(It) was glamorised, it was Americanised. The car now cost £1,074 (including tax), representing sixty-eight weeks' wages for the average worker.Īccording to author Don Loffler, something in the design of the FJ model Holden caused it to be remembered even more fondly than its predecessor. When the FJ Holden was released in 1953, the economy had significantly recovered. Eighteen thousand people had signed up and paid their deposit without even having seen the vehicle. Despite this, the car was an immediate success and Holden could not satisfy demand quickly enough. The price was set at £733 (including tax), which represented a staggering ninety-four weeks' wages for the average worker at the time. On 29 November 1948, Prime Minister Ben Chifley unveiled the first Holden 48-215, which became affectionately known as ' the FX'. The Australian Government had been interested in the idea of an Australian mass produced motor vehicle since the mid-1930s, but this would not become a reality for over a decade. Holden 48-215: the first all-Australian car This proved to be an important milestone for Holden. When the war ended, the company was forced to revamp its manufacturing for production of civilian cars.
Holden in the war yearsĭuring the Second World War (1939-1945), GM-H produced more than 30,000 vehicle bodies for Australian and US forces, as well as field guns, aircraft, aeroplane and marine engines.
By 1936, after managing director Laurence Hartnett helped steer the operation and its new plant at Fisherman's Bend in Melbourne, the company began to pick up again. This was a difficult time for the company which, like many companies at the time, struggled through the Great Depression's economic downturn. This merger formed Australia's first large-scale automotive manufacturing facility. Holden's Motor Body Builders merged with General Motors in 1931 to become General Motors-Holden's Limited (GM-H). In 1924, the company was renamed Holden's Motor Body Builders and became the exclusive supplier of American car manufacturer General Motors in Australia. From 1885, the Holden and Frost Company repaired and produced horse-drawn carriages and built its first custom-made car body in 1914. The Holden name first appeared in Australia in the 1850s with J A Holden's leather and saddlery business in Adelaide, South Australia. The manufacture of the first all-Australian motor vehicle in 1948 not only signified an important moment in the country's industrial development it also produced a brand of vehicle - the Holden - that occupies a special place in the hearts of many Australians. Holden Spotters Guide General Motors Holden Spotters Guide Home »
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