Don Loffler’s latest tribute to the first Holdens follows on from his successful books She’s a Beauty, Still Holden Together and The FJ Holden. Here Loffler brings together photographs that have surfaced after the popularity of his earlier books. These images of the 48-215 ‘FX’ and subsequent FJ Holden (and the tales that go with them) capture the optimism of the post-war era, when ordinary Australians were finally able to buy a new car—one suited to harsh local conditions. It is hard today to grasp the impact that one car could have had on this country, but this is what the author achieves. The unusual event of being able to buy a new car and the freedom it gave the motoring public is the main reason Loffler has so many photographs and entertaining anecdotes from owners and former Holden employees to share with us. From the first production car and the lavish receptions given to launch it around the country, this book catalogues the rising ubiquity of Holdens in the 1950s. There’s a ready market for this book as just about everyone knows someone who had one (or more) of these Holdens. Top marks to Loffler for capturing this living history before many of these images and recollections were lost forever.

Drew Egginton is the purchasing manager at motoring specialists the Pitstop Bookshop and a lifelong car enthusiast

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker

Tags: don loffler