The patriotic public reaction in 1948 to the arrival of Holden, Australia’s first locally made car, was extraordinary.

Around 18,000 people reportedly signed up to buy the car sight unseen and at the height of Holden’s popularity, the later EH Holden would become the fastest-selling Australian car ever, with more than 250,000 sold in 18 months.

Now an aptly titled exhibition at the National Archives of Australia, Rear Vision: the Holden Collection, brings to life the memories and stories of General Motors Holden. It will be launched on Thursday by director-general of the Archives, Simon Froude and former design director at General Motors Holden, Richard Ferlazzo.

As visitors walk in the door of the archives, they will be confronted by a large 48–215 (FX) Holden, the property of Canberra Classic Holden Club members June and Tony Pryce, who painstakingly restored it in original duck-egg blue tones sourced from period colours.

Bookended by the first and last engines Holden produced – yes, the actual engines – Rear Vision traces the company’s journey from a 19th century Adelaide saddlery, through military production during World War II, the creation of Australia’s own car and finally the company’s closure in 2017.

Inside the show are Monaro transmission components, custom paint and trim samples, fibreglass moulds, glasswork, Lego model cars and the original bronze lion statue from the entrance to the Elizabeth plant in South Australia.

Rear Vision: the Holden Collection, National Archives of Australia, open to the public daily, June 12-October 11. Free.