By Alesha Capone
Members of the Werribee & District Collectable Vehicle Club are helping to keep the Holden legend alive.
General Motors, which owns the iconic brand, last week announced it would cease production and sales of Holden cars by the end of this year.
But three members of the Werribee vehicle club – president Colin Pierce, safety officer Charlie Cook and Brett Murray – are keeping their historic Holden’s on the road.
All three of the men have a personal connection to Holden.
Mr Pierce used to work as a supplier to Holden, while Mr Murray worked at the General Motors Holden site at Fishermans Bend, in the Experimental Engineering Department, during the 1970s and 1980s.
In addition, Mr Cook worked as a dealer at Fisher’s – which is now named Ballan Holden.
Mr Pierce is the proud owner of several Holden’s, while Mr Murray owns a 1951 FX Holden and Mr Cook owns a 1956 FJ Holden.
The men said they were sad to hear about the end of the Holden brand.
“Holden was a uniquely Australian brand, we designed them, we tested them, we built them,” Mr Murray said.
He said that when driving his yellow Holden in public, members of the public often waved and honked at him.
“They’re very enthusiastic, especially older people,” he said.
“Everyone says, ‘My dad had one,’ or ‘My husband had one’.”
The Werribee & District Collectable Vehicle Club began in 1991 with around 30 members, and now has around 170 members.
The club will host a Show and Shine on March 15 at 9am, at the Wyndham Civic Centre car park, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee. Entry to members of the public: by donation.
See www.wdcvc.org.au/ for details.
