Motor Australia – September 2019

22 september 2019 whichcar.com.au/motor

SEPTEMBER

19

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WinnerBenFlynnwillberegaledbyShaneJacobsen’sRevHeadwhileenjoying$200a

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DRIVINGESCAPISM

I HADTOOMUCHsocialmediarecently.Visitedtoomany

newswebsites,watchedtoomuchtelevision.Phonewas

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annualleave,grabbedthekeystomySubaruBRZandvamoosed.

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Lotsofdrivingis mightyeffectiveatquietingthecognitivetinnitus.

BenFlynn,viaemail

09

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anda 12-monthMOTOR

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PACK

BRAND STAND

I disagree with last month’s Editorial,

which basically expressed why it was a

good thing the Holden Special Vehicles

brand is still around.

I’m an old Holden and HSV fan with

very fond memories in particular of the

2000s era. But, to me, this is in the past

now – it’s time to shut the book.

Holden itself should be retired and

renamed General Motors, Chevrolet

or whatever else. I’m sure you can

guess my thoughts on the Commodore

nameplate and HSV? Another brand that

should be consigned to history; I think

Walkinshaw Automotive Group should

rename themselves Chevrolet Australia

or some such.

Why? It’s simple – Holden stood for

locally developed and built cars for local

conditions. HSV took these cars and

cranked them to 11 to suit local tastes,

refined at places like Mount Panorama.

Holden does not do this anymore, and

therefore, HSV cannot do what its thing

was, either.

The short of it is, to my mind, we used

to make cars and we don’t anymore.

That doesn’t mean the story is over, but

let’s definitively conclude the chapter

and focus on the next one, whatever

that ends up being.

Michael Balague, via email

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