The Italian connection in Australian industrial design

While the 1948 Holden is often claimed as Australia's first motorcar, in fact early experiments with 'horseless carriages' go back to the late 1800s. The first Holden was an Australian-Italian hybrid comprised of a locally-made body built around an imported 1914 Lancia chassis. By 1920, Holden was also making bodies for Italian Fiat 501 chassis, as well as a host of American and British chassis.