Did I get this right? Is the NZ and Australian car market is closed to imports?

No.

For the local manufacturers the imports are the problem.

For the consumers, some of them are the salvation.

GM and Ford have been foisting old, mostly US, technology on us for most of their existence.

Now is a different story. They have been posting losses for so long that the parent Companies in the US are now apparently putting the foot down.

Thank the Lord for Toyota and Nissan, and now, all of the other Asians.

They have forced Ford and GM to produce and market better and more appropriate vehicles, and I'd have to say that now the locally produced models from both of those makers are some of the world's best cars, in terms of comfort, style, performance and value.

Then there is the 'grey import' sector. Even some of the 15year-old stuff from Japan

has been significantly better than the locals, until just now.

Cheers,

Stu.

The picture above reminds me of the Nova's. When reading the article, another photo invokes memories of '68 Camaro's. Interesting post.

The thing in the picture is called a Monaro. It was Holden's first foray into the 'sportsprestige' market. The vintage? Oh, '68 or '70. It was offered with a 'big' 253 V8.

Well' it was bigger than a 173 cu in straight 6. At about this time Holdens (GM) offered 161, 173, 186 193, and 202 cu in versions of the same old design, all carbed, some, twin. The only thing I can commend them on is that, as Hendrik has observed, they were tough. We were a country of mostly unmade roads, and those that were were washboard and potholed, which we found that we needed to attack at 60mph.

Anyone interested can got to; www.carpoint.com.au to see what's on offer here now.

I'd have to say that we've eventually started to get it right. Our locals are pretty good now, on the whole. Some models are exported all over the world. We even get to surprise the 'Poms' ( British)with our cheap performance. Personally, I'd have a local Holden or Ford over the 'prestige' Europeans any day ( What the hell; BMW and Benz.) now. Stronger, quicker, better looking, cheaper, AND, about the same fuel usage.

Cheers, Guys,

Stu.

Interesting - when I spent some time in Japan (late '60's) most of the taxicabs were fancier than any of the locally-available cars. They were Cedrics - I believe an English Ford product. Possibly from Oz, though. Ever hear of them? Saw lots of them in Thailand, too.

EM,

Cedric was the name carried by a Nissan product. Yes, they were fancy. At that time the Japanese industry had the idea that the most impressive move was to produce a vehicle which was fully 'optioned'. The Cedric used a big 4 cyl, of around 2.5l as I recall, and was as big of body as they dared to make. Hence the use as taxis. Nissan vehicles grew out of a license agreement with the BMC ( British - Austin, Morris, Wolseley, MG, Riley,et al) group, and at about the time you speak of was most evident in the drivetrain design. Extremely reliable. Unashamedly after the US market. They would have been sold there, although not in great numbers.

Toyota produced the Crown in direct competitiion to this. I had one of these, although some years later, and it was indeed the lap of luxury for the 'working man'. We're talking about a time when cars here were just starting to carry as standard heater/demisters, and the Crown ran to auto, self-seeking radio, (with rear-seat operation as well) plush seating, tinted glass, 'boulevarde ride', (these cars were after the American market) and handled like a bucket of blancmange, rather like my Bel Air, Laurentian, and Galaxy. That said, we did consider it a good car. It was reliable and very comfortable and had room for all the family stuff one has to cart around. This was in a time in the auto industry when a bog-standard Bel Air (Stateside) was considered a prestige car here. (??????)

Cheers,

Stu.

I used to have a 67 Chevelle. The front of the front fenders and the roof line look to be the same. Chevy went to a completely new body for the 68 Chevelle. Timing would have been perfect for sending the tooling to Australia.

Body styles highly reminiscent of the Chevy Deluxe, Nova, El Camino, and Monte Carlo. Easy to see the heritage there. Maybe in 40 years...

The Oz also exported to South Africa. I had a 1965-67 Holden. It looked very much ther same as the photo as far as I can remember.

Maybe not the best car but it could take some hammering on dirt roads although the suspension was a bit soft or the road clearance was not enough.

One day 5 of us (lock forward size) were traveling along an irrigation channel. At every dip in the road (storm water crossing) the 4 passengers had to get out to allow the car to get through the dip and board again at the other side.

I think a lot of Holden's are still in use (As a chicken perch next to the dwelling of the last owner).