The Holden Story

The very first all-Australian car was a Holden that went on sale in 1948.

Before World War II, Holden assembled cars for General Motors and Chrysler. But after the war was over, the Australian government considered it vital to build home industries to support the soldiers coming home (they would need good jobs to support themselves and their families) and to strengthen its economic and political status.

Consequently, it chose to support Holden in manufacturing an all Australian-made motor car. The design of the first Holden was based on a General Motors prototype that was modified to suit the Australian environment, and in 1948 the first Australian made car, the Holden 48-215 (later referred to as the FX Holden), hit the streets of Melbourne. Although it was a pretty basic machine even for that era, the FX Holden was a well-loved car in Australia and long waiting lists stretched into 1949 and beyond. 

The FX Holden was big and robust - spacious enough to fit a large family - and heavy-duty as well, with it's steel frame designed to handle tough conditions. It also managed to deliver 48 kilometres for about 3 litres of petrol without sacrificing performance. 

Owning an Aussie car in the 1950's was a matter of great pride, resonating with the patriotic feelings of the time. To this day, Holden occupies a special place in the hearts of many Australians.

Holden continues to manufacture motor vehicles in Australia as a subsidiary of General Motors, and still exports vehicles and engines to other countries. Among other models, it produces the popular Commodore that was first introduced to the market in 1978. The Holden Commodore is still one of the most loved cars in Australia and has been continually updated to meet the demands of modern consumers.