Norman A Darwin: ‘Hartnett’s Car – Passion or Folly?’

When Laurence J Hartnett arrived at GM-H in March 1934 as Managing Director he gave little thought to making his own car. This rapidly changed as Holden’s fortunes improved to the point where GM-H, under Hartnett’s leadership, would begin planning an all- Australian car for a 1943 introduction. The war was a diversion until the end of 1944 when Hartnett directed his engineers back to designing and building a new vehicle, one that would carry the name Holden. Hartnett’s car – Passion or Folly explores Hartnett’s dream to produce an automobile he could rightly claim as his own. Sadly, for Hartnett, the Holden’s success happened after his resignation and Hartnett’s dream faltered, then turned into a passion following the formation of the Hartnett Motor Company Ltd, a firm that ended in tatters. The story of the Hartnett car has often been told with rumour, inuendo, myth and of conspiracy and malpractice. Hartnett’s Car will examine these factors to determine if “The Passion” was in reality a “Folly”. Was the Hartnett car worth the effort and agony? Was the design right for Australia? No doubt Hartnett would argue, yes but there are dissenters. These questions are raised, explored and answered considering the competition and market of the era. Sir Laurence, as time has revealed, was a brilliant entrepreneur, an innovator, a motivator who has been described as a technocratic brigand, a man who did not give up his dream without a fight. His contribution to the Australian Automobile Industry is significant and the exact circumstances surrounding the Hartnett car’s failure is long overdue. Hartnett’s Car – Passion or Folly aims to address this oversight.