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1948 (FX) 48-215 HOLDEN

So the 48-215 (FX) HOLDEN is the model you have chosen. Great choice. The 48-215 HOLDEN was the first model Holden.

The launch of the 48-215 HOLDEN (The first Holden) happened in the spring month of November 1948.

MAJOR HAPPENINGS THE MONTH OF THE LAUNCH NOVEMBER 1948: Mao on the march in China, Harry S Truman is re-elected as US President, Newly declared state of Israel at war with Arab League, Britain's HMS Terrible passes to Australia and is renamed the HMAS Sydney' Princess Elizabeth has a son (Charles), Rimfire wins the Melbourne cup in a photo finish, The Berlin Blockade continues and the old Vic company tours Australia led by Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh.

WE WERE LISTENING TO THE RADIO TO THE TUNES OF: You Go To MY Head (Ted Heath), Love That Boy (Dinah Shore), Don't Be So Mean To Me Baby (Peggy Lee), Woody Woodpecker (George Tibbles and Ramsey Idriss), Be A Clown (Gene Kelly and Judy Garland).

AT THE PICTURE SHOWS (MOVIES) WE WATCHED THESE PICTURES: Mr Blandings Builds His Dream Home (Cary Grant, Myrna Loy), Sahara (Humphrey Bogart), Gentleman's Agreement (Gregory Peck, Celeste Holm), The Two Mrs Carrolls (Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck), Sorry Wrong Number (Barbara Stanwyck).

GOING'S ON IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD: The shortage of US Dollars keeps American cars largely off the local Australian market in favour of British, The Austin A40 continues as the best selling car in Australia favour of British, The Austin A40 continues as the best selling car in Australia, Rover's experiment with gas turbine engines in Britain is heralded as "the way of the future".

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FAST FACTS

Price New including sales tax; $1466 or £733 in the old money for a (Sedan)

Dimensions (Sedan); Length:4370mm; Wheelbase; 2616mm; Width; 1702mm

Identification; Chrome grille with vertical slats, the word "HOLDEN" across the centre of the front of bonnet and also across the boot lid, spilt two piece windscreen, No front or rear turn indicators (Blinkers) and one only rear mounted stop/tail light in the middle of the boot lid, The surround painted in body colour.

Total Number Built; 120,402 By Numbers HERE

Engine; 2.15 litre 132.5c.i " in line" 6 cylinder

Transmission; Three speed Manual gearbox (Three on the Tree)

Models; Sedan, Business Sedan and Utility.

Holden prototype 1946 On 29 November 1948, 1200 men and women, including Prime Minister Ben Chifley, stood around a humble ivory coloured motor car. The car had appeared from behind silver curtains to the sounds of a ten piece orchestra and the crowd greeted it with loud applause. It was the first Holden, a completely new six cylinder sedan designed to become the first successfully massed produced Australian car. James Robert Holden, the resident Director of Holden in Adelaide, represented the Holden family at the launch.

The first Holden, Designated the 48-215 (and than later known as the FX), was a four door, six seater. Although adapted from an American design, it was built almost entirely in Australia. It incorporated advanced features including a unitary construction body. Powered by a tourquey 2.15 litre engine and weighing less than one tonne, it had exceptional performance for a low cost family car..

Buyers boasted of 80 mph and 30 mpg and the dust sealing and ride were exceptional. The 45 kW "Grey Motor" (Named after the colour it was painted at the factory) proved to be a remarkably durable unit.

As the word was passed around, the waiting list for Australia's Own Car grew longer and longer. The RACV's newspaper, "The Radiator", was typical of the press comments: "As cars go today ... it is not a big car but it rides like one, has equivalent passenger comfort and performs like one".

In 1951 the first Holden ute was launched. It was an immediate hit with urban businesses as well as the man on the land.

HOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS

1948 A modest total of 112 examples of the first Holden car, designated 48-215, rolls off Holden's Fishermans Bend production line by years end. Thousands of order's are taken.

1949 The demand for Holden cars astounds everybody. The company advertises that the "Holden is worth waiting for" and makes every effort to increase the production capacity as quickly as possible. Holden continues to import chassis and components to assemble British and US cars and trucks.

1950 Holden is now producing 80 cars a day. The number of employees now exceeds 10,000 and during the year more than $43 million is paid to outside suppliers for materials, components and services.

1951 All Holden plants expand and the company purchases 60 hectares of land at Dandenong Victoria , for future development. Holden production reaches 100 cars a day. Total production (since 1948) passes 50,000. Holden produces its first Coupe-Utility. Based on the 48-215 sedan, the "Ute" has the official model code of 50-2106.

1952 The demand for Holden cars continues to grow and plans are now laid for further expansion of Holden's facilities. Holden sales for the year reach 32,000.