The effect was dramatic and totally changed the appearance of the car giving it a more modern, aggressive appearance. We have little doubt when the design team at Holden embarked on EFIJY the single defining reason for selecting the FJ as the model to be conceptualised was the car's iconic grille.

In today's terms we'd say the FJ gained a lot of bling as part of the upgrade. Read into that a lot more chrome, which was the hallmark of cars in the 1950s. The FJ gained different hubcaps and bumpers and new, bright decorations including tiny new chrome fins on the rear mudguards. The body had to change as the mechanicals remained almost unaltered. The same 138 cubic inch (2.15 litre) straight six engine (the `grey' motor) hooked up to a three speed column-mounted shifter.

The assets that the FX had brought to the Australian people – a car that was built for Australian conditions – were `good ground clearance, good ride, rugged drivetrain, energetic performance, comfortable seating for six, low maintenance, fuel economy and unbeatable value for money,' states Holden Heritage, a book published for Holden's 50^th anniversary of Holden car manufacture in 1998.

It was the job of the FJ to continue FX's good work, but with a little more style and a lot more variation in models. The FX came out with three models: Sedan, Business Sedan and Utility. It was a huge success selling 120,402 units in a five year run. The utility was released in 1951 with the official code of 50-2106.

When the FJ was released in October 1953 the accessory list was also expanded and the choice of colours elevated to 12. There was also a new deluxe model – the Special – that featured such luxuries as armrests, chrome window winders, chrome instrument surrounds, rear passenger assist straps, and a cigarette lighter and by request came with two-tone exterior paint. By December Holden released a new variant: a panel van. We have highlighted these two variants: the Holden Special with two tone paint and the panel van, in this article. The van was a utility- based vehicle with the roofline extended and an upper tailgate dovetailed in with the existing lower tailgate. The FJ lineup still retained the Sedan, Business Sedan, and Utility so there were now five variants in the stable.

Holden had a major impact on every aspect of Australian life in these early years. We loved these cars and Holden could simply not produce enough of them. The benefits of owning a Holden are outlined above, and these must not be taken lightly. Many of our roads – even major arteries – were still narrow and many were still gravel. So ground clearance was vital after rain. There were many roads with creek crossings, so again the cars needed good clearance. Reliability was a major issue. American cars in general were reliable, but British cars did not have the same reputation. Six seats were also important.

Many people could not afford a car, so in those days there was a lot of car sharing with neighbours and relatives. These practical benefits saw Holden thrive. In 1953 production rose to 200 units a day and for the first time, in 1954, Holdens were shipped to New Zealand in an export trade that continues to this day. By years end there were 321 cars shipped across the ditch. Arguably Kiwis love their Holdens as much as Aussies. Not that many will admit to this. It was also in 1953 that Holden station wagon reached prototype stage, but production did not proceed. That was left for the FE Holden in 1956.

The FJ Holden also found another niche for enthusiasts: Motor sport. The cost of a basic FJ Holden was $2046 so for business people and the racing fraternity the entry-level car was not expensive. The cars were to undergo a basic performance enhancing package. The car was generally lowered all round, exhaust headers or extractors were fitted along with twin or triple carburettors. The exhaust usually ended up exiting on the side of the car as there was no space at the back as the car had been lowered. The ports were polished, the head shaved and many installed a race camshaft. Those with more money to spend had the engine fully balanced and added light-weight pistons. The gear shift was often moved from the column to the floor. Wide wheels were also fitted. FJ race cars could reach almost 200 km/h, which at the time was quite a feat for a car that had the aerodynamics of a brick wall.

The broadening of the range was a key to Holden capturing the vital market segments. The utility found instant success with farmers – in the early 1950s Australian was still riding high on the sheep's back – and the van found favour with bakers, butchers and tradesmen as well as a delivery vehicle. The three sedan variants also appealed to different buyer profiles and wallets. The Sedan was an entry level vehicle, the Business Sedan aimed at traveling businessman and sales people while the Special was the family sedan.