Rapid expansion of demand for motor vehicles after the First World War was, in part, a result of the recognition of the flexibility of road transport compared to rail, and as better roads were constructed and vehicle reliability improved, more and more people were attracted to purchase a car. Having established the demand, it became necessary to assist people financially to purchase motor cars and there is no doubt that the availability of hire purchase facilities as a marketing support was a major factor in 'putting the nation on wheels'.

The Second World War, with the curtailment of imports, forced the transport industry to maintain its fleets by local part production or adaption and, together with essential defence demands, led to the development of expanded engineering capacity. Vehicle manufacturers were mobilised to produce a variety of defence needs, ranging from sea mines, landing craft, aircraft auxiliary fuel tanks, and reconditioned aero engines, to armoured fighting vehicles. Components were manufactured for Gypsy Moth aero engines, to Beaufort and Beaufighter aircraft and a variety of guns from the 6 pounder and 2 pounder anti tank guns and 20 mm anti aircraft gun to 25 pound howitzers, all apart from the many thousands of army trucks of all kinds produced by several companies. These defence requirements not only made an impact upon the motor car manufacturer but, importantly, involved the whole supplier industry and, through the necessity of wartime, exposed people to the production of components normally imported, and in many cases established skills quite foreign to the company prior to the commencement of hostilities.

Due to the shortage of petrol in the country during the 1939-45 war, civilian consumption of fuel was strictly rationed and only sufficient was provided for official duties. As a means of maintaining some of the more urgent transport links, gas producer units were developed to provide combustible gas by drawing air over hot wood coke under controlled conditions. Trucks, buses and cars were equipped with Australian designed and built gas producer units and a significant part of the national fleet of vehicles maintained schedules at great savings in conventional fuel.

Post war, the Australian Government saw opportunities for utilising the skills developed during the hostilities, which would at the same time provide employment to returning servicemen and new immigrants by encouraging vehicle manufacture. Motor companies were invited to submit plans for manufacture in Australia at a high level of local content (90 per cent) in return for tariff and quota protection.

General Motors Holden made a proposal which was accepted and the first 'Australian' Holden was manufactured in 1948. The volume projections for the G.M.H. Holden were such as to permit the first use of mass production techniques in Australia. Engine manufacture was based on dedicated continuous production lines and the foundry, chassis plant, stamping plant and assembly plants were technically advanced in selection of processes appropriate to the cost balance between mechanisation and manpower (Fig. 19).

19 General Motors Holden final assembly line for FJ Holden cars (photo courtesy Holden's Motor Company)

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering