I truly believe that most people in this country do not realise what we lost when Australian car manufacturing ended. What a wonderful series Shannon's, it should be a must watch for all, especially our incompetent politicians. Those times will never be repeated.
Us Petrolheads sure do; have been an Oz Falcon man for the last 25ish years; had an XD ex highway patrol, BA, BF2 XR8 manual, an F6 Tornado & now a FG MK2 XR6 NA; i wont ever sell it, slowly fixing things. Hoping to get a wreck or two to keep parts for it. What Australia had, will never ever happen again; This country is dieing slowly. The best era from the 1990's until 2016-ish of Aussie made cars, from muscle to family cruiser. Vale Ford Oz & Holden
I don't know how to describe the feelings this series brings out. I'm proud we produced these special cars in this country and sad it's just another thing we used to do. I'm still bloody angry our politicians took this from us. I did an apprenticeship with Holden and thought they'd be here for ever.. Have held onto my VE SSV ute for my 5 yo boy so at least he'll get to own one of our cars.
Lima agreement, lowering tarriffs, expensive labour force.......not conducive to a healthy manufacturing sector. I had Kingswoods, Early Commodores, an XE Falcon. I'm still very angry now. I truly hate politicians.
I worked with Richard and Mike Simcoe on the VS, VT, VX and early VY models and Tony Stolfo on the VU utility incl bringing out the SS as a full time model. Fun times and great to have this rich automotive history recorded for all time.
I'm in awe of Richard Ferlazzo. Great designer. The VE Commodore was the greatest of his achievements in my mind. I still have the "billion dollar Baby" DVD at home from when the VE Commodore was released. The amount of work that went into that was truly phenomenal. I still remember tv commercial. Even the "big red" airship that flew around Australia promoting the VE Commodore. Still remember it flying over the central West NSW town of Forbes where I live. Flew around here for a whole day for memory. I still think they're a great looking car. Also the VT to VZ generation of commodores that Richard Ferlazzo had a hand in, they still look good now. The reborn Monaro coupe is the same. Still looks great and is a highly sought after vehicle for the avid enthusiast. I have a diecast model of the reborn Monaro coupe. A CV8R in turbine grey. They were a limited edition vehicle at the time from what I understand. Available in only two colours I think. Where would cars like that be if it wasn't for Richard Ferlazzo. He and many others that worked for Holden are the reason why I like these particular cars. Oh and let's not forget the efijy concept car. Fully functional and drivable concept car with a lovely exhaust note. Thankyou Richard Ferlazzo for bringing these wonderful cars to life. These particular cars mentioned wouldn't have been possible without your contribution. Cheers for the memories. You're a bloody legend and a passionate one at that. 👍👏🍺❤️🙂
Agree. Richard Ferlazzo also helped with earlier models which did include the VT-VZ gen commodores including the reborn Monaro coupe and VE Commodore. Also long wheelbase versions.
I can feel the proud product design. I own a series2 vt ss in black panther mica. Bought it new in 2000. And just recently purchased a vz r8 clubsport. Also in black panther. The ss has been modified. The clubsport is un modified. I'm a proud Holden man and loving the fact of I own the first and the last of that Series.
Just wish the split nostril grille from VR - VX stayed on the later models. Still remember seeing the VR front end for the first time as a 9 year old, loved the angry look it had. Parents ended up buying a wagon, had so many drawings of it that I had done.
Fantastic series and thanks Richard for your creativity and the wonderful insight. I’m a Ford guy but grew up with mates having EH & HR Holdens because there was always plenty of bolt on goodies to make them go and look faster which made me buy one. The early commodores were a backward step but grew into a great car with more Aussie flare. I wish I’d spent more time drawing cars than doing maths. 👍👍👍
Malcolm from UK, best classic 40s designed concept car ever the Efigy, absolutely my favourite designed car ever. Every thing from the fastback to fenders to Mercury leadsled. Will always remain a dream pity!
I have a ve ssv Ute and I think it is just so good 15 years now The coupe 60 such a pity it wasn’t possible Such a great design and it just looked so good We have lost so much now we have no car industry 😢😢😢 The vf was as good as anything out of Germany or Japan if not better and now it’s gone
I sometimes feel that way as well, it's definitely up there with world class engineering. I like how GMH used the best from both its German and American connections to build something that was world class and designed and made here for the tough Australian roads. I think of all the GM cars globally, the GMH ones on average look better too.
That VE-based Pontiac GTO mockup just looks killer. What a shame we never got that, the G8 ST (a.k.a. VE ute) or any of the other rear-drive, Holden-developed Pontiacs Bob Lutz was touting just before GM went bankrupt.
Instead of relying on China for our EV's (or anything for that matter), we should design and build our own. We have the talent, mining and commodities already here. We need to increase tarriffs and give the sector legs again.
@Noel Gibson OUR BIG Industries could do so , but won't , because of EGO and Corporate Greed , gotta feed the bottom line and keep the investors happy !
problem with your idea as I see it, the first issue is labour costs would make the price of a new car prohibitive given the limited market Australia has. The second issue is energy costs (financial and pollution) in the making of the car and the government's myopic view to "Net Zero". Why build a car here when another country, usually "so-called" developing and without their population demanding "climate action" can do it at very little cost compared to Australia
@@trk1973 are you replying to Noel Gibson or me . Either way I think we both say the same , I expressed my opinion as to why it won't happen , we have become what Politics wanted .
Holden missed a beat with the original Commodore. Should’ve been 2-3 inches wider. Bring in the Monza and call it a Torana. Bring in the the cam in head Opel engines with fuel injection and reduce the 253 to a 4.0 and give the V8’s fuel injection. Probably throttle body. A Commodore with a 2.5 & 3.0ltr engine would have been great at the time. Then throw in the V8’s. Keep the WB’s and export to the USA.
I'm glad an Aussie was was doing these designs rather then coming from a US design office by someone who never heard of footballs, meat pies, kangaroos... and.....
Hey mate why did Holden refuse to keep up with technology and run that dinosaur V6 engine. That engine was the end of Holden. I can't think of a worse engine.. perhaps a Camira engine... Oh wait that was one of Holden's too
