THE EH HOLDEN – A CELEBRATION

The 31^st of December 2020 marked the end of Holden cars, and of all the models made during their long history, the EH has a fair claim to being one of the most important. When it debuted in August if 1963, it offered room for six, a choice of two new ‘Red’ engines and a sense of quasi-American glamour that was not over the top. Here was “the lowest-cost way to enjoy full-size, six-cylinder motoring”, with “Holden’s exciting new Power-Swept styling”.

JA Holden & Co. began in 1985 as an Adelaide-based saddler, and by 1910 they trimmed motor vehicles. 1924 saw them become an exclusive General Motors coachbuilder, the American concern taking complete control in 1931. Assembly commenced of various Detroit and Luton products for the local market. Seventeen years later, ‘General Motors Holden’ launched the 48-215 ‘FX’ – their first in-house manufactured vehicle and “Australia’s Own Car” – and by the early Sixties, the marque dominated the country’s roads. However, the sales threats from the Valiant, the Falcon and an increasingly popular import from Japan called the Nissan Cedric led Holden to invest in the replacement for their current EJ.

The EH was the eighth generation of Holdens, and GMC offered the customer three trim levels. The Standard at least featured twin sun visors and “beautiful Elascofab” upholstery”, and the Special came with a more elaborate exterior. Finally, for the ambitious young lawyer, there was the Premier, with leather trim, a heater, metallic paint and a radio. It also boasted a white steering wheel, and with a car of such elegance, who cared if the top speed was only 78 mph? Hydramatic transmission was an optional extra, married to a 2.9-litre unit; EHs with three-on-the-column had a 2.4-litre motor. Buyers could also opt for a very ‘Station Sedan’, a Utility or a panel van, while the factory produced a limited number of high-performance ‘S4’ variants for homologation purposes.

Wheels magazine thought the new power plants “transform Australia’s own into a real sparkler”, while Modern Motor told its readers that “electric two-speed wipers are fitted to every model”. The variety of Holdens now available was in marked contrast to the company’s earlier ‘single model’ policy, and it enhanced their image compared with their Chrysler and Ford rivals. GMH produced 256,959 examples in just 18 months before introducing the replacement HD, which made the EH the fastest-selling Australian car to date.

Today, the EH is as emblematic of early to mid-sixties Australia as the first records by The Seekers. As for the key to its success – it was the right car, launched at the right time for a receptive market. And the Holden with “real excitement every time you take the wheel” is also one of the best-looking cars of its era.