The Holden EH is an automobile produced by General Motors-Holden in Australia from 1963 to 1965. The EH was released in August 1963[1] replacing the Holden EJ series, and was the first Holden to incorporate the new "Red" engine, with a seven main bearing crankshaft instead of the four main bearing crankshaft used in the "Grey" engine. At first, a larger capacity 149-cubic-inch (2,440 cc) engine was only sold attached to a three-speed manual gearbox or the "Hydramatic" four-stage automatic transmission with a column shift. The Controlled Coupling Hydramatic used in the EH was actually a four-stage, although it effectively worked as a three-speed unit, except at full throttle.[2] The 179-cubic-inch (2,930 cc) engine was initially sold only with the "Hydramatic" transmission. The first EH with a 179-cubic-inch engine and a manual gear box was called the "EH-S4", and was fitted with an upgraded manual gearbox, having stronger gears than in the 149 gear box, and an upgraded clutch. The three-speed manual column shift gearboxes had no synchromesh on first gear, only on the second and third (top) gear. Mainstream release of the 179 engine mated to the 3 speed manual transmission option occurred on the 10th February 1964.

Holden EH
Holden Special sedan
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors-Holden's
Also calledHolden Standard
Holden Special
Holden Premier
Holden Utility
Holden Panel Van
ProductionAugust 1963–February 1965
DesignerStan Parker
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size
Body style4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
2-door coupé utility
2-door panel van
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine2.4L GMH '149' I6
2.9L GMH '179' I6
Transmission3spd manual
3spd "Hydra-Matic" automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase106.0 inches (2692mm)
Length177.6 inches (4511mm)
Width68.0 inches (1727mm)
Height58.2 inches (1478mm)
Curb weight2464lb (1118kg)
Chronology
PredecessorHolden EJ
SuccessorHolden HD

A total of 256,959 EH Holdens were produced and sold from 1963 to 1965, when the EH was replaced by the Holden HD series.

Range

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The Holden EH range was offered in the following models:[3]

  • Standard Sedan [4]
  • Standard Station Sedan [4]
  • Special Sedan [4]
  • Special Station Sedan [4]
  • S4 Special Sedan [3]
  • Premier Sedan [4]
  • Premier Station Sedan [4]
  • Utility [5]
  • Panel van [5]

The Station Sedan name was used on all station wagon models.

"Standard" models were basic, with no side badging, and were mostly fitted with 149-cubic-inch engines, rubber floor mats and single-tone acrylic paint finish. "Special" models came equipped with stainless moulding strips all round, special badges and optional two-tone paint jobs, still in acrylic paint. The "Premier" was the top of the range model, with a 179-cubic-inch engine and Hydramatic transmission, leather interior, bucket seats, fold-down centre armrest in the back seat, carpets, metallic paint, a centre console incorporating a heater/demister, a handbrake warning light, a boot light (in sedan models) and chrome-plated wheel trims. Contrary to popular belief a car radio was not standard equipment for the Premier. The Standard EH was the same price as its predecessor (EJ) at £1051.

The "S4 Special" was introduced in September 1963 for racing homologation purposes - a minimum of 100 were required to be built & sold. These featured a 179 engine, manual transmission with hardened gears, a 12 imp gal (55 L) fuel tank (9 imp gal (41 L) was standard), a more comprehensive tool kit, metal lined brake shoes and a larger tailshaft.[6] Six were produced at Holden's Melbourne's (Dandenong) plant and 120 in Sydney's (Pagewood) plant.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, 2002, page 235
  2. ^ EH Holden Owners Manual, General Motors - Holden, 1964 (Provided with car at purchase)
  3. ^ a b Holden EH Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 1 March 2009
  4. ^ a b c d e f Sales brochure for EH series Holden Sedans and Station Sedans
  5. ^ a b Sales brochure for EH series Holden Utility and Panel Van
  6. ^ 1963 Holden EH, The Holden Heritage Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.holden.com.au on 1 March 2009
  7. ^ 1963 EH Holden Special S4, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 9, pages 80-86
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