New carpet and front and rear windscreen rubbers are supplied, but yet to be fitted, while Shannons advise that the brakes will require attention by the new owner.

The 1951 Holden is expected to sell with no reserve in the $10,000-$16,000 range, while Shannons are quoting a guiding range of $5,000-$7,000 for the 1953 model.