Holden History before the FX and WW2

[MonaroSS]

Holden’s Pre WWII History

Just thought some people may like to see a little rare Holden History before the All Australian Holden FX was made after World War II.

Most people who know Holden realize that it’s first All Australian car was the FX released in 1948 after the Federal Government called for such a home grown product in 1945 at the close of war. But most people don’t know what happened before that. Here is the official timeline issued by Holden up until the FX release in 1948, and some pics of Holden bodied cars before that.

1856 • Begins as J.A Holden & Co, saddlery business, Adelaide, South Australia

1913 • Produces complete motorcycle sidecar bodies

1914 • Produces its first complete custom-made car body

1917 • Commences large-scale production of car bodies

1918 • Holden & Frost sets up Holden's Motor Body Builders (HMBB)

1924 • Opens Woodville, South Australia - most modern production line in Australia
• Woodville sole local body supplier for GM vehicles

1925 • Produces first closed bodied type cars
• Becomes biggest bodybuilding operation outside North America, Continental Europe

1926 • General Motors Australia (GMA) is formed

1928 • 'Lion-and-stone' emblem first used

1931 • Merge of GMA and HMBB to General Motors-Holden's

1934 • Produces first coupe-utility

1936 • New headquarters, Fishermens Bend, Melbourne

1942 • First Australian company to mass-produce internal combustion engines including Gypsy Major aeroplane, Gray Marine, and a 4-cylinder radial torpedo

1945 • Responds to Australian Federal Government invitation to produce an Australian car

1948 • Launch of Australia's first locally manufactured car by Prime Minister Ben Chifley

http://www.buickclub.org.au/history_images/Pic7.jp g

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~oldsclub/Graphics/34rds tr.JPG
1934 F.34 Roadster (Holden body)

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~oldsclub/Graphics/membc ars/34cpfull.JPG
1934 F.34 Coupe (Holden body)

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~oldsclub/Graphics/membc ars/36sedfrt.jpg
1936 F.36 Sedan (Holden body)

http://www.buickclub.org.au/history_images/Pic18.j pg
Note the Brochure says this ‘Sloper’ coupe body was unique to Holden.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/wokr/gallery/w il_174a.jpg
1938 Willys Coupe Utility Model 38 (Holden Body)

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/wokr/gallery/w il_30.jpg
1940 Willys 440 Business Coupe (Holden Bodied)

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/images/wolfe_dave _1941_02.jpg
1941 GMC Military (Holden Body)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/richa306/pictures/ thumbs/images/01-fx_black.jpg
1948 215 (FX) Holden’s first All Australian Car

[MonaroSS]

BTW guys. I especially like the Holden 1934 Model F.34 Roadster. I think it would make a great basis for an Australian Hot Rod, like the Americans do with the 1932 Ford Roadster. Of course this car would be too rare to destroy to make a Hot Rod, but a new body even in fiberglass, like they make new '32 Ford bodies, would be cool.

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~oldsclub/Graphics/34rds tr.JPG

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/MonaroSS/d5c a0b52.jpg

[gto_in_nc]

So the Holden-GM connection actually dates back to at least 1924? Very interesting!

BTW, I think you are right about the F.34 roadster...