Sad Day For V8s

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:06 am

After much uncertainty GM in Detroit has announced the end of the road for Holden. After 68 years of making cars on Oz Holden will close by 2017. Ford is also closing in 2016. So no more Aussie Falcon or Holden V8s. The V8 Supercar race series will also end no doubt meaning the annual Bathurst race may be very different in future.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:50 pm

Sad news indeed.

Chris.

goodsy1968 · Post by **goodsy1968** » Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:37 am

Thats not good!!

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:18 am

Yes, only 1 in 8 Aussies buys an Australian made car these days. There are 66 models of different brands from all over the world on sale, Korean and Jap cars are king these days, unlike when I was growing up when everyone aspired to own a 6 cylinder or V8 Ford Falcon or Holden (Kingswodd then later Commodore models).

High labour rates, high Aussie dollar, small domestic market and limited export market, along with the falling demand for Aussie built cars, has convinced Ford and now GM to stop manufacturing cars here. Means only Toyota are left, and they are considering going too.

There was once 7 car manufacturers here. Leyland had a factory in Sydney which closed in 1975, then Chrysler in Adelaide closed down a few years after, followed by Nissan, Mitsubishi also in Adelaide in 2006, now Ford in Melbourne and Holden in Adelaide and Melbourne. Will impact around 50,000 jobs when car makers labour and component suppliers are added together.

ged · Post by **ged** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 6:00 pm

Sad news indeed!! I also grew up with Aussie cars.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:11 am

Sad days indeed. They built a solid vehicle.

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 2:58 am

Well it seems Holden fans worst nightmare is going to happen. According to GM the next (Holden) Commodore to be sold here will be built in China in 2017, will be a rebadged Buick, will have a four cylinder engine and will be front wheel drive.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:24 am

And everyone will be totally gobsmacked if it sells poorly......

RoverP6B · Post by **RoverP6B** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:18 pm

I guess that both Ford and Holden are just bowing to the buying trends of the consumer. If people were buying Ford and Holden 6 cylinder and V8 cars in large numbers, then I expect that they would be remaining.

That unfortunately is not the case.

Nothing lasts forever, and all good things eventually come to an end.
Ron.