Richard Ferlazzo - Holden Chief Designer | SHANNONS DESIGN TO DRIVEWAY | Ep 7
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- Опубліковано 25 лис 2022
- “More Men have walked on the Moon than held the role of Holden Design Director.”
Richard Ferlazzo is one of those few men.
As a schoolboy, Richard could never choose between drawing Italian sports cars or Aussie muscle cars, so he filled the pages of his school books with drawings of Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari classics and his versions of Monaro, Falcon and Charger coupes.
As Director of Design at Holden, Richard Ferlazzo lost none of his early schoolboy passion for designing cars. He joined the Holden design studio working on the VN Commodore and then for over 30 years, helped shape designs for Commodores, Statesmans and many smaller Holden cars. Who will ever forget Richard’s tribute to the FJ Holden - his Efijy concept car, awarded globally on the world design stage.
In this episode, Richard explains how, following the export success of Holden’s VT platform, Detroit bosses finally granted Holden a blank canvas to build the first ever all-Australian designed and built Commodore - Holden’s Billion Dollar Baby, the VE Commodore. In fact, it was Holden’s first all new model since the HQ.
Richard was the last man ever to lead Holden design and was literally the last guy to switch off the lights on GM’s Australian Design Studio, ending nearly 100 years of local design history.
Richard’s Sportwagon (designed with fellow designer Tony Stolfo) transformed how Australian families could re-imagine the modern station wagon in a world dominated by SUVs and he re-draws his designs for our cameras.
Ferlazzo firmly says the Design team kept the best to last - the VF Commodore! In a fitting twist of fate, Richard resketches the VF SS-V and the last ever Holden logo which he also designed, now a permanent reminder of what we once had and one of Richard’s proudest designs.
“Shannons are proud to commission this landmark series to celebrate the rich design heritage of the cars we all know and love. While Shannons plays a key role as Australia’s leading insurer for motoring enthusiasts, we also believe it is very important to preserve our automotive history for future generations” said Mark Behr, Executive Manager, Marketing for Shannons. - Авто та транспорт
I truly believe that most people in this country do not realise what we lost when Australian car manufacturing ended. What a wonderful series Shannon's, it should be a must watch for all, especially our incompetent politicians. Those times will never be repeated.
couldnt agree more tim but the politician part ? they are not interested in anything true australians are passionate about
exactly
Us Petrolheads sure do; have been an Oz Falcon man for the last 25ish years; had an XD ex highway patrol, BA, BF2 XR8 manual, an F6 Tornado & now a FG MK2 XR6 NA; i wont ever sell it, slowly fixing things. Hoping to get a wreck or two to keep parts for it.
What Australia had, will never ever happen again; This country is dieing slowly. The best era from the 1990's until 2016-ish of Aussie made cars, from muscle to family cruiser.
Vale Ford Oz & Holden
I don't know how to describe the feelings this series brings out. I'm proud we produced these special cars in this country and sad it's just another thing we used to do. I'm still bloody angry our politicians took this from us. I did an apprenticeship with Holden and thought they'd be here for ever.. Have held onto my VE SSV ute for my 5 yo boy so at least he'll get to own one of our cars.
Lima agreement, lowering tarriffs, expensive labour force.......not conducive to a healthy manufacturing sector.
I had Kingswoods, Early Commodores, an XE Falcon. I'm still very angry now.
I truly hate politicians.
I worked with Richard and Mike Simcoe on the VS, VT, VX and early VY models and Tony Stolfo on the VU utility incl bringing out the SS as a full time model. Fun times and great to have this rich automotive history recorded for all time.
What a wonderful series. We had something truly special with the Australian car industry. Sad it no longer exists.
I think Australia punched well above its weight in car design and manufacturing against the rest of the world.
We didn’t realise what we had.
Now sadly it’s lost.
This has been a brilliant series.
Thrown away by short sighted narrow minded politicians!
Need another series brilliant show
I can feel the proud product design. I own a series2 vt ss in black panther mica. Bought it new in 2000. And just recently purchased a vz r8 clubsport. Also in black panther. The ss has been modified. The clubsport is un modified. I'm a proud Holden man and loving the fact of I own the first and the last of that Series.
Congratulations on the VF, Richard. Just wonderful design.
Agree. Richard Ferlazzo also helped with earlier models which did include the VT-VZ gen commodores including the reborn Monaro coupe and VE Commodore. Also long wheelbase versions.
I'm in awe of Richard Ferlazzo. Great designer. The VE Commodore was the greatest of his achievements in my mind. I still have the "billion dollar Baby" DVD at home from when the VE Commodore was released. The amount of work that went into that was truly phenomenal. I still remember tv commercial. Even the "big red" airship that flew around Australia promoting the VE Commodore. Still remember it flying over the central West NSW town of Forbes where I live. Flew around here for a whole day for memory. I still think they're a great looking car. Also the VT to VZ generation of commodores that Richard Ferlazzo had a hand in, they still look good now. The reborn Monaro coupe is the same. Still looks great and is a highly sought after vehicle for the avid enthusiast. I have a diecast model of the reborn Monaro coupe. A CV8R in turbine grey. They were a limited edition vehicle at the time from what I understand. Available in only two colours I think. Where would cars like that be if it wasn't for Richard Ferlazzo. He and many others that worked for Holden are the reason why I like these particular cars. Oh and let's not forget the efijy concept car. Fully functional and drivable concept car with a lovely exhaust note. Thankyou Richard Ferlazzo for bringing these wonderful cars to life. These particular cars mentioned wouldn't have been possible without your contribution. Cheers for the memories. You're a bloody legend and a passionate one at that. 👍👏🍺❤️🙂
AWSOME series, If possible having Mike Simcoe be feature for this series? Maybe future series of engineers that help build n test these cars?
What a talent and a big thanks to Shannons for an excellent series covering the history of car design in Australia. Well done !!!!
This was the best series i have watched about our Aussie car industry, please make more
Richard is a true gentleman, talented and very liked around Holden HQ191. Would always smile and say hi if you passed him by at HQ191..
He certainly comes across that way. Reminds me of a dude I work with:- makes my workday a happy place 😃
Agree. Richard was a great designer and amazing person generally. He also loved a good giggle.
RIP Holden. Thanks Richard, for making the Commodore wagon I drive such a pleasure. Wish that you could design another, for when its worn out!
Just wish the split nostril grille from VR - VX stayed on the later models. Still remember seeing the VR front end for the first time as a 9 year old, loved the angry look it had. Parents ended up buying a wagon, had so many drawings of it that I had done.
As a VF wagon owner, it's a very practical large wagon. Vt-vz wagons I thought were too big and unrefined.
Feeling sad that this is the last in the series, being number 7 of 7.
All very enjoyable and informative.
This has been a great series. I am very proud of our automotive industry and the cars we designed and produced. Sad to see the end of an era.
Fantastic series and thanks Richard for your creativity and the wonderful insight. I’m a Ford guy but grew up with mates having EH & HR Holdens because there was always plenty of bolt on goodies to make them go and look faster which made me buy one. The early commodores were a backward step but grew into a great car with more Aussie flare. I wish I’d spent more time drawing cars than doing maths. 👍👍👍
Congratulations on a terrific series guys. What a talented group of designers you featured and some amazing stories. Well done!
I'm a FORD man, but this was amazing, Aussie enguity.
I think the Holden Manaro Coupe was a fantastic looking car for its time , and it was actually imported into the UK , l would've loved one at the time
Thank you for preserving the legacy of a once proud Australian car industry - an awesome series!👌
😅😅
Thanks Shannons, a great series.
What a great series!
Great series Shannons, very interesting indeed. Well Done.
The COUPE-60 is in my opinion the greatest concept Holden designed. It would have sold very well if put into production.
Malcolm from UK, best classic 40s designed concept car ever the Efigy, absolutely my favourite designed car ever. Every thing from the fastback to fenders to Mercury leadsled. Will always remain a dream pity!
The best cars on the planet HOLDEN and that's no bull there LIONS
I sometimes feel that way as well, it's definitely up there with world class engineering. I like how GMH used the best from both its German and American connections to build something that was world class and designed and made here for the tough Australian roads. I think of all the GM cars globally, the GMH ones on average look better too.
Agree with the comments on the VE design. It's part of why I love mine, it just looks fantastic!
Thanks for the memories
Brilliant, thank you. 👍
I love my Vz thanks Richard
I have a ve ssv Ute and I think it is just so good 15 years now
The coupe 60 such a pity it wasn’t possible
Such a great design and it just looked so good
We have lost so much now we have no car industry 😢😢😢
The vf was as good as anything out of Germany or Japan if not better and now it’s gone
WE WANT MORE!!
That VE-based Pontiac GTO mockup just looks killer. What a shame we never got that, the G8 ST (a.k.a. VE ute) or any of the other rear-drive, Holden-developed Pontiacs Bob Lutz was touting just before GM went bankrupt.
Holden is a beautiful car and fast
Love the history! I have a ve SS and they are just an awesome looking car. Tougher looking than the VF
i have always thought our designers had what it takes over some of the bigger car makers
I'd be interested to know what Warren Brown and John Wright have owned, given their intense interest in motoring.
Did he design the 84 Camira, cos I'd like a word..
Toyota Lexcen was a good lesson in branding. It failed not because of the car itself-it was the failure of the brand.
Instead of relying on China for our EV's (or anything for that matter), we should design and build our own. We have the talent, mining and commodities already here.
We need to increase tarriffs and give the sector legs again.
@Noel Gibson OUR BIG Industries could do so , but won't , because of EGO and Corporate Greed , gotta feed the bottom line and keep the investors happy !
problem with your idea as I see it, the first issue is labour costs would make the price of a new car prohibitive given the limited market Australia has. The second issue is energy costs (financial and pollution) in the making of the car and the government's myopic view to "Net Zero". Why build a car here when another country, usually "so-called" developing and without their population demanding "climate action" can do it at very little cost compared to Australia
@@trk1973 are you replying to Noel Gibson or me . Either way I think we both say the same , I expressed my opinion as to why it won't happen , we have become what Politics wanted .
VE, kept the best for last. Let down by its 6 cylinder powerplants.
The wheel arches of the VE played havoc with its aerodynamics. Form over function ?
Disappointed, nothing about the Holden Hurricane on any of the shows!
It simply ran out of ' puff '. 😞
Time for an Aussie EV this good 😎
I'm glad an Aussie was was doing these designs rather then coming from a US design office by someone who never heard of footballs, meat pies, kangaroos... and.....
Holden Cars
@Jeff Toll & Noeg the Zemerald Ghostie have you heard the Chev advert ?
@@robertmorris6529 Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet. Yep
@@noegthezemeraldghostie6287 Lucky they are FAMILY related ?
VE handbrake
The VE Commodore wagon looks like a 300c wagon from the side view even the tailgate design is the same ...
I mean yeah if you’re blind they look the same
Make another car brand here cmon
Flick those holden lights back on, take down the GM branding and make something
Hey mate why did Holden refuse to keep up with technology and run that dinosaur V6 engine.
That engine was the end of Holden.
I can't think of a worse engine.. perhaps a Camira engine...
Oh wait that was one of Holden's too
Our politicians wrecked our car industry. We should build our own electric cars from our own resources. 👍🦘🌏
Don’t forget the unions
wont sell