‘Holy grail’ Holden could set new auction record.

[DJR-351]

How many more ultra low mileage classics are still hidden away?

https://www.speedcafe.com/torquecafe...uction-record/

The Holden Torana A9X is one of the most iconic models ever built by the Lion brand. Now one of only 33 specially-built examples is up for sale and could set a new benchmark for Australian-made cars sold at auction.

This 1977 A9X is one of 33 built for race teams that year, each were double seam welded and painted white. Each were sold through General Motors Parts and Accessories division to race teams, so they are known as ‘GMP&A’ models. This is one of three shells purchased by Ron Hodgson Motors and was originally meant to be a spare in case of damage to the team’s other two racing examples. When it was needed for that the shell was built into the road-going specification it’s current in.

It will go under the hammer at this weekend’s Lloyds Auction and bidding was already up to $250,000 at the time of publication (Tuesday).

With only 475km on the odometer and still in factory condition, Lloyds chief operating officer, Lee Hames, believes this Torana could fetch more than the record-setting $1.1m HSV Maloo GTSR W1 ute that sold earlier this year.

“This is the holy grail of Holden motor collector cars in Australia, since Holden closed their doors many muscle car enthusiasts are mourning the loss of performance cars, and there has since been a resurgence in these classic cars,” Hames explained.

“With the Holden prices we’ve seen achieved at auction in the last six months, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see this car break records once again.”

Hames has reason to be confident with demand for Holdens at an all-time high. In addition to the HSV Maloo, the last Commodore off the local production line sold for $750,000 and a ‘77 Torana raced by John Harvey sold for $910,000 late in 2020.

Also going up for sale soon is another famous Holden, a 1982 HDT VH Group 3 that was once Peter Brock’s personal road car. Grays Auctions is selling the famous Commodore, which graced the cover of Modern Motor magazine alongside Brock’s racing version.

Bidding for the extremely rare Torana A9X will end on Saturday.

[kcodezd]

Is this the same car?
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/str...up-for-auction

[FairmontGS]

So it was a shell. Did GMH put it into the road config or someone else? I'd want to see evidence.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

So it was a shell. Did GMH put it into the road config or someone else? I'd want to see evidence.

AFAIK the GM P&A A9Xs were more than a bare shell when they left the factory. I believe that they were a fully trimmed car, less the driveline, so that the race teams could transfer the running gear from an existing racecar, to make it more time efficient.

The blurb as read by Alan Jones (in the Lloyds video clip) says that it was "made into a complete car by Peter Malloy", who worked for Ron Hodgson.

Dr Terry

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by kcodezd

Is this the same car?
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/str...up-for-auction

According to the whichcar link that is Build #10, the one up for auction with Lloyds is listed as build #1

Auction >>> https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotD...&pgn=2&pgs=100

Ron Hodgson had been running a very successful team racing Holden's and he purchased three of these shells in 1977. Two were immediately transformed into race cars for the team and the other was a spare in case of a major accident requiring a re-shell of a car. Two years later after the model was to be replaced with the first of the commodores, Hodgen's chief mechanic Peter Molloy was instructed to build up the untouched shell into a complete car in the same/similar race specs of the other two cars.
It has has just 475km since.

ICAARS Verification Certificate attached.

Chassis No: CLX061238M
ENG No: T933849

[kcodezd]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

How many more ultra low mileage classics are still hidden away?

At least 2 low k A9X then.



There is no way I could resist adding big clicks if I owned it.

[bangm001]

Im not one to usually bag cars but that is one ugly shed ornament! ;-)

[ozrunner]

Each to his own and I'm sure someone will cough up considerable dollars for it and good luck to them.

But for me its just a shell that was then built up into road car configuration as per published comments. They were not complete cars just bodyshells.

This is one of three shells purchased by Ron Hodgson Motors...

Thus this comment is also total BS.

"With only 475km on the odometer and still in factory condition,"

So it's 475k's since it was rebuilt using all the spare bits from the workshop as it was only delivered as a body shell. Motor is probably a rebuild or had more that 475k on it or the odometer used was wound back .

It cannot be wholly described as being in factory condition built by the factory although some parts used may have been. It was put together by Peter Molloy probably using a variety of parts from numerous others.

It was never a factory built A9X. Much like the many HO's we see built up but they are not the full on genuine article.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by ozrunner

Each to his own and I'm sure someone will cough up considerable dollars for it and good luck to them.

But for me its just a shell that was then built up into road car configuration as per published comments. They were not complete cars just bodyshells.

This is one of three shells purchased by Ron Hodgson Motors...

Thus this comment is also total BS.

"With only 475km on the odometer and still in factory condition,"

So it's 475k's since it was rebuilt using all the spare bits from the workshop as it was only delivered as a body shell. Motor is probably a rebuild or had more that 475k on it or the odometer used was wound back .

It cannot be wholly described as being in factory condition built by the factory although some parts used may have been. It was put together by Peter Molloy probably using a variety of parts from numerous others.

It was never a factory built A9X. Much like the many HO's we see built up but they are not the full on genuine article.

Tend to agree. A bit like the 3 race-prepared "P4s". I'd rather a factory A9X. If I was buying a GMP&A car I'd want racing history at least.

As it is it's neither fish nor fowl...tricky one.

[jaydee]

Originally Posted by bangm001

Im not one to usually bag cars but that is one ugly shed ornament! ;-)

Really? I reckon it's horny as.
Sure it's no GT coupe, but sexy all the same.

[slowsnake]

This may be a silly question but what type of tag would it have, as in to be road registered, etc, if it was a shell or rolling chassis would it have the original chassis?...or has someone taken a wrecked car/body and just swapped old body for new on an existing car.


Cheers King Billy

[DJR-351]

If I had the spare coin I would definitely find a spot for it in my shed, wouldn't think twice about it.....

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by ozrunner

Each to his own and I'm sure someone will cough up considerable dollars for it and good luck to them.

But for me its just a shell that was then built up into road car configuration as per published comments. They were not complete cars just bodyshells.

This is one of three shells purchased by Ron Hodgson Motors...

Thus this comment is also total BS.

"With only 475km on the odometer and still in factory condition,"

So it's 475k's since it was rebuilt using all the spare bits from the workshop as it was only delivered as a body shell. Motor is probably a rebuild or had more that 475k on it or the odometer used was wound back .

It cannot be wholly described as being in factory condition built by the factory although some parts used may have been. It was put together by Peter Molloy probably using a variety of parts from numerous others.

It was never a factory built A9X. Much like the many HO's we see built up but they are not the full on genuine article.

I realise that they were called 'SHELLS' but I believe that they were rolling shells complete with trim.

They even came with a factory body plate which listed the paint colour & interior trim code. They are factory built A9X rolling shells.


The 'factory condition' comment would apply to the body & trim, but not the drivetrain, so it's not all BS. Same with the 475 km on the odo, it probably has travelled that distance since the drivetrain was fitted.

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

This may be a silly question but what type of tag would it have, as in to be road registered, etc, if it was a shell or rolling chassis would it have the original chassis?...or has someone taken a wrecked car/body and just swapped old body for new on an existing car.


Cheers King Billy

It has a factory body plate with paint & trim details along with codes for an L31/Super T10/2.6 diff.

It also has a factory stamped chassis number.

It does not have a factory fitted ADR compliance plate because it didn't leave the factory as a complete driving car.

Dr Terry

[rare ss]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

It has a factory body plate with paint & trim details along with codes for an L31/Super T10/2.6 diff.

It also has a factory stamped chassis number.

It does not have a factory fitted ADR compliance plate because it didn't leave the factory as a complete driving car.

Dr Terry

I thought the body number was GMP&A on these spare shells?

The another spare A9X shell that Street Machine gave away had that stamped on the ID tag at least

[Pis-ton broke]

can a ADR compliance plate be gotten?

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by rare ss

I thought the body number was GMP&A on these spare shells?

The another spare A9X shell that Street Machine gave away had that stamped on the ID tag at least

The chassis number & body number are 2 different things. The body number is (as you correctly say) is GM P&A, but the chassis number is CLXxxxxx.

Pre-1989 the chassis number was stamped into the body work & the body number is stamped on the body plate.

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

can a ADR compliance plate be gotten?

In a word NO.

Having said that, I believe that once over a certain age & with documentary proof the vehicle can still be road registered.

Dr Terry

[ozrunner]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

........It does not have a factory fitted ADR compliance plate because it didn't leave the factory as a complete driving car...

So essentially it is BS to be advertised as being a full on factory condition A9X as it never existed in this current guise as it was only a shell or rolling shell from the factory. It probably got its 495klm on the back on a tilt tray being delivered

It's obviously got some pedigree but you have to agree it IS NOT a factory produced complete A9X.

Same as the HO discussed on here that was a body and built up. Body was a HO the rest no.

[XRtowcar]

Don’t get why it’s going to be a million dollar car.
This should be as it is a GMP&A car with full race history in race guise.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales...ace-car-244426
The white one is a shell with some bits screwed on that made it into a car similar to an A9X.
Someone with too much money will buy it.

[DJR-351]

Not quite the what was predicted though still impressive.

[bathurst77]

Just as moffat and bonds 1978/79 falcons were not true cobras
the 3 lot 4 xa sedans are not true gtho ph4
this is not a true a9x
its a torana hatch racing body with a9x spec running gear

and you might have a lot of trouble registering it, tho i doubt you would want to risk it on parramatta road with all the school mums in suvs and bogons in twin cabs and old commodores.

[zilo]

I preferred the shape of the UC Torana hatch, the LX looked like a dinosaur after the UC hit the showrooms.
Haven't seen one in years now....wish we had kept ours.