“It was a fully-imported Isuzu job, but it was sold under the Holden banner,” Mr Murray recalled.

Beginning in 1984 at Albury’s Preston Motors, Mr Murray spent 26 years peddling Holdens.

He tailed the marque to Wodonga with McRae White and then McRae Holden.

So Friday will be a sad occasion, with the last Holden leaving the assembly line in Australia as US parent General Motors closes its Adelaide factory.

“It’s disappointing to think there’s no more Australian-made production, whether it be Holden or another manufacturer,” Mr Murray said.

“It’s a different phase in our history.

“Holden goes back right back to the coach days when they set up in Adelaide.

“I think if you read any of the reports it was inevitable, the level of government support was so high and there was so much competition.”

Mr Murray’s first car was a FC Holden and he has one of the last Australian-made Cruzes in his Bethanga garage alongside a Rodeo.

He said in his early days as a Holden salesman the home-grown connection could prove to be a decisive factor with buyers.

“My father, for example, because of his age wouldn’t buy anything Japanese because he had gone through the World War,” he said.

“Australian to him was very important, whereas now the Holden range could have really been made in England, Thailand or Japan and had the Holden badge put on it and it wouldn’t have mattered to the people buying.” 

- ANTHONY BUNN