Reviewed by Richard Tutin
It’s amazing how words and phrases are handed down as part of the folklore of various events over the years. Such is the exclamation “She’s a Beauty!” said to be uttered by Prime Minister Ben Chifley at the launch of the first Holden car in 1948.
It’s not the first time that Don Loffler’s book of the same title has seen the light of day. It was originally published in 1998 during the fiftieth anniversary year of the launch of what has become loved and cherished as Australia’s car. Since then, it has been revised a couple of times in 2006 and 2009 as new material has come to hand.
So why do it again. Loffler obviously feels that more needs to be said about the story of how at the end of the Great Depression in 1934 the desire arose for Australian industry to produce its own homegrown vehicle specifically built with the local conditions in mind. This time around it will be published in two volumes with this first one covering the story from 1934 to 1948. Volume Two will continue the yarn from 1949 to 1953 and beyond.
In this first volume Loffler brings together the material originally published under the She’s a Beauty! title with material from its sequel Still Holden Together. As well as written narrative, the book contains a lot of photos of that period. It’s worth considering, after an initial read of the book, to go back and carefully look at the photos. As well as being an integral part of the Holden story they also contain a lot of social history about life in Australia, especially in South Australia and Victoria, at that time. As they say often a picture says more words than a written narrative.
The way in which the original Holden came together from conception to finished vehicle is an interesting one. While it was conceived of and developed as a car for Australian conditions, the backing of American car giant General Motors was needed to bank roll the whole project along with some government assistance at the Federal level.
Loffler’s deft hand as a historian weaves the disparate strands of the story into a cohesive whole that is easy to read. The photos are clear, sharp and of a decent size making good accompaniments to the chapters.
Looking at the photos of the original Holdens will no doubt bring back memories to many of the time when the family bought one or in later years when young people, usually young men, spent time and money doing up old cars to be used when they acquired their driver’s licence.
The book reminds us of the many people who worked hard behind the scenes to make the first Holdens the success they eventually became. At the time of the launch just after the end of World War II, the Holden was also a positive hope story to a population recovering from the deprivations of both the Great Depression and the war that followed it.
Revising his original work Loffler shows not just his love for the marque but also his appreciation of all those who worked hard to bring it to fruition.
Don Loffler gained an Arts Degree and two Education diplomas from the University of Adelaide. He is a retired teacher who enjoys the process of writing books on his passion of the early Holden cars and the history behind them.
She’s a Beauty! The Story of the First Holden (New Edition Volume One 1934-1948)
by Don Loffler
(2023)
Wakefield Press
ISBN 978 174305 947 0
$59.99; 304pp