SKAIFE’S GOLDEN CHILD EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE

AUTO ACTION understands that Holden Racing Team’s legendary ‘Golden Child’ chassis 045 that won both the 2001 and 2002 Bathurst 1000s is soon to go on the market.

The Golden Child as it was affectionately known is one of only two cars to win the Bathurst 1000 on more than one occasion doing so in the hands of Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst in 2001 and Skaife and Jim Richards the following year.

The VX Commodore was debuted in the Queensland 500 with Skaife and Jason Bright, and just a few weeks later won the 1000 before taking out the title.

Holden Racing Team drivers Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst celebrate on the podium after winning the 2001 Bathurst 1000.

In 2002 Skaife picked up another title in the car and went back-to-back at the Mountain, this time with Richards.

The win came 10 years after Richards’ famous outburst, however in 2002 he addressed the crowd again saying, “you’re all a bunch of lovely, lovely people.”

The car was converted to a VY Commodore for the Project Blueprint era and Skaife came out of the blocks firing, winning the 2003 Clipsal 500.

Chassis 045 was raced by Skaife until midway through 2003 when it became HRT’s spare chassis and used sporadically until the end of 2004.

The Golden Child has been restored to its 2003 livery and is expected to be put on the market in coming weeks, and form part of an impressive private collection of Holden in motorsport and HSV memorabilia.

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