John Moore

Car: HSV GTO Coupe Hometown: Bega, NSW

What is it? “My car is a 2002 HSV GTO Coupe.” When did you buy it? “We brought the car in 2011.” Why did you buy it? “I have always had a muscle car or hot rod of some description and had sold my last one, a 1939 Dodge with Chev motor and Ford diff to nance turning our home into a ‘bed and breakfast’ which we operated for eight years with success. When the wife’s father died she wanted to buy the latest SS Holden, but I knew of the GTO that was in storage locally for many years but not for sale. After putting pressure on the owner over a couple of weeks he agreed to sell it to us.” What can you tell us about its life? “After buying the GTO I found a couple of telltale signs that it may have been a police car. So I started a 12-month journey to nd out more of its history. First thing I did was Google ‘HSV GTO police car’ and I found photos of a GTO the same as mine that was once in Melbourne. Being a HSV, I got in touch with them, but they could not help me as they did not know what had happened to the car. Twelve months later I was given the name of a person at HSV who might be able to help nd out if my GTO was in fact the Melbourne police car. After a couple of emails he con rmed that it was indeed the same car that was given on loan to the Melbourne Traffic Control Management in 2003 and was used at the Moomba Festival, Melbourne Cup and AFL Grand Final, among other events, as a lead car. It was called ‘The Melbourne Safety Car’ and that it had a bit more history then other HSVs.” Anything you would like to add? “After putting the car on a few forums I got more photos sent to me of the GTO in service with all the police livery on it. The car has had a protected life and I have taken it to four car shows and have received trophies for Best Holden Muscle Car, Best Australian Car, Best Modern Car and Best Modern Paintwork.”