Holden EH
| Holden EH | |
|---|---|
 Holden Special sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors-Holden's |
| Also called | Holden Standard Holden Special Holden Premier Holden Utility Holden Panel Van |
| Production | August 1963–February 1965 |
| Designer | Stan Parker |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé utility 2-door panel van |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.4L GMH '149' I6 2.9L GMH '179' I6 |
| Transmission | 3spd manual 3spd "Hydra-Matic" automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 106.0 inches (2692mm) |
| Length | 177.6 inches (4511mm) |
| Width | 68.0 inches (1727mm) |
| Height | 58.2 inches (1478mm) |
| Curb weight | 2464lb (1118kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Holden EJ |
| Successor | Holden HD |
The Holden EH is an automobile produced by General Motors-Holden in Australia from 1963 to 1965. The EH was released in August 1963[1] replacing the Holden EJ series, and was the first Holden to incorporate the new "Red" engine, with a seven main bearing crankshaft instead of the four main bearing crankshaft used in the "Grey" engine. At first, a larger capacity 149-cubic-inch (2,440 cc) engine was only sold attached to a three-speed manual gearbox or the "Hydramatic" four-stage automatic transmission with a column shift. The Controlled Coupling Hydramatic used in the EH was actually a four-stage, although it effectively worked as a three-speed unit, except at full throttle.[2] The 179-cubic-inch (2,930 cc) engine was initially sold only with the "Hydramatic" transmission. The first EH with a 179-cubic-inch engine and a manual gear box was called the "EH-S4", and was fitted with an upgraded manual gearbox, having stronger gears than in the 149 gear box, and an upgraded clutch. The three-speed manual column shift gearboxes had no synchromesh on first gear, only on the second and third (top) gear. Mainstream release of the 179 engine mated to the 3 speed manual transmission option occurred on the 10th February 1964.
A total of 256,959 EH Holdens were produced and sold from 1963 to 1965, when the EH was replaced by the Holden HD series.
Range
[edit]The Holden EH range was offered in the following models:[3]
- Standard Sedan [4]
- Standard Station Sedan [4]
- Special Sedan [4]
- Special Station Sedan [4]
- S4 Special Sedan [3]
- Premier Sedan [4]
- Premier Station Sedan [4]
- Utility [5]
- Panel van [5]
The Station Sedan name was used on all station wagon models.
"Standard" models were basic, with no side badging, and were mostly fitted with 149-cubic-inch engines, rubber floor mats and single-tone acrylic paint finish. "Special" models came equipped with stainless moulding strips all round, special badges and optional two-tone paint jobs, still in acrylic paint. The "Premier" was the top of the range model, with a 179-cubic-inch engine and Hydramatic transmission, leather interior, bucket seats, fold-down centre armrest in the back seat, carpets, metallic paint, a centre console incorporating a heater/demister, a handbrake warning light, a boot light (in sedan models) and chrome-plated wheel trims. Contrary to popular belief a car radio was not standard equipment for the Premier. The Standard EH was the same price as its predecessor (EJ) at £1051.
The "S4 Special" was introduced in September 1963 for racing homologation purposes - a minimum of 100 were required to be built & sold. These featured a 179 engine, manual transmission with hardened gears, a 12 imp gal (55 L) fuel tank (9 imp gal (41 L) was standard), a more comprehensive tool kit, metal lined brake shoes and a larger tailshaft.[6] Six were produced at Holden's Melbourne's (Dandenong) plant and 120 in Sydney's (Pagewood) plant.[7]
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Holden Standard Sedan
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Holden Standard Station Sedan
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Holden Standard Station Sedan
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Holden Special Sedan
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Holden Special Station Sedan
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Holden Premier sedan
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Holden Premier sedan
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Holden Premier Station Sedan
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Holden Utility
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Holden Utility
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Holden Panel Van
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Holden Panel Van
References
[edit]
- ^ Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, 2002, page 235
- ^ EH Holden Owners Manual, General Motors - Holden, 1964 (Provided with car at purchase)
- ^ a b Holden EH Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 1 March 2009
- ^ a b c d e f Sales brochure for EH series Holden Sedans and Station Sedans
- ^ a b Sales brochure for EH series Holden Utility and Panel Van
- ^ 1963 Holden EH, The Holden Heritage Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.holden.com.au on 1 March 2009
- ^ 1963 EH Holden Special S4, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 9, pages 80-86
External links
[edit]- A Brief History of the EH Holden Retrieved from The Sixties Holden Archives on 1 March 2009
- EH Holden - Ranleys