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What is the rarest Holden?

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    There were 2.4 million Commodores produced by HOLDEN between 1978 and 2017. One of of Holden's lesser frequent mainstream models, the foreign ZB added only 11,000 to that number over the previous couple of years, although it's far from becoming the rarest steak on the BBQ.

    Tuners backed by the manufacturer This was where HDT and HSV really shone; they made a tonne of limited editions. Although Holden wasn't very interested in showcasing exclusive material, some oddball variants made through to retailers over time.

    Bathurst-winning vehicles are the most sought-after collectable automobiles in Australia, and their value is only expected to rise.

    We've compiled a list of the most sought-after Holden rarities in the hobby right now. Some are appreciating in value, whereas the latest is still in the midst of its early depreciation phase.

    The Best of the Rare Holden Cars

    FJ Special 1953

    Auto enthusiasts have been waiting for a brand new Holden since long before the first FJ model debuted in October 1953. Therefore, the mild cosmetic refresh, which was advertised as the "New Look" by GM-H (therefore making the previous 48-215 the "Old Look"), fell short of expectations.

    While this was disappointing initially, the addition of a fancier "Special" variety quickly made up for that too. This one was Holden's first foray into extravagance.

    The FJ Special, with its chrome and stainless ornamentation, miniature tail fins, and the option of two-tone painting, gave consumers a sample of Detroit style and hinted at the genuine coming of elegance for GM-H, the FE, which was expected to debut in three years.

    Both the entry-level Holden (just an upgraded 48-215) and the more luxurious Business sedan (marketed at fleet purchasers) are now available.

    Standard on the Special was leather (gentler than the leather used in many 48-215s, some having gray fabric), but in 1955, this was replaced by highly-stylised (two-tone featuring buttoned squared panels) 'Elascofab' vinyl.

    In an age when mantle radios became stylised, Elascofab was more in vogue than leather, and GM-Nasco H's business offered stylish add-ons including Venetian blinds for the back window, chromed licence plate frames, and a sunshade for the windshield.

    Gasoline restrictions ended on February 8, 1950, but by 1953 people had already forgotten it and wanted something more luxurious.

    Compared to the 28,000 Standards but also 9300 Business sedans produced, the 80,000 Specials indicate that the bulk of purchasers who could afford it opted for the higher trim level. Utilities or panel vans brought the total number of FJ vehicles delivered to 169,969.

    FE Special Station Wagon 1957

    In July of 1956, the public was introduced to the 3-box FE Holden sedan, designed by Alf Payze wholly in Australia and widely considered to be the best-executed automobile in the total General Motors globe. However, you would have to wait until March of 1957 to get your hands on one of the brand-new Station Sedan variations.

    There aren't many Australian automobiles that capture the spirit of their time period like the FE Special-Station Sedan. The first waves of postwar immigration were permanently altering (for the better) the society, and many families sought a vehicle especially adapted to their demands than the standard sedan by 1957, when a large section of such boomer generation was enrolled in school (the eldest at ten).

    Since the 48-215 and FJ are essentially pre-war relics, they were unable to accommodate a family of four, but the roomier FE-model with its large trunk did. However, there was a new level of adaptability with the Station Sedan.

    The Special trim added the same sense of gloss and glamour to the family car as the new Astor tv had to the living room for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

    In 1957, barn doors were by far the norm for waggons in Australia, and no other manufacturer provided a model with curved back side glass, a 1-piece roof pressing, lift-up rear panel, unusual rear doors, or fold-down tailgate.

    Wagon mania was started by the FE Station Sedan at the same time as suburbs like Baulkham Hills, Glen Waverley, and Acacia Ridge were rapidly expanding. It was a great automobile for summer vacations with the family.

    In addition, the FE Station Sedan's short front and rear overhangs, high ground clearance, peak engine torque at under 1200rpm, and durable construction allowed it to ferry the family across roads that are currently inaccessible to all but the most specialised four-wheel drives.

    EJ Premier 1962

    When word spread that GM-H had placed a significant order with a supplier for bucket seats, it was assumed that Holden was preparing to debut a sports vehicle. There could hardly be a more far-fetched conclusion.

    The Holden Premier caught everyone off guard. GM-first H's foray towards luxury was 1953's Special, and by the time that model was discontinued, regular leather seating had been replaced by high-end Elascofab vinyl.

    Bucket seats with two-tone Howe leather were standard in the Premier. Two horns could be seen. Many EJ Premiers stood in for a Mercedes-Benz 220SE or a Jaguar Mark-2 as the family's second vehicle in Vaucluse and Toorak because of the white steering wheel.

    Its EH successor has long been the favourite of collectors. The grey-painted six-cylinder engine initially seen in the 1948 48-215 original was used in the EJ, the last Holden to use it. The EJ had 25% more power than the original.

    The Premier's weight made life difficult for this antiquated equipment. Surprisingly, the automatic was indeed the sole type of transmission available, likely in a foolish attempt to boost the car's luxury image.

    The original Holden Premier couldn't equal the 1948 Ford in acceleration or top speed on the road (realistically 78 mph rather than 82).

    Three-pedal automobiles could reach speeds approaching 100 miles per hour, but its replacement came with a new, more capable 179 cubic-inch "red" engine and automatic at no extra cost beyond the manual gearbox that came as standard.

    Although it lacked in speed, the EJ Premier nonetheless managed to look sophisticated and expensive. The iridescent metallic paint was a common feature, as was the white roof, white-wall tyres, centre console, and folding armrests in the back seat.

    Pile carpet was installed all throughout, and for the first time in a Holden, a heater was included, but the Air-Chief radio was an optional extra.

    The EJ Premier was an aesthetic and technological breakthrough for a car that had its origins in a wartime utilitarian concept. There was only about a million automobiles in Australia at the time Holden was introduced.

    In 1956, the company's stock value hit $2 million. In October 1962, the millionth Holden rolled off the assembly line, demonstrating the company's massive contribution to the widespread adoption of automobiles. One million was indeed a bronze EJ Premier, which seemed appropriate.

    HK Monaro GT-S 327 1968

    To say that this automobile was a bigger surprise than that of the Premier would be an understatement. Holden's first coupe, it was simply a race vehicle with a rego label, and it was built to beat the Bathurst 500.

    The 327 was custom made, although the six-cylinder GTS 186S and the automatic V8 GTS 307 offered very identical styling, stripery, bright colours, wheel trims, reduced suspension, and aftermarket tachometer positioned below knee level.

    Here was a Holden capable of 125 mph, something unthinkable even 18 months earlier, before Ford Australia's advertising genius Bill Bourke unveiled the XR Falcon GT.

    A Chevrolet V8 was employed, much like in the 307 model. In addition, it has a 25-gallon fuel tank, limited-slip differential, anti-tramp rods, and a Saginaw four-speed manual transmission with close ratios.

    However, the brakes received less attention, and only the savvy engineering of 1968 champion Bruce McPhee, who changed the system inside its regulations, allowed his Monaro to hold off the X-T Falcon GTs. Among modern drivers, Holden has the reputation of being the most manoeuvrable option.

    In keeping with worldwide GM policy at the time, GM-H did not participate in racing on an official level but would gladly accept any praise that came its way. Even if you don't care about racing, the aesthetics of any H-K GTS Monaro will blow away your expectations of any other H-K Holden model.

    LC Torana GTR XU-1 1970

    Three executives from GM-H believed that the key to potential Bathurst triumphs was not to, "out GTHO the GTHO," but rather to build a "David" to take on Ford's "Goliath." This was despite the fact that both the GTS 327 as well as GT-S 350 Monaros had defeated their Falcon GT adversaries at Mount Panorama.

    He conceived of the high-performance Torana together with the sales director, John Bagshaw, and the marketing liaison, Peter Lewis-Williams.

    During the fourth quarter of 1969, Australian manufacturer Holden released their LC ('LC' stands for "Light Car") Torana lineup, which included several models powered by six cylinders and was led by the GTR.

    These three individuals got together in Steinhagen's office not long after the event that year, while the LC was still making headlines in the automotive press. The head engineer didn't want to release a street-legal version of the more powerful Monaro.

    Many of the parts for a new Torana may come from Holden, eliminating the need to get engines from Detroit. In addition, if the price was lowered significantly, more units would likely be sold.

    It's not just great for racing tracks; the lightweight and compact size make it a viable rally car alternative to the bulky and cumbersome Monaro. It would also serve as an inspiration for the rest of the six-cylinder Torana lineup.

    To get around the problem of GM-lack H's of formal involvement in racing, the Holden Dealers Team was formed earlier that year. The team was led by Harry Firth, and based on what we can tell, he pooled Peter Brock's expertise in getting the most out of six-cylinder Holden engines with his own prior experience working on the Cortina GT500 (1965).

    It has twin gasoline tanks such as the Cortina GT500, and it also has a V8 engine (which can be filled at the same time to shorten the time required). Firth installed big air scoops beneath the front bumper of the Cortina to channel air out on to the braking, and he did the same thing with the XU-1's spoiler.

    With the addition of a new cylinder head, increased compression, larger valves, and a hot camshaft, together with triple carburetors and a sports-exhaust system, a composite 186S engine produced 160 brake horsepower. As more improvements were made for such 1971 'evolution' model, output increased to 180bhp.

    Bathurst 500-mile race winner Peter Brock memorably outdrew all challengers in the rain to grab the chequered flag in his LJ XU-1 in 1972.

    HQ Monaro GT-S 350 COUPE 1971

    Since the GTR XU-1 was designated as the racecar, the GTS 350 Monaro wasn't particularly useful. It's partly for this reason that the final generation of Monaros powered by Chevrolet engines from the previous century is still underappreciated.

    While others may disagree, this has to be the most aesthetically pleasing Holden ever. Even if it suffered from the plough understeer so adored by head engineer George Roberts, the flagship HQ was nevertheless a wonderful interstate cruiser and, unlike many HQs, it was equipped with radial tyres as original kit.

    It was available with either a standard manual transmission or, more advantageously, a Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission.

    This coupe model of the Monaro GTS was the second-to-last of its kind. The HJ replacement for the HQ was a stylistic downgrade since it kept the HQ's beautiful rear design but gave it the HJ's blunt, unsubtle nose.

    The value of any HQ Holden is rising, but this one will be especially sought for.

    HQ Statesman DeVille 1971

    Bill Bourke's marketing genius was behind the Ford Fairlane, the Falcon GT, and the complete XR Falcon range, but it took GM-H more than 4 years to introduce a genuine competitor to the Fairlane.

    Brougham (nearly literally: ancient carriage) was replaced by the more sensible Statesman and Statesman DeVille, which were essentially Premiers with a longer boot, plastic roof, and garish brocade ornamentation.

    The Statesman, with its long wheelbase at last, nonetheless carried the burden of its own air of superiority. The hubcaps read 'General Motors,' just like those on the 1948 Holden.

    Before Holden was chosen, the decision was made (and nicknames such as the ANZAC or the GM-H were considered). Although the automaker had intended for the Statesman to stand alone as a brand independent of Holden, the market had other ideas.

    The Statesman DeVille was a proper showpiece for the HQ series, with its formal elegance and standard Australian 308-cubic-inch V8 engine.

    Few of these vehicles were equipped with the optional 350-ci Chevrolet engines (with Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmissions), which provided a significant increase in top speed.

    Torana A9X Hatch 1977

    For nearly $500,000, a 1977 Holden-Torana SS hatchback in Sydney comes equipped with the remarkable A9X performance package.

    Only 100 Torana hatchbacks were manufactured with the A9X package, making this one of only two produced in Atlantis Blue with Tan vinyl interior, making it one of the rarest Holdens ever made.

    To aid the Holden Retailer Team in their pursuit of Australian Touring Car championships, Holden introduced the A9X option. In those days, racing vehicles had to be adapted from production vehicles.

    The upgrades are only available on SLR 5000 sedans & SS hatchbacks, and they include things like uprated axles, rear disc brakes, and a heavyduty differential. Which is why Peter Brock was able to win the first race ever held in an A9X at Sandown Race-way in 1977.

    Over the next few years, the A9X dominated the Australian Rally Car series, with Brock defeating the Bathurst race by 6 laps in 1979 and notably setting the speed record on the closing laps.

    With a price tag of $495,000, this hatchback would surpass the 2018 record of $365,000 to become the most expensive road-going Torana ever sold. The original GMH "Hatch Hutch" is included with the sale of this Torana, making it the priciest tent ever sold.

    However, a Bob Morris-driven Bathurst race car sold at a 2017 auction for $715,000, so this Torana isn't the priciest.

    The current owner has been caring for this A9X for two years, during which time he kept it in his collection and along with a Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III. It has been reported that in 2018, a Phase III sold for over $1,000,000 (including buyer's premium), making it the most expensive car ever sold in Australia.

    HSV Gen-F GTS

    It's been said that Holden Special Automobiles has a hard time moving cars that cost more than $100,000, and the Gen-F GTS is no exception to this rule.

    In 2013, HSV put the same 6.2-liter Chevrolet engine found in the most potent Corvettes into its new V-F Commodore-based GTS flagship. This engine produces 430kW/740Nm.

    It was the speediest Australian car ever made and also the most advanced, thanks to its 6-speed automatic and massive brakes (6-pot callipers rear and front).

    Now, for the very first time in the company's history, HSV had such a car that could compete with or even outperform a Mercedes-Benz E-63 AMG, both in terms of acceleration (400m in 12.7 seconds) and handling.

    Priced at $92,900 when new, this GTS was not cheap. There are now four-year-old examples obtainable for less than $70,000, but you can still buy a brand-new or low-mileage version of the same car for $100K or less.

    It won't be long before it's impossible to buy a brand-new or recently-released HSV, and collectors should expect prices for pristine GTS models to rise.

    VC SL/E Wagon

    This early-release, high-end wago-barge is limited in number and has a mysterious backstory. The brochure announced that 67 would be available for purchase at launch, and that they would come in your choice of Nocturne Blue, Firethorn, or Nutmeg. The cars would only be sold through Holden dealerships in Melbourne and Geelong. Fans estimate that only 25–27 were constructed, and they have never seen a Nutmeg. The SL/E waggon accounted for 0.02% of such 121,807 VC Holdens produced.

    VH SL/E T30

    Even though Holden lost money every year in the 1980s, GM-H still made sure to recognise and reward its best employees. In 1982, every one of the top 30 distributors in the country received a Commodore SL/E T30. Their 5.0-liter engines were built to VC HDT specifications, and they were backed by a nigh indestructible Turbo 350 transmission. Other notable SL/E features included a one-of-a-kind Shadowtone Duco and a comprehensive cassette stereo system. Only 30 were ever made. Who knows how many dealer leaders still have theirs.

    VF SS-V & SV6 RESERVE EDITION

    In order to purchase a Reserve Edition VF Commodore, you had to be hired by Holden as from December 31, 2013. The SV6 was available to workers as a sedan or waggon, and the SS-V V8 was also available in a pickup truck configuration. Only 171 of the Reserve Edition were sold, and only 93 of those were the SS-V. Out of the five people who purchased utes, only one dedicated worker opted for a manual transmission. One of a kind; rarity doesn't get any better than that!

    VL Calais Wagon

    Throughout 1986 and 1987, HDT secretly offered VL Berlina-to-Calais waggon conversions, so the idea of a Labrador-able Luxo-Holden wasn't lost on Fishermans Bend track. Holden released only 200 VL Calais waggons in April '88 to boost sales & clear parts in preparation for the new VN model. The talk on the forums points to a 50:75:75 split between naturally aspirated sixes, turbos, and V8s. My childhood dream car was a long-roof, Evening-Blue VL Calais Turbo-five-speed with matching colour 16-inch Walkies.

    VY & VYII SS Wagon

    Holden's third-generation station waggon was already a sexy ride by the time the SS badges were slapped on in 2003. The $51k household space craft was powered by an LS1 & backed by an automatic or manual transmission, and it showcased all the kits of the SS sedan also while borrowing the side skirts and 17" alloys of the SS ute. Holden sold 500 units in Phantom Mica and Redhot before the VYII was released. The second season saw the introduction of Quicksilver in place of Redhot, and a total of 850 cars were produced in total, which is more than some of the other examples here although still not many.

    VZ 1 Tonner Cross6 AWD

    Holden's VZ lineup was impressive, but as the decade progressed, Australians lost interest in big cars despite the company's widespread availability. With hatchbacks, station waggons, coupes, cab-chassis, utes, dual-cab utes, utes, and LWB sedans Some variations of the Tonner, a subset of the Commodore platform from which all Tonners are derived, as well as the four Commodore-based AWD models, did not fare well in the marketplace. Rarer than rare, right? Crossing the Ton in One6. Only fifty cab-chassis, all wheel drive, go-anywhere work rigs were produced out of a total of 261,238 VZ Commodore-based vehicles.

    Holdens built after the 1980s are largely forgotten, and the Camira is viewed negatively as a localised version of GM's unpopular global J-car.

    2 months after the final Holden, a VF series Commodore, was produced at Elizabeth plant, in Adelaide's north, the bidding benchmark was set. However, in April of 2018, Burns & Co. auctioned off a 1988 VL-Commodore SS Group A-model for $340,000, shattering the previous record by $80,000.

    Holden, a division of General Motors, will be discontinued in 2021, the company announced on Monday, bringing to an end a storied automobile history that started in Nov 1948 with the release of the first 48-215.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH8VoN6Y7nQ

    Conclusion

    Bathurst-winning vehicles are the most sought-after collectable automobiles in Australia, and their value is only expected to rise. HDT and HSV really shone; they made a tonne of limited editions. Some are appreciating in value, while others are still in the early depreciation phase. Total number of FJ vehicles delivered to 169,969. In 1957, barn doors were by far the norm for waggons in Australia; no other manufacturer provided a model with curved back side glass.

    The Holden EJ Premier was an aesthetic and technological breakthrough for a car that had its origins in a wartime utilitarian concept. Many EJ Premiers stood in for a Mercedes-Benz 220SE or a Jaguar Mark-2 as the family's second vehicle in Vaucluse and Toorak. GM-H did not participate in racing on an official level but would accept any praise that came its way. The GTS 327 was custom made, although the six-cylinder GTS 186S and the automatic V8 GTS 307 offered very identical styling. The GTR XU-1 was designed by Harry Firth, who worked on the Cortina GT500 (1965) for the Holden Dealers Team.

    It has twin gasoline tanks and a V8 engine, and can be filled with gas at the same time as the Monaro. Brougham (nearly literally: ancient carriage) was replaced by the Statesman and Statesman DeVille, which were essentially Premiers with a longer boot, plastic roof, and garish brocade ornamentation. Only 100 Torana hatchbacks were manufactured with the A9X package, making this one of only two rarest Holdens ever made. In 2013, HSV put the same 6.2-liter Chevrolet engine found in most potent Corvettes into its new V-F Commodore-based GTS flagship. In 2018, a Phase III sold for over $1,000,000 (including buyer's premium), making it the most expensive car ever sold in Australia.

    Only 171 of the Reserve Edition VF Commodore SL/E T30s were sold, and only 93 of those were the SS-V. Only 200 VL Calais waggons were released in April '88 to boost sales & clear parts for new VN model. Holden's VZ lineup was impressive, but as the decade progressed, Australians lost interest in big cars. Holden sold 500 units in Phantom Mica and Redhot before the VYII was released. Only 50 cab-chassis all wheel drive, go-anywhere work rigs were produced out of 261,238 VZ Commodore-based vehicles.

    Content Summary

    • There were 2.4 million Commodores produced by HOLDEN between 1978 and 2017.
    • Bathurst-winning vehicles are the most sought-after collectable automobiles in Australia, and their value is only expected to rise.
    • We've compiled a list of the most sought-after Holden rarities in the hobby right now.
    • Bucket seats with two-tone Howe leather were standard in the Premier.
    • It's not just great for racing tracks; the lightweight and compact size make it a viable rally car alternative to the bulky and cumbersome Monaro.
    • Bathurst 500-mile race winner Peter Brock memorably outdrew all challengers in the rain to grab the chequered flag in his LJ XU-1 in 1972.HQ Monaro GT-S 350 COUPE 1971Since the GTR XU-1 was designated as the racecar, the GTS 350 Monaro wasn't particularly useful.
    • Which is why Peter Brock was able to win the first race ever held in an A9X at Sandown Race-way in 1977.Over the next few years, the A9X dominated the Australian Rally Car series, with Brock defeating the Bathurst race by 6 laps in 1979 and notably setting the speed record on the closing laps.
    • The current owner has been caring for this A9X for two years, during which time he kept it in his collection and along with a Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III.
    • It has been reported that in 2018, a Phase III sold for over $1,000,000 (including buyer's premium), making it the most expensive car ever sold in Australia.
    • Even though Holden lost money every year in the 1980s, GM-H still made sure to recognise and reward its best employees.
    • In 1982, every one of the top 30 distributors in the country received a Commodore SL/E T30.
    • Holden released only 200 VL Calais waggons in April '88 to boost sales & clear parts in preparation for the new VN model.
    • Holden sold 500 units in Phantom Mica and Redhot before the VYII was released.
    • Holden's VZ lineup was impressive, but as the decade progressed, Australians lost interest in big cars despite the company's widespread availability.
    • Only fifty cab-chassis, all wheel drive, go-anywhere work rigs were produced out of a total of 261,238 VZ Commodore-based vehicles.
    • However, in April of 2018, Burns & Co. auctioned off a 1988 VL-Commodore SS Group A-model for $340,000, shattering the previous record by $80,000.Holden, a division of General Motors, will be discontinued in 2021, the company announced on Monday, bringing to an end a storied automobile history that started in Nov 1948 with the release of the first 48-215.

    FAQs About Rare Holdens

    The GTSR W1 ute is just one of four ever made and given it carries the build number #001, it's likely to hold the highest value of any ever made.

    More recently an ex-Peter Brock VK Commodore SS Group A set a new Holden production car price record when it sold for $1.057m. Only time will tell what a well-heeled Brock fan is willing to pay for this otherwise unassuming VX Commodore produced just four years before the King of the Mountain's untimely death in 2006.

    Holden's Used Car Values

    There have been numerous reports of certain Holden models seeing large increases in their value like the VF Commodore and the HSV range.

    JEREMY Martin's VB Commodore was purchased in 2005 as a $1000 253 banger. It has since undergone a number of transformations that have seen it progress into the world's fastest and quickest Holden Commodore.

    The rare 1979 Holden VH SL/E Commodore sold for $108,000 on Saturday. It is the only surviving one of just three prototypes that were made before the model was released in 1981. The car was discovered under a sheet in a shed in the Wimmera.

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