Ever wanted to own some classic Australian music memorabilia? Here is your chance to snatch up one of the country’s most iconic musical four wheelers, and all for a good cause.
Australia’s most prolific touring band The Wiggles have announced they will be putting the legendary ‘Big Red Car’ under the hammer, raising funds for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the process.
Speaking to news.com.au, blue Wiggle Anthony Field, who is staying on in the four-piece, said the charity was very special to the group.
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a cause that’s extremely close to our hearts,” he said. “My niece Bernadette Field died from SIDS at the age of eight months in 1988 so SIDS and Kids is a charity we’ve supported since we started out 21 years ago.”
The red Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet will be auctioned off through website vwbigredcar.com.au, with the winner announced ahead of the Wiggles’ final Sydney show on December 23.
Wiggles fanatics are able to start the bidding war on December 7, with a 10 day window of cash splashing open to punters.
News Limited motoring editor Neil Dowling said: “Car experts say a used VW cabriolet would normally sell for about $4000, but one owned by the Wiggles could fetch up to $40,000.”
The sale of the Beetle will coincide with the departure of three of the child entertainers, capping off 21 lustrous years of touring and recording.
Three of the founding Wiggles – Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook and Greg Page – will retire at the end of the year and are handing the trademark skivvy over to three new performers which will include the group’s first female , Emma Watkins.
Driving the 21-year touring stretch, the success of the Wiggles industry has certainly kept them busy, accumulating a staggering 30 million combined sales in CDs and DVDs since their formation in 1991.
Scoring 17 gold, 12 platinum, three double-platinum and t10 multi-platinum awards has, according to Cook, “meant we’ve had to spend a lot of time away from our own families and friends,” admitted the red wiggle in the band’s video statement regarding their break up.. “We miss them and Jeff, Greg and I have decided it’s time to spend some more time at home.”
Yellow skivvy-wearing Greg Page also added: “If you look at the last 21 years of the Wiggles, we’ve done over 7,000 shows. I think the Rolling Stones have done only – just on 1,000 shows in 21 years”.
Lets hope the Wiggles have serviced the Big Red Car in that time. We have no doubt the odometer has seen a few complete cycles….
