End of an era for Holden lovers

By Laura-Lee Traynor Student Mitchell Schofield admits his old Astra isn’t the hottest Holden on the streets, but he loves it all the same. The 20-year-old from a family of “Holden heads” is one of thousands of car lovers mourning the demise of Australia’s car manufacturing industry. This week Holden shut its doors in Adelaide, spelling the end of manufacturing in Australia. In an emotional day for Holden car lovers which saw hundreds of Holden lovers take their machines to the streets across the nation, Mitchell spoke of his sadness that the iconic Holden would now be built overseas. “Being a Holden head since day one, obviously it’s a stab in the neck that one of the Aussie icons known internationally as ours, have to stop developing locally,” Mitchell says. “The only cars I’ve owned and do own are Holden’s, I’m pretty saddened over it.” “I have a picture of me a few days old, and I’m wearing a black jumpsuit with the iconic red and white lion.” At the age of six Mitchell fell in love with his dad’s vintage 1949 Holden 48-215 FX. “I’m lucky I got to grow up with such iconic cars. When I turn 25 my dad is handing down his vintage Holden to me. I can proudly say I count down the years, knowing each birthday I’m a bit closer to having my first Holden collectable,” he says. From now on Holden’s 161-year-old company will import their cars into Australia from various countries. Hundreds of motorists took to social media to express their dismay at the death of an Aussie icon. “Holden was an Aussie battler against Ford. It’s sad to have an Australian Icon lose to cheaper inferior imports”, Jack O’Neill says. Holden’s final Australian made car – a red Commodore – rolled off production this morning and will be an exhibition piece for the car company.