Time-lapse restoration: 1978 Holden One Tonner

Rich Fowler•3 April, 2024

This is as close to car porn as we're willing to publish. If you're anything like us, then watching an abandoned car lovingly brought back to life in a time-lapse video makes for captivating viewing - especially if it's an Australian icon like the mighty Holden One Tonner.

The Holden One Tonner wasn't a single model but a nickname for a series of practical utility vehicles (utes) built by Holden from the 1950s to the early 2000s. These utes were based on existing Holden cars, but with a tough tray bed instead of a boot.

This one-tonne (1000kg) capacity made them popular choices for tradespeople, farmers, and anyone needing a vehicle for work and play.

The One Tonner became a symbol of Australian practicality and hard work, and today these classic utes are highly sought-after collector's items.

Rich Fowler

Writer

"If it moves and makes a noise, count me in. That pretty much sums up my lifelong passion for motoring and motorsport history. Rich has worked in various roles in the digital and motoring media world, starting his career at Autosport and also working at Auto Action, Motor, and as the founder and publisher of Motorsport Retro.

Most recently, Rich successfully launched Collecting Cars in the Australian market, growing the brand from 0 to $150 million in sales in just 3 years."

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