The main force behind the Hartnett was Larry Hartnett, a leading motor industry figure whose 60 year career included initiating the Holden project while chief executive of General Motors-Holdens.
After resigning from GMH, Hartnett was persuaded by the Commonwealth Government to determine a small car which could be produced in Australia. He chose a small front-wheel drive, four seater vehicle designed by Jean Gregoire, and purchased the manufacturing rights. The Hartnett featured independent suspension on all wheels, rack-and-pinion steering and a 600cc horizontally-opposed two cylinder air-cooled engine.
Plans to sell 10,000 cars a year were announced but Hartnett quickly ran into problems. Offers from the Victorian state government to make a large loan to the company and provide a rent-free factory were withdrawn, and all of the established body-building firms declined to build bodies for the car.
Hartnett floated a public company, leased a factory and arranged for Commonwealth Engineering - a firm with no previous body-building experience - to produce the metal panels. Within a few months 120 rolling chassis were ready, but Commonwealth Engineering failed in their contract to produce body panels. Hartnett sued Commonwealth Engineering in court for breach of contract and won the case with costs, but by that time the Hartnett was a lost cause.
Credit: Graham Clayton