EK Holden - Australia's answer to the '57 Chev ?

A chance discussion with one of my work colleagues led to the discovery that he not only owns, but regularly drives his prized EK Holden to work. Sensing an opportunity, I was fortunate that Stuart volunteered to bring his car to work and allow me not only to interview him, but to take a ride in the EK. This car really is a beauty, and is suprisingly comfortable to ride in too. When you are used to modern cars with their wall-to-wall plastic interiors, what stands out is the attention to detail these early Holden's feature. Everything looks just right, and while they are a far cry from feature laden models in showrooms today, they did have something else going for them - a unique style, design and personality. You were not going to pick a Holden over a Ford because the touch-screen was bigger - rather you would choose the car that appealed primarily on looks and style. And these early Holden's had plenty of that. My thanks to Stuart for bringing in his car and spending a few minutes letting me interview him, and to David who chanced upon our chat and came over to talk about his experience with the trusty "EK".

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[ziggassedup]

I'm a big fan of FB's and EK's...I had one of each at one time...A custom paint large flake blue metallic FB Van and a Coral pink/white roof EK sedan...FB had an old grey taken to 155 with 3 SU's and an Opal 4 speed and the EK ended up with a 190 red with 3 CD's from an XU1 and a M20 4 speed...Man I wish I still had em...They were only 15 & 17 years old then...Good times....Oh and those Holden jingles have my dad playing trumpet in them...Written by Bruce Clark as I remember.

[beverleystone]

I was working for GMH at the time. I recall driving left-hand-drive versions to the wharf in Port Mrlbourne for export to Greece!

[hubertmantz]

Very nice! I’ve always loved EK holdens

[richlawrence]

The heater, demister and fan were all separate "add on options', that is could optionally buy just a heater with no demister or fan. Same with radio, none as standard. Not sure about seat belts either, not heard of then, mid 60s. May have had optional lap only belts, initially sash was also an add on extra to the lap belt option. I think even turn indicators were an option on the standard model, hand signals were still required in the 50s, but included in the special model.

[richlawrence]

The hydramatic was very advanced 3 speed, with 2nd select. Others only had 2 speed autos. When 3 speed came in, could not select 2nd, only L and D. Later models HD/HR went to 2 speed (was it called power glide?).

[andrewdunbar]

The EK Holden is when they were trying to tone down the '50-ness but with only a facelift. It's the FB Holden with its two-tone side flash right down the side (and the FC Holden too of course) that is Australia's answer to the '55-'56-'57 Chevy (and the whole mid-'50s US look generally).

Chevy doesn't really have an equivalent to the EK since the '58 was a totally new design and a bit crazier than the previous models. The '59 and '60 were again a totally new design and even crazier. The '60 was a toned down version of the '59 and then the '61 was completely toned down and no longer like a '50s design. But it was a totally new design yet again and more comparable to the EJ.

Australia was a couple of years behind the US trends so by the time the FB came out in 1960 the US was already at the last step of transitioning out of the classic '50s design. Australian buyers were aware of the US trends so the EK was an attempt to get the very '50s looking FB to look more like the post '50s trends that had now pushed aside the design elements like tailfins, wraparound windscreens, hooded headlights, side flashes, and hood ornaments.

(I was an FB guy in the '80s but never owned one. I had about half a dozen EKs, for me a compromise.)

[bossdog]

My first car was an FB wagon. I was told I could have it if I took it away immediately. My brother and I pushed it home about a half mile on gravel wearing thongs. lol I was 14 at the time.
My first road car was a FB sedan. I had it backwards down a ditch the first day I got mt license. Got it pulled out by a Torana, oh the shame, and all I had was a cracked taillight.
I decided to paint it. I read in the Hot Rod mags that people were giving their cars 12 coats of colour and 4 coats of clear. So, I did, enamel paint over a 2-hour period, and for some strange reason it ran in curtains and didn't dry for months.😁😁

[jamesgovett]

Back in 1969 I had an FB ( I didn’t have a licence and was a couple of years off from that but I still drove everywhere in it and in those days there was no random stopping by the Victoria police as they had to have a reason to pull you over by law, like a tail light or number plate light out, this is nowadays little known) then a a few more cars including an anniversary sidewacker Customline which was a great car until it got knocked off, then two more Holden EK’s by the time 1973 came around and the last one I put a 179 taken out to 192 ci with stage 3 head, triple 1 & 3/4 SU’s, balanced, lightened flywheel, Sonic extractors, solid lifters etc etc hooked up to a jag 4 speed, HR ball joint front end and later rear axle, K-Mac stabilisers and chrome 13 inch widies with Kleber radials dropped on its guts it looked quite good but the thing really got moving and with the suspension mods the thing handled well too but down at the drabs on those days it was slightly quicker than my good friends XW with its 302 Windsor, having said all this I can say with some Authority that in their standard form they really were a piece of shit, gutless they would be hard pressed to pull a Sailor from your sister and talk about rust buckets they were bad!

[KenanTurkiye]

I've come to understand Australia had an established automotive manufacturing industry for decades and so sad how it died out. Many of Australian models seem to be more 'world-market-applicable' compared to US models. Just recently is the automotive manufacturing industry in my country is getting established after a ''sabotage'' by 'foreign manufacturers'' in the '60's. Austalia should have fought on, and increased exports, great cars!.

[gingermegs]

I had 2 FBs and 3 EKs unfortunately all 5 went to Simsmetals went through the crusher you could buy them for $100 back in 1980 Registered and running
One day me and my mates decided to take my EK Hydramatic over a huge dirt jump that you normally take a motorcross bike over and we went airborne and when we landed there was a huge bang and whirring noise that was the end of the Transmission. So being young and silly we took the oil cap off and filled the engine up with small rocks and gravel took the accelerator spring off started it up and it was roaring for 3 minutes but would not die and in the end I felt sorry for it and turned it off. One hell of a bloody tough motor the old 138 Grey.

[davidhayter]

These things were built for overheating…and they did.

[boneyboney]

Mine is bone stock and all og....needs paint but 🤣👌

[tripsadelica]

And now it is all gone. We only have the cars which have survived...a testament to how tough Holdens were made back in the day. I hope Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey watch videos like this if only to see how their mixed-up policies killed an effective and efficient car industry in this country. That poor Holden lion, its paw resting on the "rolling stone of progress"... Well, it rolls no more. Vale Holden...vale proud lion. Keep your head held high and keep a firm grip on that stone... You helped build this country and we will remember you.

[martydepasquale]

Thats a shame - you interviewed some guy who has a car thats not even a stock pure EK... has a 202 with a HR front end.. surely you couldve found someone with an actual stock EK?? 🤔