Australian Automobiles - The Ivan Hoffmann Collection: Holden

Friday, June 28, 2024

Holden

Holden was a saddlery in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856 by James Alexander Holden. In 1885 the son, Henry James Holden together with HA Frost took over (creating Holden & Frost), and by 1917 they were building automobile bodies for imported Chevrolet chassis. By 1921 it was called Holden and expansion included taking over FT Hack of Grenfell Street/Gawler Place, in Adelaide, South Australia (see separate post FTH / MAB). In 1924 Holden built the bodies for Australian Ford automobiles and in 1926 built car bodies for General Motors (USA).

In 1931 General Motors and Holden merged to create an Australian company General Motors - Holdens Limited. In 1948 Holden made their first Australian made automobile the FX or 48-215. Holden expanded and mass-produced automobiles, however in 1980 the Sydney factory closed. In 1998 it was called Holden Limited; in 2005 called GM Holden Limited and in 2017 Holden’s last factory, being in Adelaide (Elizabeth) closed.

Also part of the Ivan Hoffmann Collection, but not appearing here are over 1600 images/files being copies of articles; web files; advertisements; correspondence; delivery summary; delivery book extracts; photos; images; reports; references; booklets; films list; LJ Holden papers (Melbourne University Archives) etc.

Also see Holden posts of Holden models......

Holden & Frost

Holden & Frost Saddlery 1916

Holden factory 1920's

Holden "body badge" (1928)
Size: 46mm x 32mm

Product of General Motors-Holden's
(early 1950's)
Size: 38mm x 25mm

The Holden emblem featured the "Wembley Lion" (the Egyptian fable of the Wembley Lion claimed that a lion was seen rolling a stone, which was the inspiration for the invention of the wheel).