Classic car lovers will have the chance to step back in time later this month when the National Holden Motor Museum hosts its latest Early Holden Day, bringing together beautifully preserved vehicles and the stories behind them.
Held on Saturday, June 20, from 10 am to 12 pm, the event will showcase classic Holdens from the FJ through to the HQ era, with owners invited to display their pride and joy while visitors relive memories of Australia’s motoring past.
Museum volunteer Mitchell Law said the attraction of the event goes well beyond polished chrome and restored paintwork.
“The biggest part to it is that people who are visiting get to relive the nostalgia of the cars they’ve had in the past,” he said.
“There are always stories of the cars that people have had, and they sold it, or they’ve accidentally crashed it, or had a mishap with a kangaroo, and they wish they still had them.”
Mr Law became involved with the museum after visiting a similar attraction near Melbourne and thinking how great it would be to have something like it closer to home.
“Lo and behold, about two weeks later, it popped up on the news that they were putting a museum in at the Bunker,” he said. “I reached out to them and joined the team there.”
The museum now hosts themed events roughly once a month, alternating between Cars and Coffee gatherings and showcases dedicated to different eras of Holden history.
With Holden manufacturing now a thing of the past, Mr Law believes appreciation for the iconic Australian marque has only grown.
“There’s a lot of interest, and certainly with the demise of Holden manufacturing, it’s only made that interest even more so,” he said.
For many visitors, the appeal lies in reconnecting with their own family history.
“A lot of it’s with nostalgia. It’s the car that they learned to drive in or their parents had,” Mr Law said.
“There are a few people around town who have specifically bought cars in the same spec or colour that their parents or grandparents had.”
The event also offers owners an opportunity to share the unique histories of their vehicles, some of which have survived extraordinary circumstances.
“We have one car that comes sometimes where the owner has a photo of it involved in a flood, and all that’s sticking out is just the roof,” Mr Law said.
“He’s restored it, and now it’s part of these events.”
Among the museum’s most popular permanent exhibits are the iconic Sandman panel van and the HQ Monaro, both favourites with visitors who grew up during the 1970s.
“A lot of people like the Sandman. The panel van brings back a lot of memories,” Mr Law said.
For those attending a classic car gathering for the first time, he said the biggest drawcard is often the people.
“Probably the people you meet and hearing the stories, finding out different facts or interesting history of some of the cars on display,” he said.
“The biggest thing to expect is learning about the history of the cars and also the history of Holden and the impact it had on manufacturing in Australia.”
Owners with an early Holden tucked away in the shed are encouraged to join in.
“I’d encourage them to reach out to the museum, bring it along, meet some fellow people with similar interests and share the story of their car,” Mr Law said.
The National Holden Motor Museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 4 pm and will continue hosting regular community motoring events throughout the year.
To enter your vehicle, register by contacting Mitch on 0466376903 or messaging the museum via their Facebook page.
Advertising with North Coast Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.