Classic TV: Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos, and Holden Cars

    Patrick Jackson 9 August, 2024

    holden ad

    A lyric synonymous with Australian culture, Holden came up with one of the catchiest advertising jingles ever written back in the 1970s.

    "We love football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars," goes the famous lyric which was set to a tune so catchy you're probably humming along to it right now.

    However, despite how Aussie these words may seem, the ad is anything but. The Australian version might be the best-known, but the jingle actually traces its roots back to the US and Holden's parent company, General Motors.

    The premise of the commercial and the tune it's set to is the same, but the original lyrics were actually about America's greatest darlings: "Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet."

    Indeed, this jingle was so prolific that GM created a radio version of it for South Africa, proclaiming, "we love braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet". The tune is still catchy, but this version doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

    As a side note, this jingle wasn't the only thing shared between Holden and Chevrolet South Africa at the time, as the Holden Statesman was being reproduced as the Chevrolet Constantia for their market.

    The ad might not be as True Blue as it proclaims itself to be, but there's no denying it helped solidify Holden's standing as Australia's own car company – even if it was feasting on some General Motors leftovers.

    Patrick Jackson

    Writer & Sub Editor

    Patrick is an automotive journalist with more than eight years of experience across a range of online, print, and broadcast media. His focus is primarily on automotive content, having launched the car review website Drive Section in 2019 and the automotive adventure site Essential Drives in 2024. He is a passionate car enthusiast with a particular interest in classic cars. His past credits include DriveTribe, Vehicle History, Finder, ForceGT, The Weekender Herald, Supercar Blondie, Exhaust Notes, and WhichCar.​

    More inEntertainment

    Jean Charles Rédélé with the Alpine A106

    Alpine celebrates its 70-year history with new video series

    Almost 70 years ago in July 1955, Renault dealer and rally driver Jean Rédélé created Alpine. Originally a standalone brand, the mission was simple: to create a French sports car brand based on Renault powertrains.

    Honda City with the band Madness

    Classic TV: Honda City (feat. Madness)

    Advertising from the 1980s doesn't get much quirkier than when Honda teamed up with English ska band Madness to promote its latest hatchback of the day, the City

    Mitsubishi Magna AWD

    Classic TV: Mitsubishi Magna AWD

    In 2002, Mitsubishi made history by releasing the first all-wheel drive series production car built in Australia, the Magna AWD. Soon after, it also changed history with the same car's advertising campaign.

    More inAussie

    1938 Ford Coupe-Ute

    History in the making: Ford Australia celebrates 100 years

    To mark Ford Australia’s centenary year, a special “History in the Making” event will be held in Melbourne on Friday April 4, 2025.

    1962 Volvo P1800

    March 2025 Auction Report: Plenty to Like, But Some Prices Decline

    Retro Rides’ Market Analyst Cliff Chambers has plucked the best from roughly 300 car and motorbike lots during March 2025, finding that while there was plenty to like, the value of some models has declined quite noticeably.

    Ford Fairmont Sedan Grand Sport Rally Pack XA

    Top Tips for Buying a Used Ford Falcon/Fairmont XA-XC (1972-79)

    Ford Falcon XA-XC values have improved significantly, but these cars still don’t match the popularity of earlier XW-XY versions. Basic cars still don't generate enough money to justify high-value restorations and can often be stripped for any usable parts.

    Get The Latest

    Sign up for the latest in retro rides, from stories of restoration to community happenings.

    By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.