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1953 FJ Holden Coupe
Probably the most recognisable Australian hot rod ever built is Holden's contemporary take on the iconic FJ Holden, the awesome EFIJY.
Since being let loose at the 2005 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, EFIJY in has become an international star leading US hot rod parades and taking centre stage as a crowd-puller at international motor shows. What is remarkable about EFIGY is that people who have never seen a FJ Holden still appreciate the the car. Simply for what it is, not it's metamorphis from a high-riding, gangly design that can be traced to pre-WW2.
The FJ was the ultimate car for the Australian family. It would seat six – bench seats front and back – had a fair size boot and was economical, yet had good performance for it's era. FJ came out in three sedan variants, a ute and a van. It was never produced as a coupe or convertible.
Unlike many cars of this ilk, EFIJY was never a concept car. It was simply a bunch of Holden designers have fun on the side. Letting their imaginations run wild. At the time the car made headlines then GM Holden managing director, Denny Mooney said EFIJY was about `fun, emotion and imaginations.'
No doubt that comment you apply to a couple of other blokes who also believed in the possibility of creating an FJ Coupe. Richie Thompson and his mate Ted Johnstone did not have the budget or backing of GM, plus 20 major suppliers when they built this unique 1953 FJ Coupe. We found the car at the Cleveland Auto Extravaganza in Brisbane earlier this year. Okay, it's not another EFIJY! Nor was it intended to be, as Richie and Ted approached the FJ Coupe concent from another angle. If Holden had produced an FJ Coupe in the early 1950's is this what it might have looked like?
Unlike EFIGY the lads stayed closely to the FJ design philosophy. The front and back are identical to the original FJ sedan. It's that part in the middle that has been radically altered to facilitate the coupe concept. And while this may look like an FJ from the outside, it's really a Holden hybrid. No, not the modern concept of hybrid that refers to electric/combustion engines, but the parts they incorporated to make the project work.
Firstly, there's a lot of VT Commodore running gear aboard the FJ: under the bonnet there's a 3.8 litre Ecotec V6, replacing the `grey' motor, and hooked up to a four speed GM auto transmission. The steering, dash, console, seats, cruise control, central locking and windscreen wipers are also courtesy of VT.
The differential is thanks to a VL Commodore, the front end is off a 1966 HR Holden, rotors off a VN Commodore and HX Holden brake calipers. But, the real interest with this car is in its shape. The car started life as an FJ sedan which had a pronounced boot, unlike some cars from this era that were slopers, or slope backed. The coupe creators kept the boot style by shortening the turret or roof by 50cm.
The two front doors were lengthened by 100 mm and the boot lid and body extended forward where the back doors were to meet the coupe's doors and new shortened turret. If the paint colour looks familiar, it should. It's the same as used on VE Commodore. There's no doubt the car resembles a 1930's US coupe from any number of makes. To me it looks like it may have been inspired by a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe.
1953 FJ Holden Facts
Engine: 2.15 litre straight six
Transmission: three speed manual
Models: Standard/Business/Special sedans, panel van, utility.
Dimensions: Length: 4370mm; Wheelbase: 2616mm; Width: 1702mm
Total number built: 169,969.
Production continued to 1956 when the FE Holden was launched in July.
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