16 October 2003
The National Museum will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the FJ Holden for many Australians the first family car or the first car they learnt to drive all day Saturday.
Organised with the Museum by the FX and FJ Car Club of Canberra, the celebrations include a lineup of more than 100 FJ vehicles from across Australia and some unusual conversions, such as an FJ army ute, ambulance and taxi and the Fair Dinkum FJ loaned by singer John Williamson.
The event is free to the public, and includes a traditional rocket cover race and cutting a birthday cake.
Several FX Holdens will also be on display, along with early Holden memorabilia including FJ advertising material, parts, manuals and Holden pins and magazines.
Speakers include Chris Churchill, from the FX and FJ Car Club of Canberra, and Holden expert Don Loffler. Mr Loffler, who has written three histories of the FJ Holden, will also signcopies of his books and at 1pm in the SAS Visions Theatre give a presentation about the car's remarkable journey from sales success to icon.
'People were so proud of the FJ as an Australian achievement,' says Mr Loffler. 'Even if their first car was a hand-me-down FJ, it is still remembered with nostalgia. It might have been an old bomb, but at least it was an FJ.'
WHAT: FJ Holden anniversary celebrations
WHEN: 9am-5pm on Saturday, 18 October
WHERE: The National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula
MEDIA NOTE: The official ceremony starts at 10.45am.
For media enquiries please contact Public Affairs Director Martin Portus on 02 6208 5351, 0409 916 481 or m.portus@nma.gov.au or Program Co-ordinator Adam Blackshaw on 0419 775 133