Lloyds Auctions alerted an iconic Holden Monaro may not be allowed to leave Australian soil.
In a last minute development Lloyds Auctions received contact from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications to state that the rare Monaro could be an Australian Protected Object.
Aimed towards preserving and keeping history within Australia, Mr Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions commended the government's stance in protecting Australian motoring history for the future of Australian enthusiasts. "We have been recommending general motors buys this car and donates it to an Australian Museum as a parting gift for them leaving the country."
The iconic Holden is projected to sell for over $1 million at auction today set to break records and double the previous record for a Holden vehicle sold at auction.
It's the very first factory-built race car to bear a Holden badge and is credited with launching the Holden Dealer Team's racing dominance in the 70s and 80s, cementing the Holden vs. Ford rivalry that still divides the nation today.
The car is a significant piece of Australian motorsport history, not only shaping the success of Holden as a company, but also setting the stage for the domination by Holden and Peter Brock for the following two decades.
"While we're seeing rare classic cars like Holden Torana's and GT Falcon's selling for hundreds of thousands, none have the colourful backstory or cultural significance of this Monaro, which is what makes it so rare and special," said Mr Hames.
"The enquiry on this car is massive from all over the country, we expect that this incredible piece of history will break seven figures – making it the most expensive Holden ever," continued Mr. Hames.
This particular HT Monaro is the first Holden prepared by motorsport legend Harry Firth, which debuted at the 1969 Sandown 300, but a fiery crash at the 45-minute mark ended the race prematurely.
Findings from the crash were used to homologate changes for other HDT Monaro's which led to Colin Bond and Tony Roberts claiming victory at Bathurst the same year, with Des West and rookie Peter Brock finishing third. Thus the legendary success of Holden's Dealer Team was launched, and Holden's ongoing rivalry with Ford cemented.
Last year marked 50 years since the HT Monaro's commenced the Holden dynasty, a new era for the Holden Dealer Team on the mountain. The auction commences at midday today and is currently open taking online bids at: https://www.lloydsauctions.com.au/57d
