Advertising brochure featuring the first all-Australian made car, the Holden 48-215.

In the late 1930s, the idea of producing a car made entirely in Australia was first conceived, but plans were put on hold after the outbreak of World War II and all GMH factories became engaged in production for the war effort. In 1943 the project was revived and in 1944-45 designs and plans are made in both Australia and the US. Prototypes of the car which would become the Holden were constructed and tested at Detroit, US, and sent to GMH headquarters at Fishermen's Bend in Victoria in late 1946. Originally, two names for the car were considered - GMH and Austral. The name Holden was not used until just before the car went into production in October 1948. On 29 November 1948, GMH launched the 48-215 (later to become popularly known as the FX) at Fishermen's Bend. Official launches were subsequently held in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

The 48-215 was a medium-sized car with seating for five or six passengers. It had a 2.15 litre six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission. In 1950 the Holden was the most popular passenger car in Australia - with 19,203 sold (14 percent of the market). The 48-215 model range produced between 1948 and 1953 included the standard sedan, the business sedan and the utility.

General Motors-Holden's

Buttfield, Nancy, Dame. So great a change : the story of the Holden family in Australia, Sydney : Ure Smith, 1979

Davis, Tony. The Holden heritage : 1948-1998, 8th ed, Port Melbourne, Vic. : Public Affairs Department, General Motors-Holden's Automotive, in association with : Blakehurst, N.S.W : Marque, 1998

Early Holdens

Holden Australia

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