By the end of 2020, the beloved Holden brand will be no more. Tell us what you think in the comments below. And if you like our videos - including the retro ones - subscribe ab.co/2YFO4Go 👍

@drivingcarsandcausingchaos249

3 жыл бұрын

I am truly sad that Holden has come to an end. GM should’ve said that Holden can still exist. Besides, now that there are no more cars in Australia, I am sad bout it

@drivingcarsandcausingchaos249

3 жыл бұрын

Why did they decide to close Holden? Is it fine if you make a documentary about all the rumours that exist about why Holden closed and interviews of the crew from GM into why they closed it, I would like that.

@noonespecial4171

3 жыл бұрын

@@drivingcarsandcausingchaos249 high manufacturing costs and a small domestic market. People betraying Australian made for Asian cars. What is the model you drive? Bet its not Holden, nor the car before ...

@JohnGeary12453

Жыл бұрын

@@drivingcarsandcausingchaos249 gm ruined Holden’s career and I’ll never forgive them

@harmankardon478

Жыл бұрын

abc is bias garbage... like you guys care about the local car scene.

I wish the other episodes were available to watch. 😢. Still driving around in a Holden.

@johnd8892

7 ай бұрын

Part 2 can be found with effort.

@returnofthenative

3 ай бұрын

I like Holden, him my favourite.

My father was one of only six men kept on by Holden Body Builders when the factory closed because of the Great Depression. He and the others had to walk around all day wiping down the machinery with an oily rag and run the machines occasionally to keep them in good working order. He quit after the first week because it drove him nuts. Previous to the shutdown, his job was making the sockets for the wooden hoops for the fabric roofs.

I think when our car manufacturing stopped in Australia it was a sad day.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

wE STARTED IMPORTING CHEAPER CARS THAT WERE JUST AS GOOD.

@weirdo1083

8 ай бұрын

@@jacktattis Not a chance holdens i have had have always been more reliable cheaper and easy to work on cheers.

@jamesbosworth4191

6 ай бұрын

We are moving in that direction as well. We still make trucks and SUVs, but the only real cars we still make are Muscle Cars and the Corvette, and with the Chrysler HEMI now gone, the Mustang is soon to be the only Muscle Car left, as there will not be a 2025 Camaro. We still have the Corvette, which is a sports car.

Sad indeed. What a shame letting Holden go.

One thing Holden did better than any other car manufacturer, that was using the car platform to build a station wagon. The Wagons seamlessly carried the saloon style.

Sir Lawrence Hartnett, you came from Great Britain and you became a Great Australian. Your knowledge of mass production brought us into the 1940s and pushed us on. But I must say, styling of the Chevrolet was a way along further than your proposals. But the rectangular headlights I feel were missed by GM, and only came along decades after. But, Sir, putting the project together was spectacular. And the GM clip on front was great for service and stacked vehicle repair.

Great Video. Just relate a couple of memories of mine. I served my apprenticeship at Fishermans Bend Plant 3 Experimental as a panel beater while the FJ was still in production. The company gave all us apprentices a day at Lang Lang proving track which included a few circuits. I followed my father who worked there through the war My brother joined me also an apprentice. I was also lucky enough to attend the release of the 48 215 at Fishermans Bend with my Father in 1948 at age 11. I do remember Dad telling me about the bad press the Holden received at the time relating to the fact that it had no chassis and would not be able to tow. GMH reacted and towed a Bedford Bus many thousands of miles and then invited the press to check it. The doors opened and closed perfectly. 48 215 was the first car in the world to have a Mono constructed body (no chassis) An FJ station wagon proto was also built but never went into production. Must mention the legendary FJ ute that done 100 mph at the proving track. Every test car always maxed at around 87 mph approx. They brought it back and the engineers pulled it apart to try to find out why. They put it back together and away it went at 100mph. The only explanation they came up with was it was perfectly balanced. I have read a lot of comments suggesting it was not an Australian car believe me The Holden is as Australian as the Kangaroo.

I'm here to learn Holden's history because of my GTO. Definitely was an iconic brand and made cars that were fantastic that no one knew until they were gone.

@TheAlmightyClipse

4 жыл бұрын

That no one knew? Except all of Australia and New Zealand... Maybe Speak for America dude.. You guys seem to live in a bubble.. Holden's were also exported to the Middle East, Brazil and South Africa. If you consider that "no one" ...

@djafri84

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmightyClipse And even to the US, in Hawaii during the 1960s

@justaname1862

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmightyClipse um....and "Failed"

@BlueBeeMCMLXI

Жыл бұрын

This is a wildly sentimental piece of nonsense. Generations drove the bloody things.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

@@justaname1862 And failed ? how?

My great great Grandfather, James Alexander Holden started a leather goods business in Adelaide in the 1850s. That was the beginning of Holden. Now all gone after 170 years. General Motors effectively destroyed an Australian essential industry.

@holdenfan8532

3 жыл бұрын

They also made it a thing

@hamishfullerton7309

3 жыл бұрын

Also Tony Abbott and Joe hockey

@eoinf2773

2 жыл бұрын

Was he from Ireland? Just wondering because I meet a few people called Holden from Ireland.

@peterpiper831

Жыл бұрын

There were numerous reasons for the demise of Holden. From the (john) button plan to Aussies buying SUVs.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

That is what you pAY WHEN YOU GIVE CONTROLLING INTEREST TO ANY MOB BUT PARTICULARLY aMERICANS

1948 - 2020 RIP Holden you will be sorely missed.

@timothylanders3189

8 ай бұрын

They were over few years earlier bud!

@elizaandalisa

8 ай бұрын

Missed But never forgotten Marty Qld

What a kick in the guts for Sir Lawrence Hartnett not being invited to the First Holden launch after all the the work he did earlier in the 30s and 40s ,, :(

@BlueBeeMCMLXI

Жыл бұрын

Yes, indeed. We could have had a true Australian vehicle maker.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

Ahhh jealousy I would say.

@rongumley7741

7 ай бұрын

I think Sir Lawrence tried to start a new venture outside GMH which failed. I stand to be corrected.

Even setting in the middle United States I find Holden history extremely interesting. It parallels and many way the car history here in United States. But the hold and Stephanie was unique to itself. I personally would like it if Holden was still making cars.

As an American, all I knew going into this video was that Holden was the name of a car; I didn’t know it was from Australia, and I knew nothing about the history of manufacturing in Australia. I learned a lot! To those who commented on the demise of Australian manufacturing generally- welcome to the new global economy. All the countries of the world have become mutually dependent on one another. Although there has been some retrenchment in the US after COVID and Trump’s trade war with China. Some things you need to keep ‘in house.’ I can sympathize with those who want to make the automobile industry one of that number. (Plus, I hate SUVs.)

Fascinating film, many thanks for posting.

My dad worked for Holden’s in Elizabeth. He was a. Merchant Engineer before that. So proud of him. From a McCall

To think, when this episode was made, the last year of the FJ Holden, was the same age as 1991 VN Commodore is today.

@StephenSteve32861

3 жыл бұрын

A good analogy and there weren't too many FJ's on the road then either.

@alfredsedgewick2184

8 ай бұрын

​@@StephenSteve32861out of curiosity roughly when did FJs start coming off the road?

Great historic nostalgia....sad it has all gone.

@Smelly_Indian

3 ай бұрын

Nostalgia? Historic? I didn't know Australians knew such big words. Although you probably couldn't pronounce them anyway.

My current car and previous one were both Holden vehicles...total ownership of 39 years ..

Barry Humphries "it's very nice of Detroit to let us continue to call Holden 'Australian' ....."

When I was 15 I wanted a Torry, I eventually owned a HT Premmy wagon, A long time later I had a Barina four door. Still My favourite car both

Good to see all the Aussies that bought a foreign car. The politicians that changed importation policies. This is why we don't have a car industry anymore. Hope you're all proud of yourselves.

Im only young but if i ever own a holden i like im gonna keep it untill i die

@man.i.literally.failed6772

3 жыл бұрын

thats what people say when they get married

@jawwwp428

3 жыл бұрын

Jai Flavell I think it’s getting shut down or maybe it’s another company

When the ABC was for us.

GM really should have marketed Holden as their own brand in the US after 2008 killed off Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Hummer.

@TheEarthHistorysConfusing

9 ай бұрын

They did with murano and other ones like statesman ect.

Back when the ABC made programs that were interesting & pertinent to Australia and the taxpayers who pay for it.

I have read many websites about Holdens history and none of them mention Holdens project 2008 and how Holden wanted 2008 to be Australia's first car.

The first Holden was *NOT* an FX! It was a 48-215. The F's did not start until the next model to be released in the early 1950s, the *FJ* model, followed in turn by the FE, FC then FB.

Fascinating. Thanks for posting. 😊

So that quote is true "Holden, as Australian as McDonald's"

It's sad how many skills have been lost in Australia from the motor industries to Aircraft industries and transport industries having done apprenticeship in the aircraft industry in the late 70s early 80s we definitely have gone backwards.

@jamesbosworth4191

6 ай бұрын

Just like in this country. It is because of "globalism" and so-called "Free Trade".

Awesome piece of History ... a better time

Holden project 2008 was the true Australian Holden. Hartnett put so much effort into designing and developing Project 2008, only to have General Motors rejected it. Then General Motors just went ahead with their own American design, the 48 215 (FX) Holden.

The last model I saw on road in my country was Holden Kingswood.

@TonyRule

7 ай бұрын

Kingswood was a trim level, not a model.

Australia used to be a developed country.In 1948 when many countries still has not got their independence yet,Australia has already launch its own car ( Holden)

It's wierd that as it turns out the FX was based on an Opel designed in Germany is 1938 and chosen by GM as the size and chassis that would suit Australia. Aussies at least had a say in delivering a torquey 6 cylinder instead of a 1300cc 4 cylinder, which was chosen for it's under-stressed reliabilty and kinder demands on the poorly built gearboxes of the time.

@Rob-fc9wg

Жыл бұрын

The first prototype 48 - 215 was designed and built in Detroit, based on a pre war Chev platform, before being shipped to Australia for testing and evaluation.

@Rob-fc9wg

Жыл бұрын

@@dynevor6327 What makes you think I don't know that?

@Rob-fc9wg

Жыл бұрын

@@dynevor6327 That's my point. There's nothing Australian about the 48 - 215.

@graemeforssberg3986

Жыл бұрын

Never officially designated by GMH as FX. They we’re officially designated as 48-215.

Great video

I still do not understand how easy it was to get rid of Holden with the media telling us it is all good? .What was truly behind the stopping of car manufacturing in Australia?

@sentimentalbloke185

Жыл бұрын

Many things, but it was subsidized by the govt for decades & was lucky to have lasted as long as it did.

@Tracertme

8 ай бұрын

They couldn’t build a competitive car and just needed more and more government subsidies

@rongumley7741

7 ай бұрын

The bloody minded unions.

@Discoworx

6 ай бұрын

Commercial reality

Got any more episodes of this?

Parked on a hill the 48/215 doors jammed.

😮i owned a 48 215 that was the 10 th car off the assembly line in the seventys sold it and the new owner rolled it over total right off

They had to convert all the metric to imperial, did nobody think of supplying metric tape measures?

@autophyte

8 ай бұрын

All the machine tools-lathes, milling machines, etc, were marked and graduated in Imperial measurements. They couldn't change those, so they had no other option than to convert the blueprints.

My Grandfather used to drive another true Aussie-built car, the Aussie 6. another one of Hartnett's cars.

Im looking for info and videos of holden prototypes being tested on roads in and around melb and Dandenong ranges.

Sunday to far away, Jack Thompson in one great Australian film 🎥

I well remember the launch promo “ HOLDEN YOU IN MY HOLDEN”.

25:15 The 48-215 designation of the first Holden was the *ONLY AND OFFICIAL* designation. FX was dreamed up by some dunderhead somewhere. The first car to have the F in its designation was the FJ in 1953.

@peterpiper831

Жыл бұрын

I believe other models, Business sedan, Ute, received slightly different designations. 48-217 for example. But yeah, the "FX" came much later.

@neilforbes416

Жыл бұрын

@@peterpiper831 The "FX" *NEVER CAME!* The next model after the 48-215 was the *FJ* which was the more iconic of the two models. It came in Sedan, Ute and Panel Van configurations. Then came the FE, then FC and FB models, the FE was the first to have a station wagon configuration which was available in all subsequent models.

@peterpiper831

Жыл бұрын

@@neilforbes416 That's right. I meant the name FX was slapped on the 48-215 later.

@neilforbes416

Жыл бұрын

@@peterpiper831 The car was *NEVER* intended to be labelled an "FX". Some stupid dingbat applied that bogus designation to it.

@sentimentalbloke185

Жыл бұрын

Correct. It was ret-conned as FX to fit in with the later 'F' series & gradually most people forgot the original designation.

i had one in early seventies a 48 model i lost the ability to drive forever in 1971

Even as a merc and ford fan. The Holden was one of the best cars even to be made. I will kill for any holden in good order. Lovely cars GMH was and stilll is.

Thats waay better looking than most computer designed cars of today . not as cool as some fifties and sixties US cars but still pretty cool looking .

Holden are gone............. But Ford are still here.

Makes me sad 😔 and a little mad 😠 should not have been allowed to happen.

Best cars ever

That is a 48215.

All of our car's were Holden's

7:18 yop it takes a 6'5'' bloke to sand the corners of the roof, that's what we call the physicality of the job

The loss of all those jobs

NOT HAPPY JAN

My first car was an EH Holden.

Ahhh old Australia

❤❤❤❤

history met toelichting

Why do people tink that Holden is an Australian car it never was the only part is Australian is the word Holden the rest is GM American even the lion badge has nothing to do with Australia.

@siredith8846

3 ай бұрын

Bogans still think Ford is Australian. As for Holden, it was Australia’s version of Chevrolet.

@ray.shoesmith

2 ай бұрын

Because it was the first mass produced car fully built in Australia.

@siredith8846

2 ай бұрын

@@ray.shoesmith but 100% designed in the good old USofA 🇺🇸

@ray.shoesmith

2 ай бұрын

@@siredith8846 So what. I was answering his question.

Only 25 million people. Too far from the rest of the world. Don't produce steel anymore. I suspect we will never see another car manufacturer in Australia.

@lobsterwhisperer7932

2 жыл бұрын

I think that's a cop-out, how does a country like France have 4 different car manufactures, and workers on high wages.

@thosoz3431

2 жыл бұрын

@@lobsterwhisperer7932 perhaps they are in Europe, with 700 million others on decent wages.

@peterpiper831

Жыл бұрын

Maybe some low volume sports car ?

@thosoz3431

Жыл бұрын

@@peterpiper831 I would love to see a 3 wheeler, a la Morgan.

Holden una rara mezcla GM de opel Vauxhall y chevrolet

There is no one else to blame for holdens demise than holden themselves....they simply couldnt make a world competitive car and consumers got better educated. In the late 80s manufacturers were going twin over head cam, fuel injection, turbocharging etc....and what did Holden offer? A dirty old red motor....it wasnt until they used a "Nissan" motor until they put a decent motor in there cars...even there last offering was a basic "Rear Wheel" drive car...You just cant survive in a market offering only "One" model...Commodore....all the rest were dam Daewoo's etc

And then the good old Aussie's stopped buying Australian and fell in love with Toyotas and look where that leads Strayla! Its not good! Holden was an Iconic Brand here in New Zealand! As was the Ford, Chrysler brands. and before the Pomes entered the EEC in 1973 we had heaps of British Brands.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

Well the Toyota was better built tough engine and cheaper

@allanspindler7927

Жыл бұрын

and did not leak oil.

@jacktattis

Жыл бұрын

@@allanspindler7927 Yes indeed

@johnd8892

Жыл бұрын

The Toyota Altona North manufacturing plant made cars with as much Austrlalian content as Holden, Ford or Chrysler. They also made such a good product that most of their production was exported. Quite a contrast to other Australian manufacturers that struggled to find significant export sales.

@jamesbosworth4191

6 ай бұрын

People over here did that too. The big reason is because the Japanese heavily subsidize their auto exports and their steel exports. If Datsuns and Toyotas had cost MORE than domestic products, they never would have amassed such a huge market share.

I wonder if the older generations, who were brought up on horse and cart complained about the new technologies 😂

On a show up womans was looking the steering wheel and mans the engine bay😂😅

The General Motors president was spot on correct about Socialism sucking. American free market know how ended up building this car in Australia. The Aussies contribution...just being Aussies! Smart, hardworking people, regardless of the English style socialist government they got stuck with. They have a knack of making anything work out in the end. I thought the Australian front end design was much more streamlined and attractive than the General Motor's final choice they got stuck with. G.M. was the largest cooperation in the world, with over 1 million employees. Ross Perot, who tried to manage them for a while, said the left hand had no idea what the right hand was doing, the company was so big. Too many layers of management. "You can't build a car by committee" he complained, finally resigning in disgust.

@jamesbosworth4191

6 ай бұрын

Our "Free Market was used against us by the Japanese. I believe in a Market Economy - I am a landlord - but it can't be completely "free", unless you want it to destroy itself, like our's has.

Wtf does 25 shillings mean, compared to what?

@caretakerfochr3834

Жыл бұрын

You can post but don't know how to use google?

And now we manufacture next to nothing and no car industry, who is responsible abbot and Turnbull and a government that no longer represents the public

0:07

Mr Laurence Hartnett(I don't recognise knighthoods, I'd give him something much better, the highest rank in the *Order Of Australia* which is a million times better than a mere knighthood) died the day I turned 31.

@willdsm08

Жыл бұрын

The title "Sir" is recognised around the world. OA means nothing to anyone outside Australia, and not much to those inside either.

@neilforbes416

Жыл бұрын

@@willdsm08 It's because we're still tied to "Mummy England's apron strings" after 235 years! We should've been a republic from 1st January 1901 and send those *useless royals* back to England with our foot up their useless arses! Then the Order Of Australia award would be the *true source of pride* that it should be.

3:55 What a awesome scene to see, 80s crap boxes sure did look good together back then. Now their probably sitting in a wreckers:(

Holden no more Australian the Ford or Chrysler at least we can still get a Ford or Chrysler no such thing as a Holden any more

Now America owns the ford v ford race .

Bloodyhell.. cant even watch it😢

USA lateral, neighbours.

Now there’s nothing!.

Back when cars were decent and lasted

@Discoworx

6 ай бұрын

Rubbish. How long is a new car warranty now? 7 years? 10 years? Tells you everything you need to know.

Mitsubishi and Toyota were never Australian like Holden.lol😅.

So basically one single car the VB Commodore destroyed Holden in the 80’s!

Holden made its car about 1930 not 1948

@samkaur4098

3 жыл бұрын

Where are you getting your info from?I know General Motors and Holden merged in 1931 to become GMH.As far as i know the 48/215 was the first Holden car and started manufacturing in 1948.

Holden is now a huge joke..

@cherrythegoat

3 жыл бұрын

How?

@shebbs1

3 жыл бұрын

@@cherrythegoat Becoming just an outlet for Daewoos and similar really was a decline. The Australian built cars were no longer selling well, and there was no way any Australian car maker could engineer a car to suit the changing market.

@petergoodwin2465

3 жыл бұрын

The imported junk is the biggest joke and a disgrace

@bradyboy-pr4jt

4 ай бұрын

...because of Holden project 2008.

All these manufacturers failed to innovate. No wonder the likes of Tesla is blowing them out of the water (it’s not for EV reason!)

Americans interfering in Australian business. Long history of that.

@seansands424

2 жыл бұрын

we got that problem in UK

What happened

I can understand why Holden is gone. Even during this China virus Chinese car sales here have boomed. So don't piss and moan now because you sold out your once Australian icon.

@ALLRNDCRICKETER

3 жыл бұрын

It really is a disgrace aint it

Just an outdated design shipped in from America so they could scoop more dollars without little effort. Good riddance to bad rubbish. And now GM are back in Australia. Only this time nothing under $100000. I’d rather buy Chinese

@Rob-fc9wg

Ай бұрын

Yep. The very first Holden (48-215) was designed, built and prototyped in Detroit before being shipped to Australia for evaluation.

Why no link to part 2 of the story?

God I hate it when Australia is pronated with an O instead of an A

I'm a Holden man thru and thru and am gutted its all gone but the first model 48-215 was so dismally ugly I have never warmed to it

@rongumley7741

8 ай бұрын

It looked better than a Morris Minor or a Austin A40 and it could run the pants off a kangaroo.

The Lucky Country ... sarcasm by Donald Horn run mainly by second rate people who share its luck.

Mark Skaife sends his regards for your trash oi chuck me sum shrimps on me barbie sook dead car 🤣

To use Australian vernacular, it's a 'dog act' what GM did to Holden. But GM have always been dodgy so we shouldn't be surprised. GM should leave a bitter taste in Aussie motorists' mouths now. Boycott their products everybody. They are a cynical company, devoid of loyalty and the cars they produce are style over substance. An empty building with a stylish exterior. GM were arrogant, ignorant and recalcitrant from the start, and yet we lapped it up like good little convicts on parole. Oh well, I guess you reap what you sow after all.

@bradyboy-pr4jt

4 ай бұрын

I agree, General Motors should have let Holden go ahead with their own Australian design, Holden project 2008, instead of the American designed 48 215 (FX) Holden.

is holden asian or is he lying to us?

We made cars, we have everything we need... We can make cars again 🇦🇺❤️

FX FJ what ugly cars compare US at the time

@rongumley7741

8 ай бұрын

The eye of the beholder.