The Passion for Holden

To mark the manufacture of the very last Australian Holdens in 2017, Joel Wakely gathered together dozens of fascinating stories about many of the models Holden have produced since 1948. Joel tells the whole story of Holden, from the saddlery set up by J. A. Holden in the 1850s, to Henry Holdens car body-building of the 1910s, the sale of the company to General Motors, the determination to produce the all-Australian car, the on-track successes, and the highlights of 69 years of manufacturing all-Australian vehicles.

With contributions from dozens of Holden enthusiasts about their myriad cars plus hundreds of photographs, many never seen in print before, this is a Holden book like no other, a book from the heart that goes deep into the passion that Holden engenders.

Book Features:

Over 16,000 copies sold of the hardback edition.

Interest in Australian car manufacturing is unabated.

Author is Holden enthusiast with over 60 years association with the marque.

Includes dozens of stories about individual cars.

About the Author

Joel Wakely has worked with and raced with Holden cars almost his entire life, owning several significant and some very rare models. He knows Holdens like he knows the back of his hand, and he knows many other passionate Holden lovers like himself. In 1958 Joel started his first business venture: a new BP service station. It was here he got involved in a Holden racing team. After working for Bob Jane-T Mart for 7 years he started a 30-year career in the car rental industry with Avis Rent-a-Car Australia and later Dollar Rent-a-Car.

After a short retirement, Joel’s passion for cars led him to start another new business: Avant-Garde Detailing, specialising in the restoration and detailing of prestige and unique vehicles. Passion for Holden is his second of four books.