HOLDEN HISTORICAL SERVICES
Holden Historical Services (HHS) is about the history of the Holden car. From the start of volume production in 1948 through to the final units built in March 1980, the traditional full-size ‘Holden’ and its derivatives – wagon and Monaro coupe – are the primary focus. Commercial variants including coupe utility, panel van and cab-chassis models by association are also included. The Holden small-car lines Torana and Gemini are off at the side at this point in time, as is the ‘V’ car line – Commodore. The main focus at present is on the traditional Holden car models.
HHS provides an accurate history of the traditional Holden products as manufactured by General Motors-Holden’s (GM-H) at the various locations throughout mainland Australia over the course of this remarkable period of time.
The HHS Mission Statement is to provide factual information via this website as well as historically accurate responses to enquiries from interested parties concerning a ‘Holden’ car from the time period covered – specifically from the Model Series’ 48 through to and including HZ.
HHS draws upon the vast archives held, as well as from benchmark publications produced by authoritative sources deemed historically accurate. The objective is to provide interested parties with a complete picture of the background of a specific Holden enquiry.
HHS provides information and knowledge accumulated from a variety of sources, all of which are directly associated with the carmaker. This is not limited to official documentation published by and on behalf of General Motors-Holden’s.
2013 marks 65 years since the first Holden car was released. In other words, the Holden has reached retirement age in the GM corporation. To celebrate this momentous occasion, HHS presents this website as a mark of respect to an enduring icon and also one of the most significant events in the history of Australia.
Ben Stewart
1 October 2013
THE PEOPLE
Holden Historical Services are Holden people who are very passionate about the first all-Australian car. Being owners and drivers of Holden products for more than four decades says that we are passionate about the services we provide as well. HHS knows the product on many levels. We share your passion for Holdens.
Our contributions to the history of the Holden are ongoing, but the start point can be identified as 1978 when details from ID plates first became of interest. Just why some otherwise identical cars were so different on their ID plates would prove to be a mystery that took time to solve – even to this day some aspects remain unanswered.
Worthy personal contributions to the Holden car history include -
-
establishing the Holden Monaro Register (1992)
-
establishing the Holden Muscle Car Register (1995)
-
publishing The Monaro Facts/The Monaro Story (1997 with Warren Turnbull)
-
articles for Restored Cars magazine #121-126 (1997-8)
-
long time contributor to Australian Muscle Car magazine (2002 to 2015)
-
producing AMC ID Handbook (2008)
-
finally getting ‘a round tuit’ and creating HHS on-line (2013)
HHS continues to be involved with contributions to Don Loffler’s widely acclaimed books on early Holdens starting with ‘She’s A Beauty’ in 1998, as well as input into Norm Darwin’s benchmark publications.
Relevant personal Holden milestones are as varied as they are significant.
How many people can say that a Holden car featured in so many different activities including -
-
first driven home from hospital - FJ
-
first car washed - FJ
-
first motor vehicle ‘incident’ - FB
-
first day at school - EJ
-
first serious car interest - HT
-
first car driven - HQ
-
first car purchased - HT
-
first 100 MPH+ ‘adventure’ - HT
-
first ‘accident’ - HT
-
first fine - HT
The HHS site is the culmination of many years of interest in the Holden, as well as the obligatory “one day I’m going to do a website…”. As with many things in life there are priorities, but we feel the wait has been worth it for Holden Historical Services.
Two former GM-H staff members we have the highest regard and admiration for, and who must take credit for the impetus behind HHS, are Eve Lauter and Leo Pruneau.
Ben and Deb
2022
