History Month kicks off with car historian Don Loffler unveiling secrets of the first Holden

A Holden history expert is lifting the lid on some the secrets of the first of the iconic Aussie cars built in SA in 1948 - and why no one ever believed it would happen.

Why were old Holdens driving through Salisbury? And what does historian Don Loffler know about these Australian icons? Picture: Salisbury Council

A South Australian car historian has unveiled the secrets to Australia’s first car designed for Australia.

St Clair local and car historian Don Loffler hosted a talk on behind the ‘Secrets of the First Holden’ to kick off Salisbury Council’s History Month events on Monday.

Mr Loffler, 84, told The Advertiser the first Holdens made in 1948 were a secret project shrouded in mystery – so much so no Australian believed it would happen.

“A lot of people didn’t believe it was ever going to happen … they all just thought it was wishful thinking,” the Holden history expert said.

Secrets of the first Holden took locals through the journey to get the original Holden 48 to Australia - and the public to believe the dream was reality. Picture: Salisbury Council

Why were old Holdens driving through Salisbury? History Month kicked off in Salisbury with the History of the First Holden event hosted by author and historian Don Loffler. Picture: Salisbury Council

“Holden then got worried because the people who were going to be manufacturing all the parts of the car didn’t believe it was ever going to happen.

“They had to have secret previews of these experimental cars just to convince the manufacturers of the parts that it was really true.”

But the 1948 Holden was not just a dream, and each of the original 18,000 ordered had bodies created in Woodville before being sent to Melbourne for final construction.

“When Prime Minister Chifley unveiled the first cars they were all assembled in Melbourne … but the bodies were made here,” Mr Loffler said.

Mr Loffler said the Salisbury event had a “brilliant” turn out from the local northern suburbs community who were so strongly tied to the 1963 Elizabeth Holden plant that opened in 1963.

Members of the 48-FJ Holden Club polished some of their prized cars for locals to marvel at during Mr Loffler’s event. Picture: Salisbury Council

Members of the 48-FJ Holden Club polished some of their prized cars for locals to marvel at during Mr Loffler’s event. Picture: Salisbury Council

Members of the 48-FJ Holden Club polished some of their prized cars for locals to marvel at during Mr Loffler’s event. Picture: Salisbury Council

“They were a lovely audience to talk to, they were very responsive … I was completely bowled over,” he said.

History month will continue with further events in the council’s calendar including an exhibition on Salisbury’s transport history including the history of Australia’s first flight and Adelaide’s first airport all month long.

Professor Derek Abbott is set to give a talk on the secrets of the Somerton Man mystery and how forensic science helped unravel the mystery on May 8.

A telling of the story of an immigrant couple who made their honeymoon flight to Glasgow despite the challenges will take place on May 15.

For those looking to indulge in local lore and history of the cemetery in the heart of Salisbury can experience it after dark from May 23 to 30 and learn who lies beneath the soil.