Ford v Holden rivalry hits the big screen this week

Whether you’re a Ford blueblood or a Holden red lion, you’ll be frothing at the news that a feature-length documentary chronicling the Australian car and motorsport arch-rivals is hitting cinemas nationally this week – and you can get a sneak preview now that the trailer has hit the small screen.

‘Ford v Holden’ is narrated by Aussie media favourite and motoring enthusiast Shane Jacobson and features interviews with key players in the century-long stoush that encompassed the drama of the racetrack and the engineering intrigue of production cars through the decades.

Both brands designed, engineered and built sedans, utes, crossovers and sports cars in Australia for Australians and were a cultural phenomenon, and it was the thriving competition between Ford and Holden that helped drive innovation and pride in their manufacturing empires.

Kicking off more than 100 years ago when the automotive scene was sprouting in Australia, the documentary dissects the “history, technology, and culture of these rival companies and their impact on the Australian psyche and automotive landscape”, according to the official press release.

The documentary includes interviews with former Holden and Ford employees, historians and broadcasters, and features rare footage and photographs.

Naturally, it tracks iconic moments in motorsport and manufacturing, including the shuttering of both car-makers’ operations in Australia, as the cost of building cars in Australia outweighed their profits.

Produced by Veronica Fury, who was behind the 2020 AACTA-nominated feature ‘Brock: Over the Top’, the ‘Ford v Holden’ documentary will screen nationally around Australia from October 19.

Although the film may not have the clout of ‘Ford v Ferrari’, nor Hollywood celebrity stars in Christian Bale and Matt Damon, it’s shaping up as a must-see for Aussie car lovers.

“This important essay film embodies the love affair Aussies have with their cars – and covers the fierce tribal rivalry between Fords and Holdens. You were either one or the other!” said Fury.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au