Holden heroes and villains
We track the hits and misses over 65 years of Australian-made HoldensHolden is an icon of the Australian motoring industry, part of our cultural landscape since the introduction of the 48/215 ‘Holden’ back in 1948.
Over the years Holden has given us some true classics, such as the Monaro and the LX Torana, which left an irrefutable mark on Australian motorsport, having won the Bathurst 1000 a record-setting 29 times.
They weren’t all winners though, and with the departure of homegrown Holdens now official and Holden’s finest ever Commodore destined for the scrap heap by 2017, we look back at some of the best -- and worst -- locally built products Holden has given us.
The road hasn’t always been easy for Holden, but with such a wide breadth of vehicles, some models are bound to become timeless classics, the only question is: which ones?
WINNERS:
FJ Holden
Not significantly different from its 48/215 predecessor, but with more bling to bring a bit of US style across the Pacific.
EH Holden
Basis for the S4 touring car campaigner and a lithe, modern look after the ‘50s fins of the FB and EK. Red motor was a major step forward.
HK Holden
'Holden' went from 'model' name to 'make' with the introduction of the HK range, which represented an exciting step forward, with V8 power options and the two-door Monaro joining a fully-fledged range of sedans and wagons, including the luxury Premier and long-tailed Brougham.
HQ Holden
Biggest-selling Holden of all time. Introduced coil springs for the live rear axle, clean styling and the long-wheelbase Statesman.
LH Torana
HQ looks in a package larger than the LC/LJ Torana brought V8 power to mid-size cars, and the snazzy looking hatch. And let’s not forget the 5.0-litre V8-powered SL/R 5000.
LX Torana
First Holden to score RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) and the donor car for the A9/X Torana, the first $30,000 Holden.
WB Statesman
Glitzy, chrome-laden and with a high boot line to house the spare tyre mounted upright, allied with RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) made for a very appealing package in its day.
LD Astra
Built by Nissan Australia and powered by GM Family II engine. 1.8-litre models were powerful performers.
VR Commodore
Revised MacPherson strut set-up and added safety features kept the Commodore relevant at the mid-life point between VN and VT models.
V2 Monaro
Practical seating for four in a swoopy coupe that revived an iconic name from the past, after Holden bowed to public demand. First Holden export to USA.
VE Commodore
Holden's own 'Zeta' platform cost a motza to develop, but subsequently led to the mega-successful Chevy Camaro. Nice proportions of VE belied the carry-over mechanicals.
VF Commodore
Lightweight components to reduce fuel consumption, parking assist and advanced infotainment will keep the Commodore fresh through to 2017.
SINNERS:
FB Holden
Strange '57 Chev looks didn't work in a package as small as the FB, and the Holden's proportions weren't right either, making the car look high and narrow-gutted. Two-tone colours with the white side flash didn't help.
EJ Holden
Far more modern style, but stuck with the decrepit grey motor, essentially dated overnight once Holden introduced the red motor in the EH the following year.
HK-T-G Brougham
Introduced to combat Ford's locally-built Fairlane, the Brougham offered no more interior space, just the raised roofline of the Premier and its own long boot. Ford continued on its merry way, selling heaps of Fairlanes while the Brougham languished in Holden showrooms around the country.
Trimatic transmissions
Not called 'Traumatic' for nothing.
1.9-litre Opel engine
Made the Starfire engine seem good.
Engines complying with ADR 27A emissions standard
Never has so much fuel been downed by so many cylinders for so little performance.
JK Apollo
Not a bad car in itself, just a Toyota Camry built in Altona and badged as a Holden.
VY Crewman
Rear-seat accommodation fit for store-front mannequins, no tray length for carrying jet skis or trail bikes.
Holden coverage on motoring.com.au
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