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
1934 F.34 Roadster (Holden body)
1934 F.34 Coupe (Holden body)
1936 F.36 Sedan (Holden body)
Note the Brochure says this ‘Sloper’ coupe body was unique to Holden.
1938 Willys Coupe Utility Model 38 (Holden Body)
1940 Willys 440 Business Coupe (Holden Bodied)
1941 GMC Military (Holden Body)
1948 215 (FX) Holden’s first All Australian Car