CLASSIC CAR HUNTER AT HOLDEN: THE END OF THE LINE

Our Classic Car Hunter series usually focuses on chrome-bumper beasts, but in this installment Glenn Torrens visits Holden's Elizabeth factory to see some of the final locally-made Commodores roll off the production line.

In this video, GT takes us through the production process and pays tribute to the workers that make it all happen - thanks to Ryno Insurance.

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[fishingbrad]

No need to be sorry for choking up Glenn, we all feel the same way.

[RayJay]

Sad to see this factory close. My Pontiac G8 was built here. Love me car and will never sell it.

[richiekirk]

The VF was a awesome car, would've love to see what the next commodore would have been.

[joshs_random_location]

Thank you for allowing us to be part of the journey 🇦🇺🇦🇺

[hothothotmale]

We live in an amazing country called Australia.
Unfortunately foreign investors are allowed buy our farms, our ports, and houses just to name a few. Foreign ownership in our big corporations resulting in profits going overseas and minimal taxes paid to Australia.
Very few countries allow this sort of activity on their lands, yet we don't impose appropriate import duties to protect our industries. This is partly to blame for our vehicle manufacturing and other manufacturing industry closures.

[davescott]

Great story Glenn this is the best in depth story on building the last VF commodores I've seen, my SS sportwagon was built earlier in April and delivered 9 days after my son was born, I plan to keep this car forever, they're a modern day classic and an absolute pleasure to drive.

[fitzyholden]

Soon to be living in a country with zero car production. Shit that's something to be really bloody proud of.

[ruppyhouse]

Got my Aug 2017 SS. Couldn't be happier to have it, but do wish they kept making cars here.

[catey]

My Brother and his wife ordered a fully optioned Redline SSV8 and timed it so their's was one of the very last ones to be built before they ceased production. it now sits alongside their 327 HK Monaro in their garage. it will never be driven in wet weather or parked out in the weather and is strictly used only as a sunny sunday drive car. it's the only brand new car they've ever purchased and is their pride and joy.

[JETBYE]

so sad :( hats off to the Holden workers!

[TheOMGWTFBBQ]

R.i.p Holden . Good luck vl hunting guys :P

[tripsadelica]

Years ago Sir Laurence Hartnett ("Larry" to his friends) was sent to Australia in the late 1930s with instructions to either make the local manufacturer work or sell it off and shut it down. After arriving he saw that the local workers were just brilliant at making many different models on three or four basic chassis. He went into bat for the Holden factories and pushed the development of a local industry and car with the moniker of "Holden"...the rest is history. Now the TRUTH of things is this... the unions did not kill this company (as many right-wing nutheads will tell you) ...they actually took pay cuts to keep the company going. The build quality did not kill the company. In fact, Holden's Elizabeth factory probably had the highest build quality of all GM factories worldwide. Most US reviewers of the G8 and Chevy SS (basically left-hook Commodores with Chevy or Pontiac badges) commented on the superb build quality of the cars and lamented the lack of quality from their own factories. What killed Holden was poor product planning IN THE US, not Australia (US beancounters made crap decisions) AND none other than Mr. Tony Abbott and his side kick, Joe Hockey. They literally dared Holden to shut up shop and refused to give Holden a subsidy to develop new models. Now before you scream about subsidies costing taxpayers heaps bear in mind that EVERY car making nation provides subsidies or tax breaks to car makers many times greater, in order of magnitude, than Holden ever received. Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey's tory attitude to subsidies and their pig-headed belief that Australia was better off without an indigenous car industry forced GM US to make the painful decision to shut-up shop...end of story.

Glenn getting choked-up in this video is understandable. In my case I shed lots of tears when the closure announcement was made and I am not in the industry at all! I just realised that Holden ended making the best car this country has ever produced and a vehicle the equal of many cars in the whole world. To see all that experience, talent and ability go into the wastebin was too much for me. I just cried. I also cried because killing a factory like this makes us less able to prepare in times of war and it also kills all the support companies. Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey should have been shunted into time machines to see how Holden basically saved our bacon in WWII. Larry Hartnett was asked by the federal government to go into full wartime production. Larry had the factories churning out war materiel (yes, that's the right spelling...check) in less than two months. Holden made everything from aircraft engines to trucks, tank parts, Howitzers and even things like binoculars and microscopes! Now after Elizabeth's closure, Ford's closure and the end of Toyota production which remaining Australian heavy industries could help us in time of war (when supplies from other nations are usually cut off)? The answer is NONE...NONE! God bless the Holden workers in all the various departments. You built a world-class car. You should be very proud of what you have achieved. P.S. Do I own a Holden? Too right I do! I bought one of the last sportwagons and I love it!

[frankiesultana]

I feel for you glen that would’ve been tuff for you great privilege to do this story thanking you

[conorburnett]

Our family is always going to have a Holden in it no matter what

[brittenv]

I still can't believe it's all going.

[HueGWang]

My 2008 VE ute will NEVER be sold! I might convert it into a NATs show car but I'll NEVER sell it. Even if it just sits in a garage, we'll always have a Holden in the family.

[mrgts]

How will Holden survive, with that imported piece of SH.T commodore?

[clifflee]

11 years since i sold my VS Calais .But now back with Holden with my VF SV6 2016 ute what a car

[critical_unknown]

"Quality is at its highest it's ever been" God dam that's harsh.
Buy up the Rwd commy while you can.
Two things I like about Australians, Holdens and Mad Max.

[Thenmxgangatthejumps]

Today is such an emotional day for all holden lovers, we are living in a country that doesnt care one bit about having Australian made as their motto, just the money and profits that come out of sending manufacture overseas :(