Holden Tribute Cruise - Adelaide 500: Classic Restos - Series 51

Fletch joins the final Holden Tribute Cruise starting in Elizabeth, South Australia, with a drive-through of the Holden plant by over 1,000 Holden vehicles and then onto the city of Adelaide and the Adelaide 500 circuit for the final Holden Supercars race.

Proud owners of Holdens over the years are plentiful. Phil is just one Holden enthusiast with a strong history with Holden. Starting his career as an apprentice at a Holden Dealership in Peterborough, SA and moving through the ranks to finally become a partner at the Holden Dealership. Today Phil has his Holden Tribute vehicle, a 1969 HT GTS Monaro in Sebring Orange, a fully restored vehicle of some 20 years.

Another Holden Classic is the XU-1 Torana, owned by Heather and Paul. Heather says the family has a long history with Holden and recalls her early family cars, FJ, FC and EH Holdens. Husband Paul loves his XU-1, and Heather loves the fact that he loves it, and they enjoy it together. Tribute days like this to The Adelaide 500 are excellent, bringing people together from all walks of life and sharing an important part of Australia's motor manufacturing history.

Next is Kaylene, with a Holden that Fletch has a lot of respect for and considers to be Australia's version of the Cadillac, an original 1979 HZ Statesman. Initially purchased by Kaylene's father for her mother after her success in a bowls tournament. The Statesman was considered luxury at the time with power windows and power steering. The car spent ten years in a shed before being taken out for its 50,000 km service. Today it still has only travelled 57,000 km.

It wouldn't be a Holden Tribute without a 48/215, the first Holden. Mick has completed a full restoration, including an engine upgrade from 60hp to 120hp, beautifully finished in the original Lithgow cream paintwork and sporting strips and race numbers.

The GM Final Roar Tent is a wonderful tribute, displaying every Holden model from the first FJ to the last Holden produced, a VF Holden. These are all stock standard vehicles from private collectors that tell the complete story of General Motors Holden manufacturing history. It's quite a site to see every model all under one roof.

More to come from the Adelaide 500 in the next episode of Classic Restos.