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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The Collection of the Late Clem Smith OAM
• Sale Date:
  20 Aug 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  12
• Lot Description:
  1953 HOLDEN FX 48-215
  Body No: 82262. Engine No: 100460
• Notes:
  The 48-215 was a robust and economical family sedan, designed for the Australian environment. It was the first car built by General Motors in Australia to bear the Holden name eventually gaining the nickname of Holden FX. Although its American origins are obvious the FX is quintessentially Australian. Development of the prototype 48-215 began in 1944 by American and Australian engineers at the General Motors workshop in Detroit and after months of testing 3 prototypes were brought to Australia. Legend has it that the cars were driven under a cloak of secrecy to the Fishermen’s Bend factory in Melbourne. Prototype No.1 was tested on a specifically designed test track east of Melbourne to replicate Australian driving conditions. This Holden is now held in the National Museum’s Landmarks gallery. Once the factory was satisfied with the car it went in to production. On Sunday 21 November, a special preview exclusively for the Fishermen’s Bend employees and their families was held. It was estimated by GMH that 12,000 guests attended. A triumphant unveiling took place with the factory exhibiting partly assembled cars at various stages of production along the assembly line as well as finished cars for the guests to inspect. Prime Minister Ben Chifley unveiled the all Australian car at 2:30 pm on Monday, 29 November 1948, in the Fishermen’s Bend Social Hall. A cream Holden was unveiled in glamourous black velvet surrounds while a pianist played Brahms’ Waltz in A-flat. It was a watershed moment as Australia created its very own car manufacturing industry. The FX and subsequent FJ released in 1953 have been the choice of some of the country’s greatest race, rally and trials drivers of the 1950s and 1960s including Clem Smith. Clem raced a red FJ at Albert Park in 1958 finishing in 3rd place before he went on to his Valiants. Someone said that Clem had “raced everything but a bath tub”. The cars got faster and the competition more ferocious. Clem bought this FX for his collection for its status as the first Australian built car and to venerate his own experiences in his FJ. This car in the Clem Smith Collection has the 132.5ci (2,171 cc) cast-iron straight-6 engine and a 3-speed column shift manual transmission. It is painted in the traditional blue hue of the era and the interior has been refitted in matching blue vinyl. The original paint code is: 207-15521 and the trim is: 10-213. The odometer reading is 39,470 miles. It is believed to have belonged to Mr. M.R Pattinson of Somerton Park, South Australia in c1993. This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$13,000 - 18,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.