by Paul Rogerson Melbourne hosted the 2024 Motors and Masterpieces show from 22 – 24 November at the Melbourne Showgrounds. There were more than 150 classic cars on display ranging from cars dating from the early part of the 20th century to the current day. AMHF had a stand at the show selling new and […]
1961 EK Holden: Never meant to be
Retro Stories by David Burrell Released on 2nd May, 1961, the EK Holden was never planned by GMH. Previously secret GMH documents reveal that it was originally intended for the 1960 FB to run with no styling changes until it was superseded by the 1962 EJ in mid-’62. To keep potential buyers interested, a mid-series […]
1959 “Tank” Fairlane
Retro Stories by David Burrell I’m an American car fan and the Australia built 1959-62 Fairlane has always been a favourite. I like its shape and lines, so much so that in January 1973 I almost bought one—a Custom 300—as my first car. In those days I was a cash poor first year university student […]
1974 Pontiac GTO: Last of the Breed
Retro Stories by David Burrell The Pontiac GTO is a revered automotive icon. And yet, only a decade after its release it was on life support. Indeed, the ‘74 GTO was the last US-built Pontiac to carry the storied name and the first and only hatchback. When the GTO stormed onto the US market in […]
Valiant Town and Country: Right idea. Wrong name
Retro Stories by David Burrell The passenger car-based ute was invented in Australia. First shaped by Ford designer, the late Lew Bandt, and released in July 1934, it has been one of the most potent symbols of our car industry’s can-do inventiveness, and has been copied worldwide. Although Ford created the ute, it was Holden’s […]
BIRTLES AND THE BEAN UPDATE
14 October 2024 Hello everyone – I hope this newsletter finds you all well! It has been quite a while but this is just a brief newsletter to keep you up to speed as to where we are and how we’re going – I’m working from an iPad so if you’d excuse this newsletter not […]
Dunedoo’s Lost Race Tracks
On Saturday 12th October, AMHF volunteer Rod Chivas attended the inaugural Dunedoo Historical Society and Museum Open Day, which was dedicated to Motor Sport activities in the local area. On arrival, parking spaces in the main street were hard to find, with a collection of classic cars from near and far on display. What a […]
So who did design the first Holden?
Retro Stories by David Burrell Who styled the 48-215 Holden? We should all know the answer. But somehow it has been glossed over, ignored even, for many years. If you look to Holden’s corporate history for the answer you will find very little. Popular wisdom puts General Motors (GM) styling supremo Harley Earl in the […]
A chat with Peter Davis
by Peter Robinson Peter Davis, the American designer who helped create one of the most controversially styled cars of the past 50 years, was guest speaker at the AMHF earlier in the year. Briefly, Peter’s career as a car designer began at Opel in 1983, before a move to Fiat in 1989. Later he rejoined […]
