Covering part motoring history and part social history, Wright weaves a fascinating story as he delves into the background behind Australia’s first car — the iconic FJ Holden. Travelling back in time to Hitler’s Third Reich, the author looks at the Opel Kapitan, the model that inspired an American company to produce a car tailor-made for Australia’s rough and ready conditions. From that starting point, the book looks at the Australian car-owning boom of the ’50s and how Holden staked its claim as an Aussie icon. Although Special sticks mainly to the period from 1920 to 1964, there is space for a look at Holden’s modern day rendition of the iconic FJ — the EFIJY show car. A very enjoyable read, and even avid Holden enthusiasts should find some new facts amongst this book’s pages.

Special: The Untold History of Australia’s Holden by John M Wright
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by Allan Walton