Anyone ever heard of Austrailia's Holden Car Co. ?

My wife and I have been watching Mcleod's Daughters on Netflix, which is a long running Austrailian tv series. Around the third or forth season one of the characters buys a vintage car which looks like a 50's Chevy Belaire but is actually made by Holden Car company. I was suprised to hear of the brand name with never having actually seen one. I guess in the late 50's and early sixties Holden was making designs to emulate the Bel Air. Here are some shots of vintage Holdens and one of Holden's new concept car.
http://www.classic-car-restorer-and-...den-sedan5.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pi...n/04-fc-02.jpg
http://www.gdaywa.com/themes/holden/750/fb_sedan.jpg
http://www.autocult.com.au/img/galle...oitAuto402.jpg

holden is part of gm from 1930s and that is what they used the holden platform for the new release of the gto

Thanks Pat. When I first saw the Holden on TV I said, something is just not right! It looks like a chevy but not! They never zoomed in enough to read the name on the front of the car. I do like the new Efigy!

Holden has a bunch of neat cars!!!! Seems to be where GM plays with some of their new ideas and builds a few things that their US based assembly plants can't handle....as Pat mentioned, the GTO is one example... I think Holden had a couple others, and a few concept type cars...don't remember much about them, after all, they're JAC.....(just another chebbie):LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Holden has a bunch of neat cars!!!! Seems to be where GM plays with some of their new ideas and builds a few things that their US based assembly plants can't handle....as Pat mentioned, the GTO is one example... I think Holden had a couple others, and a few concept type cars...don't remember much about them, after all, they're JAC.....(just another chebbie):LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:

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better look out them holden will bite you down under:eek:they are in to racing them big time

The Effigy is one of the coolest concept or factory customs in years. I have had it for a desktop off and on for a couple years now, reminds me a bit of Cadzilla.

There was a Holden or two in the Mad Max movies.

http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/mad...der/index.html

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Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

There was a Holden or two in the Mad Max movies.

http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/mad...der/index.html

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one of the last of the V8s max:D or some thing like that if it was on tv now i be watching it :3dSMILE:

Holdens are cool cars. Here is a '50 Coupe Utility (Ute) that I restored for a guy a few years ago. This is not a custom (except for the GM station wagon accessory tail lights and the skirts). GM built the chassis, driveline and front clip, and the rest was fabricated by Holden in Australia. This one was known as a "Chevrolet by Holden." I asked some guys from Australia about the authenticity of this car...they said it was "dinky di."

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t.../IMG_3305s.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...TF/UTERear.jpg

Nice job Joe. I was looking at some of the classic Utes and also the new ones they make, and thought I'd bet there are a few people in the states that would love to have one!

Nice Ute, any slopers?

The Holden company was originally a coach building business in Australia. At the turn of the century when cars were becoming popular, the Australian government was charging high import duties on cars to encourage an Australian auto manufacturing industry. Lacking the technology for producing chassis and engines in those years, "rollers" were imported from Canada at a reduced duty rate because of being a British member country. Having the skilled coach building craftsmen, the transition to car body building was easy. General Motors bought shares in the company and Hoden built bodies for Buicks, Cadillacs, Pontiacs, Chevrolets, Williys, Essex and many other brands including European and Ford until Ford built it's own factory in 1925. Holden produced unique body styles for its domestic market and after World War Two, General Motors bought the company outright and produced the Holden car in 1948 which was based on a compact economy Buick. designed in Detroit during the depression for the U.S. market. Since that time Holden styling was influenced by American trends and shared some mechanical components including engines.

Here's a couple more ute shots from Holden, I like the looks of them, reminds me of the 70's when Rancheros were the thing!
http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-conte...eshsvmaloo.jpg
http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/...den%20utes.jpg
http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/...te_resized.jpg
http://www.holden.org.au/images/new_VE_ute_2.JPG

Holden was into the V8 cars when GM was doing V6's. I understand that GM turned to Holden to help design the LS powered GTO and now the Camaro.

here is few more Holden classics
http://www.users.bigpond.com/smoothi...scotts_car.jpg
http://www.holden.org.au/images/member31.JPG