The Holden EK series is a motor vehicle produced by
Holden
Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own marque in Australia. In its last thre ...
in Australia from 1961 to 1962.Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, 2002, pages 232-233 Introduced on 2 May 1961, the EK series was a facelifted version of the
Holden FB
The Holden FB is an automobile produced by Holden in Australia from 1960 to 1961.Holden FB< ...
, which it replaced.
Model range
The EK range consisted of four-door
sedans
A sedan or saloon (British English) is a passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo.
The first recorded use of the word "sedan" in reference to an automobile body occurred in 19 ...
in two trim levels, five-door
station wagon
A station wagon ( US, also wagon) or estate car ( UK, also estate), is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door ( ...
s in two trim levels,"Holden, Australia’s Own Car" (GMH sales brochure for Holden EK Sedans and Station Sedans) a two-door coupe utility and a two-door
panel van
A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van (United Kingdom) or sedan delivery (United States), is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. ...
."Holden, Australia’s Own Utility, Australia’s Own Panel Van" (GMH sales brochure for Holden EK Utility and Panel Van) The six models were marketed as follows:
* Holden Standard Sedan
* Holden Standard Station Sedan
* Holden Special Sedan
* Holden Special Station Sedan
* Holden Utility
* Holden Panel Van
File:1961-1962 Holden EK Standard sedan 01.jpg, Holden Standard Sedan
File:Holden EK Standard Sedan 1961 Keiwa Grey.jpg, Holden Standard Sedan
File:Holden EK Standard Station Sedan 1961 Cataract Grey.jpg, Holden Standard Station Sedan
File:1962 Holden Special (EK) sedan (26974871432).jpg, Holden Special Sedan
File:1961-1962 Holden EK Special Station Sedan 00.jpg, Holden Special Station Sedan
File:1961 Holden EK Panel Van.jpg, Holden Panel Van
File:Holden EK 1961 Panel Van Model 2104 Pittwater Green.jpg, Holden Panel Van
File:1961 Holden EK utility (7143954893).jpg, Holden Utility
File:Holden EK Utility 1961 Strata Blue.jpg, Holden Utility
Changes
The EK, the first new Holden released in the 1960s, was a minor facelift of the superseded FB series, with obvious changes limited to a new grille of eight vertical bars (instead of six), and body side mouldings. In terms of finish, "Standard" vehicles were painted in a single colour with no additional trimming or fittings, while "Special", the most popular model, came with stainless steel trims along the side and a white roof, as well as chrome Special badges, and two-tone vinyl interiors. Parking lights were incorporated into the top grille bar, and other changes included new exterior badges, a revised interior trim, electric wipers (replacing the old vacuum-type ones), and a new fresh-air unit Tony Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 81 with a new ventilation air intake located forward of the windscreen.
The only significant mechanical change from the FB was the introduction of the first automatic transmission to be offered on a Holden. Marketed as the
Hydra-Matic
Hydramatic (also known as Hydra-Matic) is an automatic transmission developed by both General Motors' Cadillac and Oldsmobile divisions. Introduced in 1939 for the 1940 model year vehicles, the ''Hydramatic'' was the first mass-produced fully ...
, it was a well-regarded three-speed unit which was fully imported from the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It was offered as an option on only the Holden Special models. Other options included more than 30 approved NASCO Accessories, such as a bonnet lock, a locking tank cap, a car heater, external rear-view mirrors, or a sunshade.
Visually, the two commercial vehicles, the Utility and Panel Van, remained almost identical to the previous model, the FB. In fact, the FB rear quarter panels and tail lights were carried over to the EK commercials. However, the carrying capacity was increased from by fitting upgraded springs.
Engines
Like the FB series, all EK models were powered by a inline
six-cylinder engine
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
, commonly referred to (due to its paint colour) as a "grey motor" having been bored out over the bore of earlier models, producing .
Production and replacement
Like the FB series, the EK was sold in several overseas markets in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations. Primary markets included New Zealand, South-East Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The EK was also sold in South Africa, where it was marketed as the car "built for a country like ours." Due to its rugged nature, it was very popular with farmers in South Africa.
In 1961, 112,680 units were sold to the public (compared to 140,336 units in 1960) and Holden employed over 18,500 people. However, sales the following year slowed as the effects of the
Recession of 1960–61
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be triggered by various ...
began to be felt in the Australian economy, coupled with a new 40 per cent sales tax on motor cars. Further, competitors XK Ford Falcon and R Series Chrysler Valiant "compact sixes", which had a squarer less cumbersome look, further ate into Holden's market dominance. After a production run of 150,214 vehicles, the EK was replaced by the
Holden EJ
The Holden EJ is a motor vehicle produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1962 to 1963. Introduced in July 1962,Unique Cars and Parts - Holden EK