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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteHolden began in Adelaide as a saddlery in 1856, grew into Australia’s best-known homegrown carmaker, and stopped building cars locally in 2017. General Motors announced in 2020 that it would retire the Holden brand by 2021. GM’s subsequent focus on specialty vehicles was reported as a shift toward GMSV, but the available evidence does not establish GMSV as a full replacement for Holden or confirm its current models and aftersales role.
From saddlery to car bodies
Holden’s story began in 1856, when James Alexander Holden established a saddlery business in Adelaide. The company moved into vehicle bodies as motor transport expanded. During the First World War, trade restrictions and demand for vehicles helped Holden & Frost build bodies on a much larger scale. Its work was not limited to passenger cars: the business also made bodies for trucks, trams, buses and railway vehicles.
By 1923, Holden’s Motor Body Builders was producing more than half of Australia’s car bodies, according to the State Library of South Australia. That year, Holden became General Motors’ exclusive Australian car-body supplier. Holden merged with GM in 1931, according to a government-hosted report cited in the historical record.
The first Holden and a national identity
On 29 November 1948, the first production Holden rolled off the assembly line at Fisherman’s Bend in Victoria. The National Museum of Australia describes the launch as a milestone in Australian manufacturing and the country’s first locally made mass-production car. Holden marketed its cars as “Australia’s own car”; for many people, a Holden was their first car.
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The brand’s reach was substantial. The National Museum reports that Holden accounted for 43 per cent of total Australian car sales in 1958. By 1960, one million Holdens had been sold, and another million followed over the next six years, according to the museum. These are historical figures for their stated years, not a measure of Holden’s later market share.
Models that became landmarks
The Monaro arrived in 1968. Holden’s heritage history says the HT, which replaced the HK in 1969, introduced Holden’s first Australian-developed V8 engine. From the 1970s, the Commodore became a defining model line: Holden’s heritage account describes it as a 14-model series spanning 30 years. ABC reported that the Commodore was Australia’s best-selling car for 15 consecutive years.
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- Collectible: This is a 1:64 scale diecast model of the Holden VF Commodore SSV, part of the iconic Matchbox series.
- Authentic Details: Featuring an orange paint scheme and accurately replicated design elements, this model captures the essence of the original vehicle.
- Durable Construction: Made from high-quality materials, ensuring long-lasting play or display value.
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Manufacturing also left a measurable industrial legacy. The State Library of South Australia says production of the HFV6 engine ended in 2016 after 1,137,282 engines had been made, including 437,000 for export. The final engine was produced at Fisherman’s Bend on 29 November 2016, when that plant closed.
Three dates explain Holden’s end
Holden did not end in a single event. The announcement that local manufacturing would cease, the last Australian production, and GM’s decision to retire the brand happened at different times.
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![Hot Wheels HKF50 Premium 2-Pack '73 Holden Monaro GTS / '77 Holden Trana A9X [3 Years Old And Up]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ti1aSR1GL._SL160_.jpg)
- Holden is an Australian automobile manufacturer from 1856 to 2021. This time we have released 2 muscle cars representative Holden. Monaro GTS is a high-performance version of Holden's upper middle car, Monaro. Monaro was first introduced in 1968, with a body size similar to Japanese luxury cars, and the engine was made in house as well as a lineup of the Chevrolet V8 supplied by the parent company
- The Hot Wheels motif is the 2nd generation Monaro GTS with a larger body, and is equipped with a 5.7 liter V8 that is also equipped in Camaro and Corvette. The Trana A9X is a Holden subcompact car with a GM 5 liter V8 engine in a body that fits almost in the Japanese 5 number frame. The Trana was produced for 3 generations from 1967 to 1979, but the Hot Wheels motif, the A9X is a limited edition 100 cars set in the third generation Tanna, which appeared in 1974, features a huge scoop, a screw down overfender and a large front and rear spoiler. Based on the same vehicle, the Touring Car Championship has served consecutive winners in 1978 and 1979
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| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2013 | GMH announced it would cease Australian manufacturing operations. |
| 20 October 2017 | The Elizabeth factory closed, ending Australian Holden manufacturing. The National Museum of Australia says its Calais was one of the last cars off the line. |
| 17 February 2020 | GM announced that it would retire Holden in Australia and New Zealand, winding down sales, design and engineering operations by 2021. |
So 2017 marks the end of Holden’s local car production; 2020 marks GM’s announcement that it would retire the marque. ABC reported that about 1.6 million Holdens were still in circulation when the brand-retirement announcement was made. That was a contemporary estimate, not a current fleet count.
Why GM said it was retiring Holden
In its 17 February 2020 announcement, GM said the business case for further investment had weakened because of the fragmented right-hand-drive market, the economics of supporting Holden, the brand’s limited geographic scale and the need to meet investment-return thresholds. GM also said Australia and New Zealand represented less than one per cent of the global industry. Those are the company’s stated reasons, not a complete independent accounting of every cause.
The decision involved more than a brand name. Holden’s manufacturing identity was tied to local jobs and industrial capacity; GM’s explanation emphasized the scale and returns required by a global company. ABC’s contemporaneous coverage recorded political criticism and impacts on employees and dealers. Those reactions are distinct from GM’s stated commercial rationale, and neither should be treated as the sole explanation for the outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2020 announcement promised Holden owners
GM said it would honour existing warranties and establish a national aftersales network for at least 10 years. The company’s announcement said support would cover service, spare parts and any required recall or field action. That was a commitment made at the time of the announcement; it does not confirm that a particular repair, part or provider is available today.
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- Contents: Holden was born in 1913, as the only independent car manufacturer in Australia. The Trana is a mid-size Holden vehicle produced from 1967 to 1979 for three generations. The Hot Wheels motif is a 3-door hatchback Trana SS A9X option equipped vehicle. The production number is only 100 cars, and the current market is about 20 million yen. The A9X option features a massive scoop, a screw-closed overfender and a large front and rear spoiler installed on the engine hood, and the engine was equipped with a GM 5 liter V8 engine. Based on the same vehicle, the Touring Car Championship has served consecutive winners in 1978 and 1979. The Trana SS A9X option on Hot Wheels is a new mold debut with this Boolebird
- Country of Origin: Thailand, Recommended Age: 3 years and up
- Hot Wheels: Hot Wheels = "Cool car! Unique Southern California look, fast moving wheels, with the latest technology. and red line tires. Currently the best selling mini car in the world
- Perfect Gift: Perfect as a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or anniversary gift for kindergarten or school entrance celebrations
Owners with a service or warranty question should check with the relevant service provider for their vehicle and location. Holden’s announcement-era FAQ addressed where to get a vehicle serviced, warranty coverage, parts availability and recalls, but the general commitment alone cannot answer a vehicle-specific question in the present.
What can—and cannot—be said about GMSV
ABC reported in February 2020 that GM would focus on specialty vehicles in Australia and New Zealand. Holden’s announcement left some future plans, including Corvette availability, to later updates. This supports describing a shift toward specialty vehicles, but it does not establish that GMSV is a complete replacement for Holden.
The available evidence also does not verify GMSV’s current lineup, service network, parts arrangements or exact relationship to Holden’s aftersales operation. Those details should not be inferred from the 2020 announcement. For owners, the practical distinction is between GM’s announcement-era promise of continuing Holden support and the need to confirm what is available for a particular vehicle now.
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