HISTORY OF THE HOLDEN LION

GKW · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:57 pm

holdens_9f1ca9ef-197f-49f6-ab5d-b373190c5d21.jpg

As an emblem, the Holden Lion relates to the time when coach builders engraved their company name or trademark on the door sill, or on a plate fixed to the instrument panel.

In the early 1920s Holden’s Motor Body Builders used a large brass plate embossed with a winged figure representing industry against a background of factory buildings.

In 1926 the company decided to downsize the brass plate and emulate the practice of Fisher Body in the USA, which attached a neat replica of its coach trademark to the lower part of the cowl.

Because the existing emblem was too detailed to be embossed on a small plate, a new design was commissioned to be based on the Egyptian-style ‘Wembley Lion’, symbol of London’s 1924-25 British Empire Exhibition. Fashion themes of the time, from clothes to furniture, films and songs, were influenced by Egyptian antiquity.

According to fable, the principle of the wheel was suggested to primitive man when observing a lion rolling a stone. Thus inspired, the pre-eminent Australian sculptor of the day, George Rayner Hoff, created the ‘lion and stone’ sculpture, which was replicated in a pressed metal plate that was fixed to all bodies built by Holden’s Motor Body Builders from 1928.

More than 75 years later the evolution of the lion andstone symbol can be traced through a series of badges proudly worn by a cavalcade of cars, some recognised by early GM model enthusiasts but most dear to the hearts of generations of Australianssince the 1948 advent of the FX or 48-125 Holden. (The chrome-winged surround on the FX/FJ grille badge was Cadillac inspired.)

The classical Egyptian lion design gave way in 1972 to a more modern interpretation of the symbol, which in turn was replaced in 1994 by the powerful Holden brand we are familiar with today

HoldenMan · **Joined:** Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:51 pm **Posts:** 309

Can't call us uneducated Holden drivers anymore.

There is a lot of grandeur and meaning involved in the lion badge. Shame it has to end.

coxi · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:14 pm

Your right we are not uneducated BUT what are they going to put it on in the future ?

COXI

Billygoat · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:20 pm

75 years and where giving it away.

Register

Login

HISTORY OF THE HOLDEN LION

Print view

Previous topic | Next topic

Who is online