G.M. Holdens Ltd.
Production of 48/215 to FC Holdens, including Engine No's and Breaking Points
On September 20, 1944 Sir Laurence Hartnett
and Mr Jack Horn of General Motors - Holdens
made a presentation entitled "Australia -
GM's Performance and Results - Manufacture
of Complete Motor-Cars in Australia" to the
Executive Post War Planning Committee of General
Motors in New York. This meeting gained approval
in principal for GM-H to commence the process
of designing and building an Australian car.
A major production which was rehearsed for
3 weeks in New York and involved 18 stenographers,
7 photographers and photographic reproduction
men, 2 statisticians plus experts from GM
finance, materials and manufacturing divisions
all with the aim of convincing the committee
of approving the project in principal, it
was finally approved in November 1944. But it almost did not eventuate, with the
US deciding that it would not invest in Australia
(despite making hefty profits from its Australian
operation) and only when the Commonwealth
Bank came up with 2,500,000 pounds and the
Bank of Adelaide came up with the balance
of 500,000 pounds did the project finally
get off the ground.
