Gallery: With General Motors scrapping Holden, we look back at the best cars it built...

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Gallery: With General Motors scrapping Holden, we look back at the best cars it built...

GM will shut the brand down after 165 years - here are some of its most memorable models

Published: February 19, 2020 11:03 Imran Malik, Assistant Editor

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Auto Holden — Holden Ute (Maloo): This is probably the most memorable, in fact you can't mention Holden without talking about the Australian ute. The idea is attributed to Ford, but Holden's version is the one we covet most due to the availability of a high-performance HSV Maloo version. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Ute (Maloo): They were basic utility vehicles like the El Camino but unlike the Chevy, which was retired in 1987, Holden kept building the ute long into the 2010s. It was available with a range of engines - the best were were powered by Chevy V8s. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Monaro: The Monado name was first used in 1968 as a reference to the Monaro region in New South Wales. The third-generation model (built from 2001 to 2006) gave US car enthusiasts a taste of Australia's excellent car building talents. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Monaro: In the US it was sold as the Pontiac GTO, reviving another legendary nameplate. The latter versions packed an LS2 V8 producing around 400 horsepower. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Caprice (Statesman): This was a full-size, rear-wheel-drive saloon that was only ever brought to the US briefly as the Chevy Caprice. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Caprice (Statesman): It was positioned towards government officials and business people but private owners could buy them in Australia. Most were sold with one of several V6 engines but you could also get a 6.0-litre V8 or a more powerful LS series V8 on the HSV version called the Grange. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Commodore (VE): It was the most well-known Australian car outside of Australia and the final version wasn't cheap for GM to develop... Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Commodore (VE): The fourth-generation car was launched in 2006 and, because it was the first Commodore to ever be developed in Australia rather than using an existing Opel chassis, it cost GM around $1 billion. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Commodore (VE): The GM Zeta platform was used on the saloon, wagon, and ute body styles and even made a brief stint in the US as the Pontiac G8. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Commodore (VF): It replaced the VE in 2013 and was also known as the final generation (as the fifth-generation was just a rebadged Buick Regal). This version of the Commodore was also offered in the US as the Chevrolet SS. Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — Holden Commodore (VF): It will always be remembered as the final Holden to ever roll off the assembly line in Australia... Image Credit: Holden

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Auto Holden — HSV Models: Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) was the brand's performance tuning division and it created some awesome cars under the nameplates ClubSport (based on the Commodore), Coupe (based on the Monaro), Grange (based on the Statesman and Caprice), Maloo (based on the Ute), Senator (based on the Berlina and Calais), and the GTS (based on the Commodore). HSV used every great GM engine including the LS7 from the Corvette Z06 and the LSA from the Camaro ZL1. The final HSV model was the GTSR W1. It was produced in a limited run of just 275 units and packed a 635 hp LS9 from the Corvette ZR1. Image Credit: Holden

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