Joel Wakely has worked with and raced with Holden cars almost his entire life, owning several significant and some very rare models. He knows Holdens like he knows the back of his hand, and he knows many other passionate Holden lovers like himself. Following his success with his book Legends of the 48-215 – an in-depth racing history of very first Holden model – and to mark the manufacture in Australia of the very last Holdens in 2017, he has gathered together dozens of fascinating stories about many of the models Holden have produced since 1948. Joel tells the whole story of Holden, from the saddlery set up by J. A. Holden in the 1850s, to Henry Holden’s car body-building of the 1910s, the sale of the company to General Motors, the determination to produce the all-Australian car, and the highlights of 69 years of manufacturing all-Australian vehicles. With contributions from dozens of Holden enthusiasts about their myriad cars plus hundreds of photographs, many never seen in print before, this is a Holden book like no other, a book from the heart that goes deep into the passion that Holden engenders.
Joel Wakely left the family concern in 1958 to start his first business venture in the automotive industry: a new BP service station. It was here he got involved in a Holden racing team. After working for Bob Jane-T Mart for 7 years he started a 30-year career in the car rental industry with Avis Rent-a-Car Australia and later Dollar Rent-a-Car. After a short retirement, Joel’s passion for cars led him to start another new business: Avant-Garde Detailing, specialising in the restoration and detailing of prestige and unique vehicles. Now in his second retirement, Joel has turned to writing, beginning with Legends of the 48-215, a book centred on his personal involvement with many drivers of this early model and their unique cars
Introduction                                                                                                                               Â
Chapter 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Beginnings and the 48-215Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Chapter 2                              The Classic Era Begins                                                          Â
Chapter 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Model FJ (1953-1956)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Chapter 4                              Old Holdens in Competition                                               Â
Chapter 5                              Series FE–FC–FB                                                                     Â
Chapter 6                              The Holden Hobby Person                                                  Â
Chapter 7                              Series EK–EJ–EH                                                                      Â
Chapter 8                              Series HD–HR–HK                                                                   Â
Chapter 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Torana 1969-1980 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Chapter 10                            Tribute to Peter Brock                                                          Â
Chapter 11                            Series HK-HT–HG–HQ–HJ–HX–HZ                                    Â
Chapter 12                            Holden Dealer Team, Holden Special Vehicles            Â
Chapter 13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Holden Commodore 1978-2017 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Chapter 14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Holden Monaro 2001-2004 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Chapter 15                            Special Concept Models                                                      Â
Chapter 16                            GM Celebrates its 100th Anniversary: 1908–2008       Â
Chapter 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Holden Beyond 2000 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
