GM Holden Proving Ground, Lang Lang

[@OliverMoore1973]

I love the announcers from this era... terribly well spoken... 🧐

[@alanriley9754]

My father tested the Holdens there circa 1960 / 1961.
Thanks for the video.

[@tripsadelica]

Thank God that even though Holden is no more the proving ground has been saved. It has been sold to the Vietnamese car maker "Vinfast" and that company has ties to GM. In essence the proving ground will still be used by GM and Vinfast in developing new models.
The sad thing is that no Holden will ever grace the proving ground again. Having visited the proving ground myself a number of times I can tell you that really upsets me. Our government let out car industry fade out far too readily and it is a crying shame.

[@tcpnetworks]

Holden died the last day the V-Series rolled out of the Elizabeth factory.

[@davidewhite69]

no, our government poured half a billion dollars into GMH only for them to hand it straight to GM USA. that and ridiculous Aussie wages and union greed killed the Aussie car manufacturing

[@David-lr2vi]

@@davidewhite69 Holden last turned a profit when Peter Hanenberger was in charge. He was also the last guy in charge who would tell GM Detroit to go jump. Seems to be a massive coincidence that as soon as GM put their lackeys in charge Holden went from being profitable to “loss making”.
I’m sure there was plenty of transfer pricing going at the behest of GM Detroit to make sure Holden wouldn’t turn a profit. Can’t keep milking the Australian government for subsidies if your profitable can you?

[@christineg781]

Thank goodness we can see our now long lost True Blue Aussie Icons in action mm so wished Holden's still built cars in Australia ... so much more reliable than those overseas shitboxes ...

[@chrispbacon3042]

Which so called shitboxes are you referring to?

[@maxl3189]

You can say that about most newer cars, but there are plenty of reliable older cars that outshine any does or holden

[@alanwall961]

Definitely agree with that

[@alanwall961]

Definitely agree with that

[@billmago7991]

The type of roads they're on is typical of roads in western Sydney in the 70s even

[@leonotarianni7733]

I love the clean no frills styling of the FE.
Personally I think it looks better than the more popular FC, which to me looks a bit overdone in Special form

[@neilmarriott6031]

EX HOLDEN TEST DRIVER Neil Marriott Having travelled over 1 million test kilometres from 2001 to 2013 this was my absolute best job. Any Holden built by HOLDEN LIMITED was a great reliable investment

[@jasoncarpp7742]

The Holden FE and FC look like our American Chevrolet cars of 1949-54. If only our American Chevys were tested like this. While they may not encounter the same road conditions that Australian cars might encounter, there are still roads here in the USA that have potholes, bumps, imperfections that would shake a car to pieces, along with anything that's not properly fastened down.

[@sutherlandA1]

The design was based on a 55 chevy although the back resembles more a 54, despite being designed here they still had to get approved by detroit

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@sutherlandA1 That's bullshit! Why would Holden Australia have to get approval from GM of Detroit, 1/2 way around the world?

[@tripsadelica]

@@jasoncarpp7742 Well, GM was the owner of the Holden brand and all designs had to be okayed by Detroit. There were a couple of times when Aussie designs were vetoed and an American design was substituted. The most famous case being the 1963 "EH" Holden where the Aussie design was substituted with one that tied in with the Chevy of that time period. Having seen the mooted design of the Aussie version I would say that GM Detroit made the right decision because the Aussie design was truly ugly.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@tripsadelica Since I'm not from Australia, I don't have the pleasure (or displeasure) of encountering these cars myself. That being said, I've seen pics of the EJ and EH Holden cars. I find the EH has a lovely tail end look, but a hideous front end look. For the EJ, it's the other way around. I find the front end attractive, but the rear end was hideous. What I like about the Australian design is they're generally more durable than what's expected for cars sold here in the USA.

[@chrispbacon3042]

@@jasoncarpp7742 Wow what an uninformed comment this is.

[@alanwall961]

Love it

[@LouKodge]

Im looking for info on the route early model prototypes holden took through the suburbs and dandenong ranges please.

[@steveskrobot9496]

.5 Million pounds in 68' is a shitload of money for that test site!

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

You watch them beating the crap out of them around there and you think why, then you realise the real world of Australia back then was probably worse and people still didn't understand cars that well to realise their driving style was a big part of the problem, remember most people hadn't had motor cars up until now and their parents still thought horses were okay

[@jasoncarpp7742]

If only our American cars were built and tested like this. Even though our roads have improved since the 1950s, there are still places where bumps, potholes, imperfections that could shake a car to pieces, and anything inside the car, if it's not put together properly and tested thoroughly.

[@tripsadelica]

Jason...many US, European and Latin American GM vehicles are sent to Lang Lang proving ground for durability testing but some cars do not complete the full course because they will never encounter the sorts of conditions that Australian cars might have to face in their working life.
Sadly Holden will stop manufacturing cars in Australia next year. This decision ends nearly a hundred years of vehicle manufacturing in this country. So sad. And the person who made this decision is the female CEO of GM in Detroit. Needless to say she is not a favourite person in Australia. Fortunately the design and engineering departments will continue in Australia (as well as the sales division selling imported GM cars) and Lang Lang will continue to be used by GM and other manufacturers to test their cars.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I know. That's sad, that Holden is no longer producing cars in Australia. I'm not against female executives of a car corporation, but what the hell does she know about cars and how they work? They're not on the tracks testing the cars, making sure components of the cars, trucks, utes, and other vehicles can withstand Australia's outback roads.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Even if our American vehicles don't encounter the same conditions Australian built cars do, I'd want my car, truck, ute, etc. to be tested and built in a way that ensures that they can withstand anything we use our vehicles for.

[@myopinion138]

Jason stop with discrimination mate , Ladies are quite clever here in Australia!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Discrimination?! What are you talking about?!