A Holden History From Horse Saddles and Horse Whips to Classic Holden Cars

Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars,trade restrictions decreed that only one complete car
traditional icons for the Australian way of life. Fromcan be imported into Australia for every three chassis.
horse saddlery to an iconic car manufacturer inBusiness booms as the use of state-of-the art
Australia, the Holden name has become synonymousmachinery and innovative techniques ensures a
with reliability and innovative motor vehicle design andcompetitive product.
manufacturing.Holden's now famous "lion and stone" symbol,
Henry James Holden was born in 1859 (the son ofrepresenting man's invention of the wheel, is now
James Alexander Holden who, at 19 years of age,employed as the Holden logo. It wasn't till 1938, that
arrived in Australia in 1854) and he was destined to beGMH discuss the manufacturer of a complete
the forefather of today's General Motors Holden -Australian car built and designed in Australia for
Australia.Australian conditions.
In 1885, the then J.A. Holden & Son, were prolific20 hectares of land at Fisherman's Bend in South
manufacturers of horse harnesses, horse saddles,Australia becomes the major manufacturing facility.
travel goods, gun cases, whips, crops and vehicleDuring 1940-42, Holden is operating from 7 plants
hardware. Under government contracts in 1897, thenationwide manufacturing supplies for the Australian
company supplied their equipment to fulfill theand US armed forces.
governments needs for the Boer War.Holden launches it's first fully manufactured Australian
In 1908, in the USA, the General Motors Corporationcar, the 48-215 FX and is rolled off the production line
was formed and built Buick, Oldsmobile, Oakland andon October 1, 1948. Unbeknown by the company,
Cadillac. This was to have a positive future impact onevery new model manufactured becomes one of the
the J.A. Holden company development in Australia.many classic Holden Cars.
The design and manufacturing commenced in AustraliaFrom here on, Holden was now destined to prove
of a standardized car body for Buick and Dodgeitself as a major motor vehicle manufacturer gaining
chassis, soon began in 1917.respect from car buyers in Australia and later the
At the time the Australian Government's wartimeworld.