Holden introduces lifetime servicing costs - dating back to 1948

Holden is about to introduce the largest capped price servicing scheme in Australia, setting the routine maintenance cost for every car sold since the very first model unveiled by then Prime Minister Ben Chifley in 1948.

The new scheme starts on March 1 and covers more than 2.5 million Holdens on the road nationally. It is believed to the first of its type in the world, dating back 67 years. There is just one catch: the capped price servicing scheme for historical Holdens can be dearer than more modern cars.

The Holden price list says a routine service on such classics as the original FX Holden from 1948, the EH Holden from 1964, and the HQ Kingswood from 1972 costs $299, which is dearer than the original 1978 Holden Commodore ($199) and the latest 2015 Holden Commodore ($239).

Owners of classic Holdens may continue to service their own cars; savvy DIYers can do an oil and filter change for about $50, or a spark plug change for about $20 (as they are much cheaper than spark plugs on modern cars).

The overhaul is part of Holden's plan to bring customers back to dealerships, as service becomes the new battleground for the big car brands.

Holden's Executive Director of Aftersales, Michael Filazzola says: "While some owners of classic Holdens may choose to work on their cars themselves, our lifetime capped price servicing program gives every owner of any Holden price certainty and transparency at every Holden dealership in Australia. Once customers buy a Holden, of any age, new or used, we have them covered."

Toyota pioneered capped price servicing in 2007, but now all Top 10 brands (and some European marques) have since followed suit. However, the only other car brands to offer capped prices for the servicing of historical models is Hyundai (which in September 2014 announced cars sold since 1986 would be covered under the scheme) and Ford (which has menu pricing for every car since 2007).

The overhaul is part of Holden's plan to bring customers back to dealerships, as service becomes the new battleground for the big car brands.

Earlier this month, Ford announced that it would offer free loan cars to its service customers as part of a trial program for the next six months.

Holden is looking to find new ways to retain customers and win repeat business as its sales slow in the lead-up to the closure of its engine plant and car assembly line by the end of 2017.

Last year Holden sales fell to their lowest in 21 years, but the company has announced a fightback plan with an onslaught of new models in the coming years. The company says there will be 24 new model launches in the next five years, although most of those are tipped to arrive after the 2017 factory closures.

Holden: driving your dollar further
1948 Holden "FX" 48-215: $299 (Essentials service)
1964 Holden "EH" Special: $299 (Essentials service)
1972 Holden "HQ" Kingswood : $299 (Essentials service)
1978 Holden "VB" Commodore: $199 (Essentials service)
2014 Holden "VF" Commodore: $239 (Full handbook service)