FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

I am looking for retired GM Holden employees who can remember Joseph or Joe Ganz working there in the late 1950s / early 1960s:

(http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/images/biography/Josef_Ganz_1960.jpg)

Joe Ganz originated from Europe, where he was editor-in-chief of motoring magazine Motor-Kritik until 1934, worked as a technical consultant for such makes as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and above all developed a Volkswagen. His design formed the basis for Porsche's Volkswagen as ordered by Hitler, while Joe Ganz as a Jew had to escape from Germany for his life in 1934. He then lived in Switzerland until emigrating to Australia in 1951. He lived in Edgewater Towers appartment building in St. Kilda for a number of years until his death in 1967. From the mid-1950s until the early 1960s he worked at GM Holden as an engineer, working on "special projects". Originally under chief engineer Mr Lewis and alongside chief engineer Mr Quarry (later under mechanical design engineer Mr Ambor).

I researched the life story of Josef Ganz for over 5 years and last year published a book about him and his work on the Volkswagen Beetle. See: http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/ ($2)

(http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/images/book/DeKever_cover_small_noshadow.jpg)

My book will be published in English next year and I am working on a documentary about his life. For this especially we are looking for anyone who can remember Joe Ganz. Please contact me either directly or through my website: http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/ ($2)

Many thanks,

Paul Schilperoord

Hey Paul
Good luck with your search.
Your book looks very interesting.
If you think of it, could you post here when the english version comes out.
How much is it?
The pic you posted above, looks like Joe is standing alongside an FE Holden.
If this is the case, got any similar pics you could share?
Regards
Alex

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your message. The English book is scheduled for publication in September 2011, but I will keep you updated! The Dutch book is now on the market for euro 24.95. I don't know yet how much the English book will be.

The color pic of Joe Ganz is said to have been taken behind the parking lot of the GM Holden factory:

(http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/images/biography/Holden/JosefGanz_1960s.jpg)

And here is another pic of Joe Ganz with his Holden:

(http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/images/biography/Holden/Ganz_Holden_1960s.jpg)

And a picture of his Holden with registration number FJ GLY718 (does this car still exist?) on the corner of Aclani and Barkley st in St Kilda:

(http://www.ganz-volkswagen.org/images/biography/Holden/Holden_1960s.jpg)

By the way Ganz also worked for the Standard motor company in Australia in the 1950s. Is there anything known about retired employees from that company?

G'day Paul.

It may be a long shot but you could try contacting Jewish associations in Melbourne as they tend to know one another quite well and some of their elderly community may well remember him if he still practised his beliefs. Given that he was fortunate enough to evade the horrors that followed throughout Nazi occupied Europe and settled in Australia someone down there may well have heard of him?

Cheers

Dave Mac  :)

If you get a hold of Tony Galea, who is the Pres of the Vic club, he will put you onto Jack Rawlings who is 93 and sharp as a tack. He was an engineer at Holden when the 48/215 was designed. Another one who was there at that time was Hugh Vidicom and another guy by the surname of Pound, i'm unsure of his first name, i'm sure some of these guys can give you some info.

Try contacting the Holden retirees club - they meet in Melbourne at the Bentleigh club once a month.

Ken

Hi all,
 Paul has emailed me and l have forwarded his email to Tom Molner who is mentioned in the book. Tom is a retired Holden engineer who worked on FE-FC Holdens and l believe had the 1st FC fitted with a Repco head. He helped design it after he left Holden to work for Repco. At our FC 50th Birthday celebration Hugh Videion spoke on Toms behalf as Tom lives in NSW and is in his late 80's. Also Jack Rwansley is 99 years of age.
Cheers,
 Tony.