[AlanHo]

The end of Australia's car-making industry - BBC News

[CraigB]

I’ve enjoyed owning all my Holden’s in the past, it’s an absolute shame we can’t afford to build them here anymore   

[Dazzler]

Yeah, I haven't had many holdens, only 4 in 40 years I think, but glad I had a chance to own one of the best they ever made. The Calais was pretty special for the money I paid.

[AlanHo]

General motors owned Vauxhall in the UK for a number of years. They recently sold out to Peugot who are now declaring redundancies in their UK plants.

General motors also owned Volvo in Sweden - again they sold it to Ford who a few years later sold out to a Chinese brand

General motors owned Saab cars in Sweden - this went bust and they sold the remnants to Spyker in Holland but Saab cars are no longer made.

General motors owned who in Australia....?

[Surferdude]

General motors owned Vauxhall in the UK for a number of years. They recently sold out to Peugot who are now declaring redundancies in their UK plants.

General motors also owned Volvo in Sweden - again they sold it to Ford who a few years later sold out to a Chinese brand

General motors owned Saab cars in Sweden - this went bust and they sold the remnants to Spyker in Holland but Saab cars are no longer made.

General motors owned who in Australia....?

In Oz it was GM-H
General Motors - Holden.

Wiki covers it well.
Holden - Wikipedia

[Lakes]

I only owned three holden's, first one I had was an eh ute with 179 motor, I got that used from original owner, who was bob holden ( race driver ) it was a 1964 model three on the tree manual . I got in 1967 as my first work ute.
second one was a fc 1958 with floor shift and repco motor, I got that as a fill in as I had a 1969 datsun 1600 that a drunk cab driver hit while I was stopped in traffic, looked like a write off but insurance had it repaired, while I was waiting I saw the fc for sale bought that to drive around.
last holden was a 1974 hq 1 tonner. i drove the eh & the hq a lot of miles as both work Utes . the only holden I had trouble free was the fc. the eh blew a diff and had to have gear box rebuilt a lot. the hq also had diff problem and gear box. two weak links on holden diff & gear box. so I was not a holden fan. went to ford they had built proof diff and bullit proof gear box ( 9 inch diff , top loader gear box )

[Surferdude]

I've had a few.
Mostly company cars but my first ever was a 48/215, commonly known as an FX, the predecessor to the iconic FJ.

Here in 1966 at Geebung in Brisbane.

[John B]

Loved my HG  Premier with V8 engine, petrol guzzler though. 

[CraigB]

I’ve had 7 Holden’s - HQ one tonner - HQ Statesman - HZ Kingswood - VK Brock Commodore - VR Commodore wagon - VT Clubsport - VY SS Ute, and I never broke one of them

I’ve also had 3 Fords - TD Cortina was my first car with a 2ltr Pinto engine, it went like the clappers but eventually I killed it - RS2000 Escort which had never ending faults so became crowd entertainment (bonfire) at the gravel pits - XB 302 wagon that I blew up 15 minutes after buying on the way home I got my money back and the car yard got their shit Ford 

[Dazzler]

went to ford they had built proof diff and bullit proof gear box ( 9 inch diff , top loader gear box )

That surprises me you say that John. I have a mate with a BA? Falcon Wagon and the diffs are notoriously $hit!

My first car was my only Ford (1968 TD? Cortina 440) It overheated on my first date with a hot brunette called Brigid. She thought I was trying it on.. Because of that car I never had a chance to (with her) 

My 2nd car was an LC Holden Torana 2250cc 4 on the floor with 7.5" wide steel wheels with Chrome trims (and flared guard).. It used to bounce around the corners on the pump up air shocks I had fitted!

I bought a 1984 JB Camira Wagon brand new and quite liked it a couple of very minor warranty claims then sold it before they got a TERRIBLE name!

I bought 1986 ML Holden Barina new (basically a Suzuki Swift) and that was a brilliant little car (very similar to a Getz) Only sold that because it was too small when 1st daughter came along in 1987

Then Almost 30 years later before I bought the Calais in September 2014!

[mickd]

My first - HT Kingswood, Aqua, 161 & 3 sp , 186 & 3sp, 192- flat pistons, longer duration cam, heavily modied head ( huge valves , triple springs -was going on a guys XU-1 till 327 & 4sp went in), 14" x 8" (4" offset ) wit 235/60 front,  245/60 rear. Guards were massaged,  still they hit guards - front hung past the guards. A free 253 and trimatic went in next. Sold it.

Anita's first - LH SL Torana , 1900 Opel with M20. 1900 died, toasty 192 went in. Left 1900 badges  and small tailpipe , sunvisor, 185/65x13 tyres -sleeper. Would spin in top in the wet- 3.99 diff .

Our  2nd - Brown HZ Preimer, 4.2 V8, auto, p/steer, A/C, 4wheel discs.
Stolen ! Written off   

   Holden.
End of an era.

[Dazzler]

My first - HT Kingswood, Aqua, 161 & 3 sp , 186 & 3sp, 192- flat pistons, longer duration cam, heavily modied head ( huge valves , triple springs -was going on a guys XU-1 till 327 & 4sp went in), 14" x 8" (4" offset ) wit 235/60 front,  245/60 rear. Guards were massaged,  still they hit guards - front hung past the guards. A free 253 and trimatic went in next. Sold it.

Anita's first - LH SL Torana , 1900 Opel with M20. 1900 died, toasty 192 went in. Left 1900 badges  and small tailpipe , sunvisor, 185/65x13 tyres -sleeper. Would spin in top in the wet- 3.99 diff .

Our  2nd - Brown HZ Preimer, 4.2 V8, auto, p/steer, A/C, 4wheel discs.
Stolen ! Written off   

   Holden.
End of an era.

Times like this I'm glad I'm an Aussie! I understood all of that.. Thousands wouldn't!

[mickd]

My first - HT Kingswood, Aqua, 161 & 3 sp , 186 & 3sp, 192- flat pistons, longer duration cam, heavily modied head ( huge valves , triple springs -was going on a guys XU-1 till 327 & 4sp went in), 14" x 8" (4" offset ) wit 235/60 front,  245/60 rear. Guards were massaged,  still they hit guards - front hung past the guards. A free 253 and trimatic went in next. Sold it.

Anita's first - LH SL Torana , 1900 Opel with M20. 1900 died, toasty 192 went in. Left 1900 badges  and small tailpipe , sunvisor, 185/65x13 tyres -sleeper. Would spin in top in the wet- 3.99 diff .

Our  2nd - Brown HZ Preimer, 4.2 V8, auto, p/steer, A/C, 4wheel discs.
Stolen ! Written off   

   Holden.
End of an era.

Times like this I'm glad I'm an Aussie! I understood all of that.. Thousands wouldn't!

 
Had the jeans, black t-shirt, long hair, Winnie blues and attitude as well.     

[nzenigma]

We all have memories of great Holdens that were really Chevrolets  that had been rebirthed  and modified for the Australian market. Brilliant  cars and utes RIP.

I hear them reminiscing about the first Torana> a 1600 overhead cam. WOW!!
It was the worst Torana ever. The Toranas were all Opels. Dreadful things.

Eventually they stopped dicking about with the Torana and brought the Gemini onto the market.... and the race track.

[CraigB]

The only Torana's that had Opel engines were the 4 cyl's, the 6 pots and V8's were all Aussie built and brilliant motors, especially the 186's and 308's, 253's were a work horse engine and pretty bullet proof as well and wedged nicely into an XU1

[mickd]

The bloke who put the 327 into the LJ , originally had it in a EH.
Got defected funny enough 

[CraigB]

The bloke who put the 327 into the LJ , originally had it in a EH.
Got defected funny enough 

Transport department were pretty strict on those models concerning motor swaps, they never liked anything over 253's in em due to power to weight, not that we had to tell them the 253 was stroked out to 335ci

[The Gonz]

My Holdens have been:



and



but I don't get too sentimental about the brand, especially after hearing this:

[CraigB]

That video must have been made for me, I love Baseball - Hotdogs - Apple Pie and Chevrolet 

[The Gonz]

That video must have been made for me, I love Baseball - Hotdogs - Apple Pie and Chevrolet 

And here I thought you were going to say 'Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars'!

[CraigB]

That video must have been made for me, I love Baseball - Hotdogs - Apple Pie and Chevrolet 

And here I thought you were going to say 'Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars'!

According to the underlying link you would think so except I don't like football or meat pies

[Lakes]

went to ford they had built proof diff and bullit proof gear box ( 9 inch diff , top loader gear box )

That surprises me you say that John. I have a mate with a BA? Falcon Wagon and the diffs are notoriously $hit!

My first car was my only Ford (1968 TD? Cortina 440) It overheated on my first date with a hot brunette called Brigid. She thought I was trying it on.. Because of that car I never had a chance to (with her) 

My 2nd car was an LC Holden Torana 2250cc 4 on the floor with 7.5" wide steel wheels with Chrome trims (and flared guard).. It used to bounce around the corners on the pump up air shocks I had fitted!

I bought a 1984 JB Camira Wagon brand new and quite liked it a couple of very minor warranty claims then sold it before they got a TERRIBLE name!

I bought 1986 ML Holden Barina new (basically a Suzuki Swift) and that was a brilliant little car (very similar to a Getz) Only sold that because it was too small when 1st daughter came along in 1987

Then Almost 30 years later before I bought the Calais in September 2014!

dazz I'm talking real fords a ba is when they used same Aussie made diffs and gear box's as holden, the top loader and the 9 inch diff both made by ford factory. the diff the v8 supercars started using and I think Ron harrop made was passed on the ford 9 inch it can take 1,500hp every hot rod or hot holden got one. if you want a stronger diff it was another ford diff a danna. but all history like holden and Aussie car manufacturers.
I've owned one pain in the ass ford and it was a pommy ford , oh had two pommie fords one was my first car, ford zephyr , the  escort van was sort of troublesome in that the motor and gear box, such a tight fit, had a 2 lt ford pinto went well had twin webber carbs and a crane cam.

[Lakes]

That video must have been made for me, I love Baseball - Hotdogs - Apple Pie and Chevrolet 

And here I thought you were going to say 'Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars'!

: except I don't like football or meat pies

yanks go home!! lol I don't watch American sport as don't understand it. there food ( not there fast food that is crap ) was ok just give you too much. was hard to get freash seafood.
and they loved sugar when I was there last. even had bread that had so much sugar in it, it never went stale . but the people are tops!!

[Lakes]

I've had a few.
Mostly company cars but my first ever was a 48/215, commonly known as an FX, the predecessor to the iconic FJ.

Here in 1966 at Geebung in Brisbane.

that must have been your longest surf board Trev ?
I almost bought an fx as my first car too.

[FatBoy]

I've had a few Holden's in my time.  From my first VN Berlina (an up-market Executive model), then a Barina, then a VN Calais with a 304 V8.  Then it was a few years before we bought a VS Berlina, then to a via a Santa Fe to a VY SS; now we have two in the family, a VE SSV Ute, and a Trailblazer.  Each have had their good and bad points.  I do love my VE SSV Ute (so much that I've just re-leased it for another year).

IMO it was a combination of factors that caused the automotive industry to shut down in Australia.  From the removal of government subsidies, comparatively high wage costs, high Aussie dollar, low Aussie dollar, only building cars that are purchased locally (not globally), global company greed, etc.

[nzenigma]

I've owned one pain in the ass ford and it was a pommy ford , oh had two pommie fords one was my first car, ford zephyr , the  escort van was sort of troublesome in that the motor and gear box, such a tight fit, had a 2 lt ford pinto went well had twin webber carbs and a crane cam.

My Ford tragedy was an XA ute. Bought it brand new and first week the gearbox dropped onto the Bris-Gold Coast Highway (rear cross member unbolted) was downhill from there on, I could never travel without a complete tool kit.
Had a lot to do with the Zephyr in NZ. Mk2 was a good one but the Mk3 handled better. Then they bought out the Mk4 with a V6 motor that was the mechanic's best $$$$ friend.

Always liked GM vehicles, better overall design, reliable . Same when I was importing Yank pickups. Went for Chev or Mopar utes. They also converted to RHD better than the Ford.

[The Gonz]

For those owners of late model Commodores with bimodal exhaust systems, I'm building wireless units to give drivers control over when the exhaust opens up. PM if interested. Choice of FOB or phone app.

[Surferdude]

I've had a few.
Mostly company cars but my first ever was a 48/215, commonly known as an FX, the predecessor to the iconic FJ.

Here in 1966 at Geebung in Brisbane.

that must have been your longest surf board Trev ?
I almost bought an fx as my first car too.

All my boards, even today are still that length. Over 9'

[Dazzler]

For those owners of late model Commodores with bimodal exhaust systems, I'm building wireless units to give drivers control over when the exhaust opens up. PM if interested. Choice of FOB or phone app.

My mate's Octavia has that function (By remote control) was 118KW now over 300kw! 

[CraigB]

yanks go home!! lol I don't watch American sport as don't understand it. there food ( not there fast food that is crap ) was ok just give you too much. was hard to get freash seafood.
and they loved sugar when I was there last. even had bread that had so much sugar in it, it never went stale . but the people are tops!!

Pretty easy to understand Baseball, someone throws the ball - you hit it and run like the wind

I played under 17s state so it’s always been a fav of mine

Yeah meals are huge in the US and fast food is generally crap anywhere you go, I’m talking real hotdogs...not that deep fried crap on a stick not that I eat seafood though there was never a shortage of it where we were, lucky to not be there now in the Nappa valley ashes