Worth Buying An Old Holden As An Investment?

[Wonky]

Background Pt 1. Wife and I are retired with SFA income from a modest SMSF account.

Background Pt 2. The son of my best friend of 60+ years is a car collector with a number of rare and expensive cars, the latest being a mid 70s Aston Martin. He doesn't have room for all so is selling off one of his completely refurbished old Holdens (he purchased it already done).

Very, very clean, zero rust. I don't want to give too many details away but if it was an EH or HR in similar condition for similar money I'd be on it like a shot, but it's of course a less desirable model.

Given (genuine) Holdens are no longer being made, I guess the bottom line question is do people with some sort of knowledge in this area think it is possible to at least match typical SMSF (SFA) returns as a long term investment? Remembering that gains, if any, in car prices won't be taxed.

[Pickles]

G'Day,...Gary isn't it?...I think I remember meeting you at Chevs many years ago?
l reckon you need to tell us about the car (not price,...that's up to you), model, restored, condition etc etc. We don't know where the car is, so IMHO, there's very little likelihood of anyone "stealing" it from you,...I ain't got the dollars anyway!
Regards, Martin.

[Micks]

Gazza don't do it! Save ya money matey!

[whitels1ss]

Gazza don't do it! Save ya money matey!

Exactly, good advice Mick!




It costs money to hold & keep anything especially a car.



You could be up for costs such as storage, maintenance, unexpected failures, accidental damage or other extra costs including registration & insurance.

(The value of the car may not increase enough to even cover the holding costs.)



IMHO it's not worth the risks or bother unless it is something which you really want to own & drive.

[Micks]

Exactly, good advice Mick!




It costs money to hold & keep anything especially a car.



You could be up for costs such as storage, maintenance, unexpected failures, accidental damage or other extra costs including registration & insurance.

(The value of the car may not increase enough to even cover the holding costs.)



IMHO it's not worth the risks or bother unless it is something which you really want to own & drive.

I reckon in these times there will be plenty of peeps trying to offload these cars aye!

[Wonky]

Probably wasn't clear - not looking purely for investment purposes but also to have a piece of history that would enable me to occasionally go to chrome bumper shows.

[Wonky]

G'Day,...Gary isn't it?...I think I remember meeting you at Chevs many years ago?
l reckon you need to tell us about the car (not price,...that's up to you), model, restored, condition etc etc. We don't know where the car is, so IMHO, there's very little likelihood of anyone "stealing" it from you,...I ain't got the dollars anyway!
Regards, Martin.

When he bought it. https://www.shannons.com.au/auctions...1DY2O1Z89I3A7/

[Micks]

Wow that is an ol timer mate! Was the EK the better model than FB or the other way around?

[whitels1ss]

Wow that is an ol timer mate! Was the EK the better model than FB or the other way around?

EK was the newer one,

from memory it even came with modern electric windscreen wipers instead of the vacuum powered wipers that were used in the FB.

[Wonky]

The main reason I'm contemplating this car is given my disabilities I don't have the time or energy to put into doing one up, much and all as I'd love to be able to. Obviously I'm paying up front for someone who has put in the time and money to restore it and wouldn't buy one newly restored due to concerns about, for example, rust repairs having not been done properly.


From Shannons page:

Holden’s EK series was a facelift of the popular FB model, launched with much fanfare in May 1961 due to the introduction of GM-H’s first automatic transmission, dubbed the Hydramatic.

Otherwise the EK was largely unchanged from the FB introduced just over a year earlier and shared the same basic styling, the curved glass windscreen and rear fins reflecting the latest American trends. External changes between the FB and EK were few; the new model received a slightly wider front grille, reshaped bumper over riders and the hubcaps featured the Lion emblem, while the chrome decoration found on the FB Special was replaced by a simple horizontal chrome spear.

The new Holden gained a little weight, so the trusty grey motor came in for some work – it was bored out by 1/16th of an inch to raise the total cubic capacity to 138-cid, while the compression ratio was also lifted to 7.25:1, resulting in a total output of 75 horsepower. The brakes and clutch were also improved and other changes included electric wipers instead of the older vacuum-operated type.

The better-appointed Special added stainless mouldings, chrome badges and glamorous two-tone upholstery, along with a wider palette of exterior colours. Holden built 150,214 EKs before the model was superseded by the EJ series in July 1962.

[Peter B - CV8]

Probably wasn't clear - not looking purely for investment purposes but also to have a piece of history that would enable me to occasionally go to chrome bumper shows.

SMSF rules are pretty clear on cars. You can't store them at your home & can't be driven by any trustee of the SMSF trust.

[Pickles]

Having seen the car, I'd say no to that one. That hydramatic would not be a good drive with the grey motor, and "Special Sedans" are reasonably common. If I were you, & I was considering something like that, I'd be looking for an EK Special Manual Station Wagon. It'd have to be a GOOD one, but one in good original shape is quite a rare beast. BUT, they are around, ya just gotta be patient. The thing about EKs is that they haven't got the same appeal to many as FJs, EH's etc, but the EK is a great car and an EK Special S.W. is more special again.
Pickles.

[Micks]

Good advice Martin, personally I would go the hatchback V8 Torana myself, though have too many ornaments in the stable already!!

[Wonky]

SMSF rules are pretty clear on cars. You can't store them at your home & can't be driven by any trustee of the SMSF trust.

Yep, understand that so wouldn't be purchased under the SMSF.

[Wonky]

Having seen the car, I'd say no to that one. That hydramatic would not be a good drive with the grey motor, and "Special Sedans" are reasonably common. If I were you, & I was considering something like that, I'd be looking for an EK Special Manual Station Wagon. It'd have to be a GOOD one, but one in good original shape is quite a rare beast. BUT, they are around, ya just gotta be patient. The thing about EKs is that they haven't got the same appeal to many as FJs, EH's etc, but the EK is a great car and an EK Special S.W. is more special again.
Pickles.

Problem is if I did buy one what I'd really love is an EH (my first car in 1972) or HR but a good one is way out of my price range. Also, given my medical condition I can only drive automatics now, so even though I know from experience a grey motor with hydramatic wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding it's my only real choice. One Christmas holidays down at Ocean Grove where my family always spent their holidays as I was growing up, a mate had his mum's EJ wagon automatic and with 4 of us in it it really struggled to get up the hill from the foreshore to city centre.

Bottom line is it's only because it's someone I know and trust who's selling it for a valid reason that I'm even contemplating it. I need something which needs absolutely no work.