Goodbye our old foe. RIP

[Mercury Bullet]

My point is that lots of industries receive government support.
Why is he picking on cars makers only?

Does he not know or is he being deliberately obtuse?

Either way it's no excuse for ignorance.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Subsidies go on everywhere..

For example I'm a farmer and I don't pay tax on diesel.

Yes, but you pay for the diesel itself, and the vehicle it goes into. The auto industry was getting a lot of $$$ for fewer and fewer cars.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

My point is that lots of industries receive government support.
Why is he picking on cars makers only?

Does he not know or is he being deliberately obtuse?

Either way it's no excuse for ignorance.

There are many reasons for the demise of our local automotive sector. People often hone in on the one that suits their own bias which does give them a narrow focus.

As for Govt. subsidies or assistance yes, it is for many sectors.
https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/results?q=

John Cadogan got things mixed up in that little production of his. Holden announced the cessation of local production in December 2013 and Toyota followed suit in Feb 2014. He had it as Toyota following Ford.
Needs to have his work proof read by a third party ;-)

[Rallye Sport]

Prices really have started to climb now productions come to an end.
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kwin...-vl/1163339804

[danzvtil]

I drove past Elizabeth 9am the morning after ( Saturday), there were no fans cars parked up like the day before, just lots of old classics, not even Holdens,doing the slow lap of respect. There were 2 executive looking blokes in their VF Director doing the same thing.

My memory is in 2000 as a 19 year old driving into the plant to deliver building supplies for the hardware store I was working at. It was like driving into willy wonkas chocolate factory, I laid my eyes on a VT statesman with the international alloys that hadn't yet been released, absolutely stunning, still stays with me to this day.

[john lloyd]

I used to have Holden’s, learnt to drive in a HR wagon, 3 on the tree. I could never go the commodores when the VB came out and have had fords ever since. Never owned anything except falcons and Holden’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bayson]

Originally Posted by FG50T

No matter how much I love XR6T's the LS3 SSV is the the car to have no doubt about it.

That said took a VF1 GTS for a test drive last week. Recommend everyone does, something not worth missing out on. I recommend a manual and going WOT in 3rd.

You are right there. The vf commodore range in any of the v8s was fantastic..

The ls3 SS, big hairy chested 6.2 litre, what more could you want

The hsv LSA is another great car, very smooth and very rapid car.

Our fords were great too particularly turbo 6 and the supercharged V8s..

i will keep my supercharged falcon v8 for a long time. Hopefully I'll buy a used ls3 SS to park next to it.

[ebv8]

i must confess i still own 2 proper holdens
a HX and VZ Adventra
I learnt to Drive in a manual v8 HZ and that got me into Kingswoods
I have owned 9 so far and a had an 11 year break from owning one
the VZ I bought because the missus is a Holden lover but its quick and confortable
the BA GT is still my favourite and my FG gets me to work each day in comfort

you would think i only buy aussie cars but i still have my little old vitara patiently waiting until i can put it on club plates

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Bayson

The ls3 SS, big hairy chested 6.2 litre, what more could you want

How about when that big hairy chested 6.2 gets passed by a mildly worked xr6t, as if it were a hyundai excel The hairy chested 6.2 litre does, hans-down have the upper hand in the sound department though.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

How about when that big hairy chested 6.2 gets passed by a mildly worked xr6t, as if it were a hyundai excel The hairy chested 6.2 litre does, hans-down have the upper hand in the sound department though.

So, mildly work the LS3

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

How about when that big hairy chested 6.2 gets passed by a mildly worked xr6t, as if it were a hyundai excel The hairy chested 6.2 litre does, hans-down have the upper hand in the sound department though.

I went from an FGXR6T to a VE LS3 HSV, i don't miss the XR6T at all. I don't know where you guys go fast but for me i putt around 99.9% of the time and swapping cogs and listening to the cammed 6.2l is music to my ears. Sure the XR6T was fast and a "better" car but it was only enjoyable at WOT and i barely ever touched the go pedal because i value my licence. Couldn't give two tirds about speed anymore, there is always someone faster, 300 at the rears is perfect for the street and my licence is safe.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Wretched

So, mildly work the LS3

Or buy an f6. :p

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Or buy an f6. :p

Add boost and run lpg, happy days.

[janddbone]

Sad times.

[Iggle Piggle]

All those concepts over the years...fill me with pride but now also sadness...

EDIT: How do I resize these?

1998

VT Coupe







2001

Utester





2002

SSX





427




Cross8



2003

Coupe 4



2004

Torana (got us ready for VE)





SST (step side ute)



Convertible Monaro (Marilyn)



2005

EfiJy

[lra]

Nice lot of photos there, Iggle Piggle.
I count myself lucky that I currently have two of those concepts which made it to production, and I don't intend on parting with either in the foreseeable future .... and the same goes for our Territory.
Mustang, Everest, Camaro, Ranger, Silverado, Stinger .....Pfffttt.

[b0son]

If they'd brought out one of these, I'd have gotten it in a heartbeat...

[Iggle Piggle]

Really miss the anticipation of "what will they reveal" that I would get before the Motor Shows through the 2000's.

[roddy1960]

G'day , Holden Monaro hung on til 2006 or so apparently which surprised me a little when I read that . The last two door Falcon was way back in 1978 with the lovely XC . Anybody know why Ford cut ties with hardtop/coupe's at the time ? Weren't they popular or something despite the 1977 Bathurst win and the gorgeous Cobra and such ? Just wondering if Ford ever disclosed why.

[Sprint XR8]

Hardtop sales dropped off a cliff after 1976 Roddy.
XA Coupe production - 8689
XB Coupe production - 11533
XC Coupe production - 2262

[Trendseeker]

Yes, it’s sad to see car production closing down in Australia. I hope the workers all find new jobs soon. I had 4 new Commodores, all base models, and a Toyota Lexcen (rebadged Commodore) between 1987 and 2008. I switched to a Territory in 2008. I’m now on my first imported car in 30 years, although it’s still a Ford.

[BENT_8]

The days of win on Sunday, sell on Monday were over by the time the last batch of Coupe shells were flogged off.

Those gorgeous Cobra's only came about to entice people in to buying what Ford couldn't shift, not saying the Cobra isn't a nice vehicle, but that's the way it was.

Project Blackwood was a move towards a European look with design queue's from the Grenada, although built on the XC floor pan, it wouldn't have looked good in 2 door form.

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Project Blackwood was a move towards a European look with design queue's from the Grenada, although built on the XC floor pan, it wouldn't have looked good in 2 door form.

There's a few custom XE coupe and convertibles kicking around. Look funny.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Bobman

There's a few custom XE coupe and convertibles kicking around. Look funny.

Yeah I've seen some of them, not a fan.

And that should have read design cue's from the Grenada, not lines of people..lol

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Yeah I've seen some of them, not a fan.

And that should have read design cue's from the Grenada, not lines of people..lol

And I believe it should read Granada.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by GTP534

And I believe it should read Granada.

Hey, it was half 12 in the morning your time, lighten up will ya...

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by GTP534

And I believe it should read Granada.

Nom nom nom

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Nom nom nom

image

Dipped in Fanta..

[lra]

I've read this thread a few times, and still can't understand how Holdens and biscuits are related.
Smart Rs replies welcome !

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

G'day , Holden Monaro hung on til 2006 or so apparently which surprised me a little when I read that . The last two door Falcon was way back in 1978 with the lovely XC . Anybody know why Ford cut ties with hardtop/coupe's at the time ? Weren't they popular or something despite the 1977 Bathurst win and the gorgeous Cobra and such ? Just wondering if Ford ever disclosed why.

Prior to the V2 Monaro, which was released in late 2001 was the first Monaro since its demise in 1976. There were none built between those 2 dates. The V2 lasted until 2006 & GM-H have built none since.

Coupes have always had limited sales success in Australia, for whatever reason.

The XM/XP Hardtop wasn't what you would call a huge sales success when new. So much so that Ford Aust. didn't even bother to produce an XR-XY version, even though US tooling would've been accessible & relatively inexpensive for them. They then went ahead with the XA hardtop based on the Monaro's sales.

The original HK Monaro sold very well at first, but dropped off quite a bit with the HT/HG series. The HQ saw sales go well initially but by 1974/75 it was dead in the water. The HX LE was a method of getting rid of excess coupe panels.

The XA sold quite well, but XB & then XC sales fell off the proverbial cliff. The Cobra was its swansong, for the same reason as the LE.

The Valiant Charger was much the same. It sold well from its 1971 release, but by 1975/76 was all over. It was discontinued in Aug 1978, towards the end of the CL series. The larger Valiant Hardtop never sold well by comparison with the Charger.

It will be interesting to see how Mustangs sales perform over the longer term.

Dr Terry