FORD FAQ'S

1908 - 1960

1908 – Model T was suitable for Australian conditions, due to high clearance and the ability to drive on bad roads. With a cost of £195, it was affordable to the wider public and 250,000 units were sold
Ford Australia was founded in 1925, in Geelong Victoria, as an outpost of Ford Canada (which at the time was separate from Ford USA)
1925 saw the first Model T finished in the Geelong factory on July 1^st
1926 manufacturing and assembly plants were opened in Geelong, Adelaide and Brisbane
1928 saw the change over from Model T to Model A production
1930 An assembly plant was opened in Fremantle, Western Australia
1934 – Model 40 World’s first coupe utility was designed and built in Australia
1936 – Homebush (Sydney) assembly plant opened
1939-1945 Ford’s Geelong plant converts to war time activities (military vehicles and ammunition)
1945 – Prime Minister Ben Chifley, launches the Ford V8 sedan
1953 saw modern look one-piece windscreens
1953 Ford Zephyr had more style than Holden’s FJ and better steering however it couldn’t match price, fuel economy and ruggedness
1956 Ford Australia bought a large plot of land in Campbellfield, Victoria and by 1961 the new factory would become the company Head Quarters
1959 – Broadmeadows assembly plant opened
1960 – XK Falcon had a sleek, muscular appearance and popular additions included sun visors, chrome wheel trims, weather shields and rear venetians
1962 – XL Falcon was released with the slogan “Trim, Taut and Terrific!”
1962 – Bob Jane wins his 2^nd of 4 consecutive Bathurst 1000 (held at Philip Island and known as the Armstrong 500) in an XL Falcon – Ford’s first ever victory
1960, Ford unveiled the Falcon only months after the US release. It wasn’t durable enough for Australian conditions, due to their front suspension.

HOLDEN FAQ'S

1918 - 1960

1918 Holden Motor Body Builders Ltd was founded
1931 Holden merges with General Motors to form GMH
1936 Fisherman’s Bend (Melbourne) opens
1935-1945 GMH produced more than 30,000 vehicle bodies and made equipment including field guns and aircraft
1948 Holden 48-215 cost £733 = 94 weeks wages for the average worker.
1951 saw the first production of the 50-2016 coupe utility “ute” which became well known throughout Australian rural areas, for their ability to deal with rugged terrain.
1953 FJ Holden £1054 = 68 weeks wages and became a status symbol for hard working Aussies
1954 saw Holden begin to export the FJ to New Zealand
1956 Dandenong body and assembly plant opens
By 1957, Holden exported cars to 17 countries including Indonesia, Hong Kong and South Africa
1960 FB Holden Design was influenced by American design – large finned tail-lights. First left-hand drive exported by Holden Australia
1960 Elizabeth assembly plant opens in South Australia
1962 saw Holden produce it’s millionth car, an EJ Premier
In 1966, the HR became the first car fitted with front seatbelts as standard. Holden became the first automaker in Australia to provide safety devices as standard equipment
1968 HK Monaro – first all Australian Lion badged V8 coupe. Back to back Bathurst wins on 68 & 69 fuelled the formation of the Holden/Ford rivalry
03 March 1969 saw Holden produce it’s 2 millionth car driven off the production line, HK Brougham

FORD FAQ'S

1970 - 2000

1970 – Allan Moffatt becomes the first overseas driver to win the Bathurst 1000
1970 XW GT HO Phase 2 is introduced
1971 – Falcon GT HO Phase cars finish 1-2-3 in Bathurst 1000
1972 XA Falcon – first fully designed and built Australian car
1973 – XB Falcon launched including the last ever GT model (which won 5 Bathurst 1000s)
1976 – XC Falcon main changes were mechanical to comply with tougher government rules to regulate exhaust emissions
1977 XC Falcon hardtop completes a 1-2 victory for Moffatt and Bond at Bathurst 1000
1978 – XC Falcon Cobra was introduced with a limited number produced (400)
1979 – Henry Ford II visits Australia to launch XD Falcon. It was the first mass produced car in the world to have a light weight plastic fuel tank
1981 – Dick Johnson wins both Bathurst and the Australian Touring Car Championship in XD Falcon
1984 – XF Falcon, the last of the fourth generation Falcons to be released
1987 – XF Falcon Baja Ute, Jim Hunter wins the Baja 1000 (one of the world’s toughest off-road races)
1996 – EL Falcon adopted ABS anti-lock brakes. Only Australian car to have driver’s airbag as standard on all models.
1998 – EL Falcon wins Bathurst 1000 and all 3 Indy Car Grand Prix support races
2002 BA Falcon A modern and conservative look for Ford. Wins Wheels Car of the Year Award breaking a 36-year drought for Ford
Ford Fairlane sat on the top of Australian luxury car sales until the late 1980’s, with the increase of foreign car imports such as BMW and Mercedes Benz
2011 Falcon EPOLPI – runs on LPG reducing CO2 emissions and producing the same amount of power and torque of the petrol equivalent.

HOLDEN FAQ'S

1970 - 2000

1971 Holden HQ range was the best-selling line for Holden, selling 485,000 units within 3 years. Of which 14,558 were exported, 72290 as CKD kits (complete knock down kit)
Holden sold 60,751 vehicles in 2018 compared to 58,710 in 1961, while Ford sold 69,081 vehicles last year versus 68,520 in 1966, according to historical figures from Australian Automotive Intelligence which has archived Bureau of Statistics
1975 Gemini TX is released. First car for global distribution
1978 VB Commodore is released and clean sweeps Repco Round Australia, Reliability Trial (worst roads) and Wheels Car of the Year
1982 JB Camira First front wheel drive car produced by Holden
1984 VK Commodore introduced in Australia with new model names, Berlina and Calais. It also becomes Holden’s first International Group “A” standard touring car
1986 Holden has 5 of the top 10 finishes in Bathurst 1000 the VL Commodore
1987 Peter Brock wins his 9^th Bathurst 1000 (most wins of all time)
1988 VN Commodore is released
1997 VT Commodore is the largest car released to date with safety initiatives – crash energy absorbing body, better restraint systems, and airbags made standard
2003 Global V6 engine plant is opened in Port Melbourne. GM single biggest investment in Australia in over 20 years ($400 million)
2004 VZ Commodore – all V8 models had electronic throttle control. Electronic stability programs were introduced – a first for Australian built cars
2008 VE Series II Commodore uses E85 fuel. Reduced CO2 emissions and enhanced performance and first locally produced car using E85 technology
2017 – Holden’s Elizabeth plant closes in October signalling the end of car manufacturing in Australia