New Documentary Explores One Of The World's Greatest Automotive Rivalries

It's a must-see for any Australian car lover, as it tracks the incredible rivalry of both brands from their respective inceptions, the hugely exciting motorsport rivalry at Bathurst, and each brand's inevitable demise; Ford Australiabuilt its last car in 2016, while Holden managed tohang on for one more year.

At the center of this epic battle were the Commodore and Falcon. At the core, these were humdrum family sedans, much like the Accord and Camry, albeit full-size models with powerful six-cylinder and V8 engines. What started as friendly banter between two companies quickly erupted into a full-blown war, especially in the Bathurst 1000 and V8 Supercar era, which continues to be a stomping ground for theFord Mustang.

This war was genuinely serious. People have fought over which brand is better, and we don't just mean on Twitter or Facebook. We mean physical brawls. Family members who decided to jump ship to the opposing side were disowned for doing so.

"It was basically every household. You're either a Ford family or a Holden family," says one participant, while another points out that this rivalry was "intrinsic to the Australian idiom."

Sadly, while these two Australian institutions were battling each other, they overlooked a looming threat from Asia: affordable (and well-made) Japanese and Korean cars. This was just one of the reasons that led to the demise of the Australian car manufacturing industry; brands like Toyota and Mitsubishi also shuttered local production there.

But let's remember the rivalry for what it was: a golden era of Australian motorsport that inspired innovation and was full of drama on and off the circuit. Out of it grew some of the most exciting racing ever seen, and as the cars got better, so did the races.

During the Bathurst 500 era, the everyday Joes watched their vehicles - humdrum Falcons and Toranas - duke it out for top honors. This instilled a sense of pride in existing customers and brought new clients. As they say,win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

500年了way for the Bathurst 1000 in 1973, doubling the race distance from 500 kilometers (310.9 miles) to 1000 km (621.4 miles). While the race is known as a place for Holden and Ford to battle for supremacy, they weren't the only brands to race in the hallowed series. During 1985 and 1992, the race operated under Group A regulations.

During this time, racing was dominated by the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and the Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R, dubbed "Godzilla" by the Australian press due to its incredible on-track performance. The only time Holden and Ford fans came together was to criticize the "unfair" advantage the Nissans had.

In 1992, intense rainstorms swept across the track and caused several accidents. The leading Skyline was involved in one of these crashes, but because it was in the lead - and had completed 75% of the race distance - it was declared the winner. As you'll see from the trailer, this decision caused quite a furor.

The Bathurst 1000 is still an annual highlight for many Australians. Sadly, Holden no longer participates in the endurance race, with drivers swopping their trusty Commodoresfor American-made Camaros. While Ford fans can still support the Mustang, it's still not the same for die-hard Bathurst fans, who undoubtedly miss the glory days of Falcon vs. Commodore.

These days, both brands have been reduced to shadows of their former selves. Ford Australia imports every vehicle it sells, including the Ranger and Everest trucks and SUVs. While Holden used to offer rebadged Opels and Chevrolets to sell alongside its Australian-made machines, the brand is now entirely defunct, offering only service and maintenance to existing owners.

It may not be as glamorous as theFord vs. Ferrarifilm, but this upcoming documentary regales one of the greatest, most intense automotive stories of all time. We can't wait to see it.