Holden Special
| Holden Special | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden |
| Also called |
Holden Business Holden Premier Holden Standard |
| Production | 1953–1968 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style |
2-door coupé utility 3-door panel van 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Holden Kingswood |
The Holden Special is a mid-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors (GM). Introduced as the top-level trim in the new Holden FJ range of 1953, the Special was complemented by the entry-level Holden Standard and the mid-range Holden Business. The Business was in fact already available, introduced in July 1953 in the 48 series first seen in 1948. Three months later, the FJ was introduced, therefore forming a three-model lineup based around one car.[citation needed] A "Standard"-type variant also existed in the 48 series, but had been marketed simply as the "Holden".[1]
There were also coupé utility and panel van variants, introduced in 1951 (48) and 1953 (FJ) respectively. These were both based on the Standard, although neither were badged this way. Collectively, the two cars were known as the Holden utility and panel van. From March 1957 the sedan, utility and panel van body styles were complemented by a new five-door station wagon. The wagon was marketed as the "Station Sedan" in both Standard and Special trim levels.[2]
The Business sedan was deleted from the Holden lineup in mid-1959, during the FC production run, leaving just the Standard and Special. However, in 1962 the Holden Premier was introduced with the EJ series, becoming the new flagship, with the Special assigned as the mid-range Holden. This model trio continued until the 1968 HK series. The Standard became the Belmont, the Special the Kingswood, with the Premier staying as is. A new extended-length Brougham also joined the line-up, becoming Holden's topline offering.
First generation (1953–1956)
48
The Business was introduced in July 1953, in four-door sedan form only, as a better equipped version of the basic Holden 48-215 series sedan introduced in 1948 and was specifically aimed at the taxi market. Improvements included passenger grab rails, door pull handles, seat kick plates, heavy-duty seats, floor mats, a heavy-duty battery and a boot lid handle. The Business Sedan was officially designated as model 48-215-257.[3] Like the basic Holden sedan, it was powered by a 132.5 cubic inch six cylinder engine.[4]
FJ
Only three months after the introduction of the original Business, the 48 series was replaced by the revised FJ Business. This series also included a new trim level, the Special, which was positioned above the Business in terms of price and equipment level. The new Business was designated as model FJ-217.[5]
Second generation (1956–1960)
FE
The FE series of July 1956 continued to offer Standard, Business and Special sedans but now featured new body styling, a longer wheelbase (up 2 inches (51 mm) to 105 inches), a more powerful engine (up 10 bhp (7.5 kW) to 70 bhp), revised electrics, steering and interior trim. The Business sedan was designated as model FE-217. From March 1957 a station wagon body style was offered in the FE series, but only in Standard and Special trim.[6]
FC
The revised FC series introduced in May 1958 was a face-lift, offering only minor improvements over the FE. The Business was designated the FC-217.[7]
Third generation (1960–1962)
FB
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The introduction of the FB series in January 1960 saw the Business sedan discontinued, leaving the Standard and the Special as the only Holden sedans for the first years of the new decade.[8]
Holden Produced 174,747 Holden FB's. The FB like the FC took on the shape of the earlier General Motors Chevrolet. The new FB was very much styled off the 1957 Chevy, with the FB's rear pointed twin fins. Together with a "new American Style dashboard with speedo featuring an orange-coloured indicator band instead of a needle pointer" The Holden FB and the '57 Chev had a lot in common[9]
The FB Holden was manufactured with four common body styles. The Special sedan (model FB/225), Special Station Wagon (model FB/229), Standard Sedan (model FB/215), Standard Station Wagon (Model FB/219), Standard Panel Van (Model FB/2104) and standard Utility (Model FB/2106).[10][11]
The FB Holden also saw the end of the Nitro (Duco) finishes. These early model FBs are very sought after in their original paint, as Holden introduced the "Magic Mirror" Acrylic finished in June 1960. With these change came new colours. Out were Nitro colours, Alpine Blue, Arctic Beige, Belmont Green, Biscay Green, Buckskin, Corana Grey, Desert Glow, Fernando Yellow, Lucerne Blue, Mandan Red, Raphael Ivory, Royal Glow, Sandstone Beige. All very rare colours to find on an FB Holden today, due to the five-month production window.[12] On the subject of windows, the FB had 27 percent more glass area than the previous Holden the FC. The FB was also lower wider and longer than the FC.[13]
The Holden FB panel van proved to be a big hit in the commercial sectors. The new 1960 FB panel van was the first Holden with a high roof. The FC Holden was more or less a station wagon in comparison.
Holden FB is also noted as Holden's first export left hand drive car. The first of these cars being delivered to Hawaii.[14]
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Holden FB Panel Van 1960 Model 2104 Honey Beige, Original Window Less, Possibly the best surviving example.
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Holden FB 1961 Special Sedan Model 225 Factory Twilight Turquoise with Grecian White Flash.
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Holden FB 1960 Utility Model 2106 in factory finish Glade Green. Most Utilities were work horses. 70,000 Genuine Miles.
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Holden FB 1960 Standard Station Sedan Model 219 Factory Honey Beige Ex Ambulance.
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Holden FB 1960 Standard Sedan Model 215 Factory Nitro Belmont Green Original Duco. From Griffith NSW.
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Holden FB Special 1960 Model 225 Special, Factory Duco (Pre June 1960) Fernando Yellow Nitro. See comparison later Acrylic Satellite Yellow.
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Holden FB 1960 Model 225 Special, Factory Acrylic (Post June 1960) Satellite Yellow Magic Mirror finish . See comparison earlier Nitro Fernando Yellow.
EK
Introduced in May 1961, the Holden EK was essentially a cosmetic variation on the previous model the FB, with the addition of the first automatic transmission option factory-fitted to a Holden. 150,214 vehicles were produced. The Hydramatic was fully imported from the USA (used in many General Motors cars at the time).[15]
EK was available in the Special Sedan EK/225 and Special Station Sedan EK/229; however, extremely rare examples of automatic commercial EK's have been sighted with one EK/215 factory Hydramatic in Snowcrest white surfaced in 1990. The rare 215 Auto was sold by Mitchell & Townsend Holden Blacktown 28 March 1962; the car also featured body number 57.[16]
Just behind the Automatic gear box addition was the electric windshield wipers. The previous model FB used vacuum wipers. The other changes were more cosmetic. Holden implemented stronger seat material "ElastoFab" due to the FB trim splitting at the seams quite easily, with the horizontal mid seat seam trim join. Holden also added a new grille, plenum chamber (Wiper Vent) cover, larger bumper bar over-riders, different badging and side trim style.[17]
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Holden EK Sedan 1961 Special Model 225 in original factory Cameo Beige with genuine documented 9,000 miles from new.
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Holden EK Standard Station Sedan 1961 model 219 Cataract Grey. Extremely original. Past 48 years in Armidale NSW.
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Holden EK Standard Sedan 1961 Model 215 Original Kiewa Grey (Holden Fleet Colour) SEC State Electricity Commission of Melbourne.
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Holden EK Utility 1961 Model 2106 Factory Strata Blue. Documented 75,000 miles. One of the most originals EK Utilities left in Australia.
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Holden EK 1961 Special Sedan Model 225 Snowcrest White Cameo Beige roof Canopy Industries accessory Flashline.
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Holden EK 1961 Panel Van Model 2104 Factory Pittwater Green with Canopy Industries accessory window.
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Holden EK 1961 Station Sedan Model 229 Factory Snowcrest White with Red Flashline by Canopy Industries.
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Holden EK 1961 Utility Model 2106 Snowcrest White with accessory Canopy industries rare Flashline.
Fourth generation (1962–1965)
EJ
Introduced in 1962.
EH
Introduced in 1963.
Fifth generation (1965–1968)
HD
Introduced in 1965.
HR
Introduced in 1966.
Notes
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holden Special. |
- ↑ Wright (2008), p. 205.
- ↑ Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (Part One), p. 57
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 223.
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 292.
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 225.
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 228.
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 229.
- ↑ Darwin (2002), p. 230.
- ↑ http://www.powerhousemuseum.com
- ↑ Holden FB Workshop Manual Page 2
- ↑ "www.historyofholden.com/fb-holden".
- ↑ General Motors Holden LTD Colour Identification Chart 1960
- ↑ http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=349490
- ↑ "media.gm.com/aus/holden/en/company/history/HH13Part1.pdf" (PDF).
- ↑ Holden History http://www.historyofholden.com/ek-holden
- ↑ http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2251&highlight=snowcrest
- ↑ http://media.gm.com/aus/holden/en/company/history/HH13Part1.pdf
References
- Darwin, Norm (2002). 100 Years of GM in Australia. Ballarat, Victoria: H@nd Publishing. ISBN 0-646-41476-3.
- Davis, Tony; Kennedy, Alistair; Kennedy, Ewan (February 2007). "The Holden Heritage - 13th Edition (Part One)" (PDF). GM Holden. Archived from the original on 15 September 2010.
- Wright, John (2008). Special: The untold story of Australia’s Holden. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-74175-172-1.
| Holden, a marque of General Motors, automobile timeline, 1948–present |
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| List of Holden vehicles † HQ–WB Statesmans not marketed under the "Holden" brand, but rather the separate "Statesman" brand. |