In Search of the Holden Piazza

An Overpriced Understatement

Joe Kremzer, Chris Warr

• Publisher: Allen & Unwin
• Year: 2006
• eBook ISBN: 9781741156034
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Australian & Oceanian History
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Chris and Joe take to the road, touring the highways and byways of Australia on a quest to discover what became of the Holden Piazza—possibly the dodgiest car ever to be imported into Australia. A boys' own adventure of cars, cricket commentary, improbable adventures and even more improbable characters.
The Holden Piazza, a glossy black wedge-bonneted sports car, was the ultimate prize of prizes on Australia's richest quiz show. Unfortunately it was also frequently the butt of jokes from motoring critics and the general public alike. Its launch in 1986 attracted comments such as, 'Holden Piazza; the answer to the question nobody asked' and 'exhilarating in the hands of an experienced driver . . . dangerous in the hands of others'. So it's not surprising that less than 200 new Holden Piazzas were sold in Australia, and less than 80 are still on Australian roads today. Chris lived with his hidden shame for over a decade, until fate led to a meeting with Joe Kremzer, a fellow Piazza aficionado and a dream was born. Together, they would go in search of the Holden Piazza—indeed they would go in search of the Holden Piazza IN a Holden Piazza—traveling the length and breadth of Australia seeking out owners past and present of this iconic if much maligned vehicle. Their quest results in a quirky, laugh-out-loud adventure, in the tradition of Tony Hawkes ( Round Ireland With A Fridge) and Dave Gorman. A rollicking great read for all motoring tragics and anyone who likes a beer and a laugh, In Search of the Holden Piazza is as Australian as pie and sauce or a beat-up FJ Holden.

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• CONTENTS
• ABOUT THE AUTHORS
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• AUTHORS’ NOTE
• INTRODUCTION
• 1. ‘PIAZZA IS A PENTHOUSE OF PLEASURE AND PERFORMANCE.’
• 2. ‘PIAZZA. EVEN ITS ITALIAN NAME QUICKENS YOUR PULSE.’
• 3. ‘THE DRIVER’S SEAT ALONE IS A MIRACLE.’
• 4. ‘WHEN YOU’VE SETTLED IN THE SEAT, YOU BEHOLD AN EYE-FILLING ARRAY.’
• 5. ‘HOLDEN PIAZZA. THE NAME SAYS IT ALL.’
• 6. ‘TAKE A FAST, SWEEPING CURVE AND YOU DISCOVER THIS IS NO BOULEVARDE SHOW-CAR.’
• 7. ‘PIAZZA IS FULLY IMPORTED, IN LIMITED NUMBERS, AND UNUSUAL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.’
• 8. ‘YOUR ADRENALIN REALLY FLOWS WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION KEY.’
• 9. ‘PIAZZA—AN OVERPRICED UNDERSTATEMENT.’
• 10. ‘THE DRIVER IS CONFRONTED BY NO FEWER THAN 20 WARNING AND FUNCTION LIGHTS, ALL OF THEM EASY TO INTERPRET.’
• 11. ‘JUST SITTING IN IT IS PURE PLEASURE.’
• 12. ‘DRIVING IT IS A DIMENSION BEYOND PLEASURE.’
• 13. ‘THE VISION OF IT STANDING, ALOOF AND ALIVE, IN YOUR DRIVEWAY.’
• 14. ‘HOLDEN PIAZZA ABOUNDS WITH TEMPTATIONS.’
• 15. ‘“INSPIRED” IS ONE OF THE FEW ADEQUATE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PIAZZA.’
• EPILOGUE: ‘MAYBE THE WORD ISN’T ‘INSPIRED’.PERHAPS IT’S GENIUS.’
• APPENDIX 1: HOLDEN PIAZZA TECHNICAL DETAILS
• APPENDIX 2: RACT INSPECTION REPORT
• APPENDIX 3: AUSTRALIA’S PIAZZAS
• APPENDIX 4: ALLITERATED WEST INDIAN TEST CRICKETERS