How the first Holden came about

Australia’s motoring industry has well over 100 years of heritage, dating back as far as the mid-1890's with steam powered vehicles. However despite what history tells us, it was the Holden 48-215 that was the first car we could really call our own – built for Australians - by Australians.

The beginning of the 48-215 story traces back to a proposal by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who issued a challenge to the Australian automotive industry to produce a car that was entirely manufactured in Australia. If successful, the expansion in the industry would build the economy and help the country recover from World War II. General Motors seized the opportunity with both hands, and made a go of it – which of course is the Australian way.

Back at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan USA in 1944, an American designer named Franklin Hershey began to work on this new car idea. Hershey had returned to America following the war, and was hoping to be a part of an upcoming Cadillac development. Hershey’s design had many influences, ending up in the hands of a group of Australian and American engineers who hand built the first three prototypes in Detroit in 1946. The cars were put through their paces over months of durability and performance tests, before being shipped to Australia and delivered to Holden’s Port Melbourne facility.

The most significant of these prototype vehicles is the Seine Blue prototype number one, which is on permanent display at the National Museum of Australia. Senior curator of the museum collection Daniel Oakman explains that prototype number one is one of the most popular exhibits at the museum. "The Holden was a car that was built especially for the Australian market and was adapted for Australian conditions, and the first one completely manufactured in Australia, and that is why it has generated such interest," says Oakman.

"The Holden was a vivid manifestation of Australian dreams of prosperity, made more intense by years of wartime austerity. More than just a car, the early Holdens were complex symbols of freedom and independence, as well as suburban conformity. They are amongst the most recognisable cultural artefacts of 1950s Australia."

The 48-215 was the beginning of the future for Holden, and was the first car to wear the Holden name as a badge – which was predominantly featured in chrome lettering on the bonnet and lid. Motivation was provided by a 132.5cid inline 6-cylinder – known as the ‘Grey Motor’, which was tough, economical, and easy to work on. The launch of the car was a huge event; front page news across the entire country. On 29th November 1948, Prime Minister Chifley attended the launch and unveiled the new model, proud of this new page in Australia’s motoring history.

18,000 orders had already been placed for the 48-215 before the public launch, with more than 120,000 being produced from 1948 – 1953. This one single vehicle model put Holden on top of the local car industry, at a time that post-war Australia was booming. Manufacturing facilities established in Woodville, South Australia, built the car bodies with the engine assembly line located at Fishermen’s Bend in Victoria. Other assembly plants were built by Holden across Australia – leading to even more employment across NSW, QLD, and WA.

In 1948, only one in eight people owned a motor vehicle – by 1956 the number had grown substantially to one in four!  The automotive industry was well and truly alive – the 48-215 leading the way for many more Australian built cars in the future. Australia’s own 48-215 broke new ground for our local manufacturing industry, the first of many incredible cars built in this country.

Source: Survivor Car Australia

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