Holden 48-215 (FX / FJ) History

The Holden 48-215 — later nicknamed the FX — was unveiled by Prime Minister Ben Chifley at Fishermans Bend on 29 November 1948 as 'Australia's Own Car.' It was the first mass-produced car wholly manufactured in Australia, and 120,402 were built between 1948 and 1953. The all-steel unibody design with a 2.15-litre six-cylinder engine was simple, rugged, and suited to Australian roads of the era.

The FX was followed by the facelifted FJ series in 1953, which became one of the most iconic symbols of 1950s Australian motoring and ran until 1956. By 1958 the Holden had captured more than 40 per cent of total car sales in Australia — a dominance that would define the brand for decades.