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I think we're just as likely to go in the other direction and downplay how good they are as well. They aren't perhaps classically 'great' in the way certain European cars that we fawn over may be, but no-one can doubt the build quality and solidity of the cars we were making. The Pontiac GTO (Monaro) and Pontiac G8/Chevrolet SS (Commodore) got very good reviews Stateside. We certainly had (have?) the know-how for making good cars.
Without doubt, Holden made some absolutely world-class cars during their time as did Ford AU. People tend to sneer at the product because the badge was always associated with the common man, the ultimate refinement wasn't quite there and the recipe we built to was fairly simple, but the end result always spoke for itself. Go overseas where the Australian cultural cringe isn't as strong and people love these cars, not just in the US but in the UK and the middle east too.

Favourite ever Holden was the VT GTS with the 300kw Callaway engine. Very rough around the edges because the VT/VX interior was bog average and the tremecs which were holden's go-to transmission in the 90's was an absolute campaigner of a thing but there wouldn't have been another sedan in the world that the GTS couldn't have kept up with. 300kw in a Holden is crazy in an era when the equivalent AMG was good for only 270kw and unlike the American alternatives, was also handy through corners as well. If the E39 M5 wasn't such a great piece of kit the VT probably would have made a case for being the best sedan in the world.
 
Favourite ever Holden was the VT GTS with the 300kw Callaway engine.
I met a friend I hadnt seen for years (he spent years working as a chef in the UK) and he drove me home in his HT Monaro 327 Bathurst Special
It was white
Havent seen him for years It would be worth a small fortune if he still had it
Nice car
 

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And if we're talking greatness, the early Ford Territory was an unquestionably great SUV, well ahead of its time.
Ford really stuffed up by not releasing a diesel version fast enough with the Territory.
 
In 2007 I bought a 2 year old Mitsubish 380 VRX with 35,000km on the clock with 3 years of factory warranty and full books. It had everything that opened and closed, was a bit thirsty, but the 3.8 engine had plenty of go in it. It was around $45 or $50k new. At the same dealership in Werribee they had a BA Fairmont, (I had an AUII wagon so knew pretty much what that one was about) and they had a 2004 Commodore SV6.

I took the 380 out and when I came back, I didn't even bother with the Ford, I had a cursory look at the Commodore. It was a year older, had nowhere near the refinements in it and had 106,000km on the clock and an incomplete service history and no warranty left.

I bought the 380 for $17k, they wanted $26k for the Commodore, I didn't even get that far with the Ford but I think they wanted low 20s for it.

The 380 is still close to the best car I've owned.
I've never driven a 380 but your post is an interesting one given that it was the death-knell for Mitsubishi in Australia. The 380 has been described as the right car in the wrong era.
 
I've never driven a 380 but your post is an interesting one given that it was the death-knell for Mitsubishi in Australia. The 380 has been described as the right car in the wrong era.

Funnily enough, I live on Phillip Island now and there seems to be a disproportionate number of 380s there.

At the same time I had the 380, I bought a 2004 Magna Verada Xi, top of the range everything. 60,000km on the clock, $55 to 60k new, it cost me $10k.

Nice car but nowhere near the 380.
 
I'm not a car guy but the timing belt/chain just went on my VE so holden can do one. $3K to fix apparently but probably not worth the effort. Best cars for <$10K?

Also, no idea why SUV's are so popular. Mum has one and legitimately less cabin space than my car, so overrated. 4Cyl are cheaper rego, more efficient. How the hell did big cars get so popular when no one really needs them? Just for the stay at home mums to crash in carparks of their morning coffee shops I'm guessing.
 

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Because without any other local manufacturers, the Australian suppliers for their parts wouldn't have enough demand from Toyota alone to stay afloat. Most of them supplied for Ford and Holden as well. Without those components being made here, Toyota has nothing with which to build their cars here.

Fair point, but given they are competing companies in the same industry it's not like Commodore and Falcon buyers vanish into thin air. Problem is the sedan segment took a hit overall rather than people just switching from one brand to another.
 
Obviously a young-un.

The revived Monaro is the best looking car Holden have made this century. The HSV version before the nostril holes in the bonnet is a great looking car and these are coming up on 18 years old.

Most of the cars Holden produced in the 80s, 90s and 2000s were pretty uninspiring. Some people like the VL Walkinshaw (just looks like a VL with 100 kilos of fibreglass panels stuck on to me) but it wasn't a period of design flair.

Personally I don't love the FJ & 48-215 but appreciate the look, but am a big fan of the FE to EK models with the classic 50s styling of round headlights, fins, bench seats etc. Not as big a fan of the 60s models but the 70s muscle cars are great too. Cars are like houses, modern ones are better but 50s ones are way cooler.
 
The revived Monaro is the best looking car Holden have made this century. The HSV version before the nostril holes in the bonnet is a great looking car and these are coming up on 18 years old.

Most of the cars Holden produced in the 80s, 90s and 2000s were pretty uninspiring. Some people like the VL Walkinshaw (just looks like a VL with 100 kilos of fibreglass panels stuck on to me) but it wasn't a period of design flair.

Personally I don't love the FJ & 48-215 but appreciate the look, but am a big fan of the FE to EK models with the classic 50s styling of round headlight\\s, fins, bench seats etc. Not as big a fan of the 60s models but the 70s muscle cars are great too. Cars are like houses, modern ones are better but 50s ones are way cooler.
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What we ridin' in Craig?

Commodores...
 
A bloke down the street from us had one of those early-2000s yellow Monaros when they first came out. They were about as slick as it got for a while there.
 


This is hands down one of the most mental things I've seen in person. From memory it actually set the fastest time overall at Targa around Symmons Plains against Lambos, Porsches etc etc.
 
I need to pull out my old photos.
I used to photograph for a hotted up car mag in a past life.
I remember GTR XU1s,SLR 5000s,EH Premiers,HR Holdens, HQs with premier fronts, Monaro quarter panels (for the gills and HZ boots for the lip) and lots of Utes with Statesman Fronts and Monaro shark gills
Did a lot of Fords too a few Valiants a few Japanese cars too Old 60s and 70s Toyotas
 
I need to pull out my old photos.
I used to photograph for a hotted up car mag in a past life.
I remember GTR XU1s,SLR 5000s,EH Premiers,HR Holdens, HQs with premier fronts, Monaro quarter panels (for the gills and HZ boots for the lip) and lots of Utes with Statesman Fronts and Monaro shark gills
Did a lot of Fords too a few Valiants a few Japanese cars too Old 60s and 70s Toyotas
Which car magazine? That'd be a cool job (probably doesn't pay a cent now).
 
Funnily enough, I live on Phillip Island now and there seems to be a disproportionate number of 380s there.

At the same time I had the 380, I bought a 2004 Magna Verada Xi, top of the range everything. 60,000km on the clock, $55 to 60k new, it cost me $10k.

Nice car but nowhere near the 380.

Which was because the Magna was pretty much unchanged for a decade by the time the 380 came out thanks to Mitsubishi's financial and sales woes. By the time the 380 came out it was way too late, but they started developing it just as sedan sales began nosediving.
 
Which car magazine? That'd be a cool job (probably doesn't pay a cent now).
Mag doesnt exist anymore ...dont want to mention the name as a back issue will have someone look up my name under the cars mentioned
It was a good little gig 4 cars a month if I was lucky
It was Australia wide so I used to do Victoria and scout cars to try and get the max of 4 per issue.
Everyone who had a car had a few mates with cars so it was pretty easy to find them
 
Mag doesnt exist anymore ...dont want to mention the name as a back issue will have someone look up my name under the cars mentioned
It was a good little gig 4 cars a month if I was lucky
It was Australia wide so I used to do Victoria and scout cars to try and get the max of 4 per issue.
Everyone who had a car had a few mates with cars so it was pretty easy to find them
Didn't you worry it could end up a bit Making a Murderer for you?
 

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The End of Holden


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