Holden Special
Encyclopedia
The Holden Special is a mid-size car
that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's
, the Australia
n 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. A "Standard"-type variant also existed in the 48 series, but had been marketed simply as the "Holden".
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.
The Business sedan was deleted from the Holden lineup in 1960, leaving just the Standard and Special. However, in 1962 the Holden Premier was introduced, 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.
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. Like the basic Holden sedan, it was powered by a 132.5 cubic inch six cylinder engine.
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.
series of July 1956 continued to offer Standard, Business and Special sedans but now featured new body styling, a longer wheelbase
(up 2 inches (50.8 mm) to 105 inches), a more powerful engine (up 10 bhp 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.
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
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).
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. 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.
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 fist of these cars being delivered to Hawaii.
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).
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.
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.
Introduced in 1962.
Introduced in 1963.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
, the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n subsidiary of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
(GM). Introduced as the top-level trim in the new Holden FJ
Holden FJ
The Holden FJ series is a range of motor vehicles which was produced in Australia by General Motors-Holden’s from 1953 to 1957. The FJ was the second model of an "all Australian car" manufactured by Holden and was based upon the established 48-215 series, commonly referred to as the “FX”...
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
Holden 48-215
The Holden 48-215, also known unofficially as the Holden FX is a mid-size, six-cylinder sedan which was produced by the Australian automaker, General Motors–Holden's Ltd between November 1948 and October 1953....
first seen in 1948. Three months later, the FJ was introduced, therefore forming a three-model lineup based around one car. A "Standard"-type variant also existed in the 48 series, but had been marketed simply as the "Holden".
There were also coupé utility
Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
and panel van
Panel van
A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows...
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
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
. The wagon was marketed as the "Station Sedan" in both Standard and Special trim levels.
The Business sedan was deleted from the Holden lineup in 1960, leaving just the Standard and Special. However, in 1962 the Holden Premier was introduced, becoming the new flagship, with the Special assigned as the mid-range Holden. This model trio continued until the 1968 HK series
Holden HK
The Holden HK series is an automobile which was produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1968 to 1969. Introduced in January 1968, the HK range progressively replaced the Holden HR series which had been in production since 1966...
. The Standard became the Belmont
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...
, the Special the Kingswood
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...
, with the Premier staying as is. A new extended-length Brougham
Holden Brougham
The Holden Brougham is a large, luxury automobile which was produced by General Motors–Holden's in Australia between July 1968 and 1971.It was based on the mainstream Holden Premier of the same years, but with a lengthened rear body. The boot was simply extended by rather than increasing the ...
also joined the line-up, becoming Holden's topline offering.
48
The Business was introduced in July 1953, in four-door sedan form only, as a better equipped version of the basic Holden 48-215Holden 48-215
The Holden 48-215, also known unofficially as the Holden FX is a mid-size, six-cylinder sedan which was produced by the Australian automaker, General Motors–Holden's Ltd between November 1948 and October 1953....
series sedan introduced in 1948 and was specifically aimed at the taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
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. Like the basic Holden sedan, it was powered by a 132.5 cubic inch six cylinder engine.
FJ
Only three months after the introduction of the original Business, the 48 series was replaced by the revised FJHolden FJ
The Holden FJ series is a range of motor vehicles which was produced in Australia by General Motors-Holden’s from 1953 to 1957. The FJ was the second model of an "all Australian car" manufactured by Holden and was based upon the established 48-215 series, commonly referred to as the “FX”...
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.
FE
The FEHolden FE
The Holden FE is an automobile which was produced by General Motors–Holden's in Australia from 1956 to 1958.-Changes:The FE models were built on a longer wheelbase than the FJ series Holdens which they replaced and they featured totally different styling, the FJ models having used a body shape...
series of July 1956 continued to offer Standard, Business and Special sedans but now featured new body styling, a longer wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
(up 2 inches (50.8 mm) to 105 inches), a more powerful engine (up 10 bhp to 70 bhp), revised electrics, steering and interior trim. The Business sedan was designated as model FE-217. From March 1957 a station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body style was offered in the FE series, but only in Standard and Special trim.
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.FB
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.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
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).
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. 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.
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 fist of these cars being delivered to Hawaii.
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 transmissionAutomatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
option factory-fitted to a Holden. 150,214 vehicles were produced. The Hydramatic
Hydramatic
Hydramatic was an automatic transmission developed by both General Motors' Cadillac and Oldsmobile divisions. Introduced in 1939 for the 1940 model year vehicles, the Hydramatic was the first fully automatic mass-produced transmission developed for passenger automobile use.-History:During the...
was fully imported from the USA (used in many General Motors cars at the time).
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.
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.
EJ
Introduced in 1962.
EH
Introduced in 1963.