Chifley features in Australia's most famous motoring photograph - the picture of him standing next to one of the first 48-215 models (aka the FX) at its launch in 1948.

Within a year of that picture being taken Labor was on the ropes federally. Revelations that Chifley had acted as an unlicensed banker during the 1930s made a mockery of Labor's controversial plan to nationalise the banks. The 1949 election was won by Menzies and the Liberal Country Party alliance held on to power for the next 23 years.

Modern Labor, first under Julia Gillard and then more recently under Kevin Rudd, has gone into this election campaigning on a major support package for General Motors-Holden, which it has challenged the Coalition to match.

That support, its critics claim, is more than offset by proposed Labor changes to fringe benefits tax arrangements that would cut deeply into the sales of locally produced vehicles such as Camrys, Falcons and Holdens.

Whatever; Canberra's Holden clubs are a bit concerned that the PM has stolen their date by calling the federal election for this Saturday.

This is the same date they chose for their ACT Holden Day months ago. An officially sanctioned Canberra 100 event, the day has been organised by members of all the ACT Holden clubs and is to be held on the west gardens of Old Parliament House.

Given Old Parliament House is being turned into a ''superbooth'' for the election, Holden Day committee president Colin Tierney is hopeful the carnival of democracy will work to his members' advantage.

Once their civic duty is out of the way, voters will be able to pop across the road to take a look at more than 150 Holdens from right across the ACT and NSW.

The Holden Day is raising funds for the Snowy-Hydro SouthCare helicopter and the Cancer Support Group.

Vehicles of all ages and models will be on show.

Tony Pryce, a Holden tragic since buying a 1950 FX in 1962, is one of the club members who will have his pride and joy on display. While there are many vehicles carrying the Holden badge in the family's north Canberra garage (including an FC and two 1980s Commodores - one with only 81,000 kilometres on the clock), his car of choice remains the immaculate 48-215 he restored 20 years ago.

''My first (FX) was a 1950 model and I had always wanted to get another early build car,'' he said. That mission was accomplished when he came across a low-mileage sedan in Kaleen. The car, which had already been dismantled for restoration, arrived at the Pryce house on a trailer. ''When she first saw it my wife, June, said, 'What's this?'.''

Built in September 1949, the now pristine sedan is body number 4972. ''That is a very low number; Holden only started building them in November 1948,'' Tony said.

Despite being an older restoration, Tony's car is, if anything, better than new. The only non-standard items are an aftermarket bonnet ornament that is more ornate than the GM-H offering and the quality vinyl upholstery that has replaced the tear- and rot-prone leather that would have been fitted in 1949.

And, unlike some enthusiasts, Tony is not afraid to use the car for the purpose for which it was designed.

''I recently drove it up to Sydney and back,'' he said. ''It cruised along quite well and returned remarkable (nine litres per 100 kilometres) fuel economy. I have taken it to Tasmania (for a Holden nationals event) and driven all over Victoria in it.''

Asked what the future held for the vehicle, Tony said it was unlikely it would ever come up for sale.

''My son is also a Holden enthusiast with an FC, an FB and an EH and he is very keen on it.''

While there is no charge to attend the Holden Day, visitors are being asked to donate to the charities the event is supporting.