WHO MADE WHAT AND WHEN?
Holden Car Manufacturing (Body Assembly) Plants
Woodville
1948 until 1963
Pagewood
1952 until closure in 1980
Dandenong
1956 until beyond HZ production
Elizabeth
1963 until beyond HZ production
Acacia Ridge
1966 until beyond HZ production
Holden Car Vehicle Assembly Plants
Fishermans Bend
1948 until 1956
Birkenhead
1949 until closure in 1965
Fortitude Valley
1949 until closure in 1966
Mosman Park
1949 until closure in 1972
Pagewood
1949 until closure in 1980
Dandenong
1956 until beyond HZ production
Elizabeth
1965 until beyond HZ production
Acacia Ridge
1966 until beyond HZ production
BODY STYLES USED FOR HOLDEN MODELS
48 to HR
Sedan
Wagon
Coupe Utility
Panel Van
HK to HG
Sedan
Premier Sedan
Brougham Sedan
Wagon
Coupe Utility
Panel Van
Monaro Coupe
HQ to HZ
Sedan
Wagon
Coupe Utility
Panel Van
Cab-Chassis
Monaro Coupe
Statesman
At various times, specific body styles were not produced at all manufacturing plants. The original Holden car was a single style/luxury level (48-215) and was only produced at Woodville. A coupe utility model was added in 1951 (50-2106) and by 1953 a second manufacturing plant had come on-line at Pagewood. Both body styles were produced at both locations (Pagewood and Woodville) whilst all vehicle assembly plants completed both the sedan and utility. In July 1953 a Business Sedan (48-215-257) completed the range, however this model was only manufactured at Woodville.
A panel van was added in the FJ series (FJ-2014). These van bodies were only manufactured at Woodville. A new model called ‘Special’ (FJ-225) was also added to the range whilst the Business Sedan was re-designated (FJ-217).
A Station Sedan (wagon) body style was added in the FE series (FE-219, FE-229) in both Standard and Special luxury level. A third manufacturing plant had come on-line at this time at Dandenong. The sedan, utility and wagon variants were produced at all body plants, whilst the panel van continued to be manufactured only at Woodville.
An additional sedan model was added in the EJ series. The Premier (EJ-235) included many prestigious appointments as standard equipment. A Premier wagon appeared in the following EH series (EH-239). The EH was the last to be manufactured at Woodville.
1962 saw manufacturing commence at the Elizabeth plant. South Australian vehicles were now completely produced at the one location, where in the past it had been at Woodville (manufacture) and Birkenhead (vehicle assembly).
For the first time, Holden bodies were built in Queensland at the Acacia Ridge plant from part way through 1966. This ended the situation where bodies from Dandenong, Pagewood and Woodville/Elizabeth were assembled at Fortitude Valley. The Acacia Ridge manufacturing plant was the most modern of all GM-H plants, and all HR series body styles were produced there including the panel van. One main purpose of the construction of the new plant was to manufacture Holden’s new small car line.
The 1968 HK series included the largest model range to date (13 different Model Numbers). In addition to the ‘traditional’ Holden models, two new variants were included – a long-bodied Brougham sedan and the two-door Monaro coupe range. In addition, the Premier sedan featured a different body to the others. The number of different body designs had jumped from four to seven. The rise in the number of panel pressings was even greater. All four manufacturing plants (Acacia Ridge, Dandenong, Elizabeth and Pagewood) produced all body styles (including the long-body Brougham and Monaro coupes), except the panel van was only produced at Acacia Ridge and Elizabeth. All vehicle assembly plants completed all variants.
The 1969 HT introduced revised side styling to the sedan range. As a result, body component interchangeability was impacted to the point where even more parts than HK were used. A new Model Numbering system saw the total number of Holden variants rise to 24. Manufacture and assembly was as per HK series.
Rationalisation was a major feature of HQ vehicle production in 1971. Manufacturing was scaled down with Monaro Coupes only built at Dandenong and Pagewood. Cab-Chassis production was only at Elizabeth, but with final assembly at all plants. The Mosman Park plant was closed in September 1972 ending vehicle assembly in Western Australia. Panel van manufacture at Pagewood commenced from April 1973 for 12 months. Monaro production ended at Dandenong in November 1973, and the remaining passenger vehicle manufacture was wound up in April 1974 at that plant.
During the HQ series, numerous occasions where specific body styles/luxury levels were not manufactured in particular plants occurred. New Car Lines added to rationalisation of the manufacturing and assembly processes. Through HJ-Z series, further rationalisation occurred. Final utility assembly at Dandenong was in September 1976, while HZ assembly ended in December 1977. HZ production was wound up at Pagewood in October 1978 and at Acacia Ridge in the same month in 1979. Elizabeth continued on as the sole manufacturer and final assembly of the traditional Holden until the end in March 1980.