Norm holds a PhD and is one of Australia's foremost automobile historians with 10 titles to his name. Norm Darwin commenced writing in 1968, working for the Australian Hot Rodding Review and Australian Hot Rod as their Victorian Representative. After 1972 Norm contributed to the new magazines entering the market. These including Street Machine, Rodding World, Custom Rodder, Custom Vans and Trucks
and Restored Cars. In 1969 he began working at GM-Holden Engineering, progressing to become the company’s Sourcing Co-ordinator by 1980. In 1983 his first book, The History of Holden Since 1917, was published becoming the enthusiasts guide to makes and models made by GMA and GM-H. Then followed The History of Ford in Australia in 1986. One Hundred Years of GM in Australia was self-published by Norm & his wife Heather in 2002 followed by Monaro Magic and Torana Tough both considered to be the best history books on the Holden Monaro and Torana vehicles. In 2014 Norm was accepted into the RMIT University doctoral research program and commenced writing a doctoral thesis on early Australian car design. The early Australian automobile design history was published in January 2018, reflecting the thesis with additional illustrations and graphics. Norm was awarded a PhD in 2018 and is the second Australian automotive historian to gain a Doctorate. Norm is the President of Automotive Historians Australia Inc, a member of the Society of Automobile Historians and several automobile clubs.
