Red motors are back!

I have been reading a lot of comments in relation to red motors in EJ Holdens for some time and notice that, over time the facts become a little distorted especially by newer generations that have been “told” things that are not quite correct and they take it as verbatim. I was around in the day and will add my two bob’s worth.

The EJ Holden was only in production around about a year and had the last of the old side plate grey motors, they were never offered new with a 149 or 179ci motors as that was the big news with the coming EH. GM-H probably did install a red or two motors in E’s for testing maybe but where are the facts?

My brother worked at Preston Motors in South. Melbourne and still remembers that as you walked in to the spare parts door to the left were two brand new 138ci grey motors, not re-built not change-over but brand new ex-factory, this was back in 1967!

Now you have to ask the question why would GM-H put red engines in the EJ when they still had loads of them in stock?

Many people fitted reds in the earlier Holdens, especially when the greys wore out, they were simple to fit when they came available in the later 1960s. I worked for Sydney Atkinsons Motors in Perth in the early 1970s. It was a GM dealer and installed motors like the 173s in standard form to LC Toranas and in GTR form (ie

WW Stromberg and headers etc) when they ran out of 161s. Also, they fitted 202s in HG’s when they ran out of 186s.

So the only red engines in EJs were more than likely installed by their owners.

As for the comment on XP Ford Falcons having both 13-inch and 14-inch wheels l can factually state that the 14 was only available on the XP Fairmont, as they were an imported wheel from the USA and were fitted purely to clear the standard unventilated disc brake and caliper to the Fairmont. They were a four-stud wheel,

The next model Falcon XR had 14-inch in five-stud.

As an aside a friend of mine worked for the Ford Motor Co and remembers the first XK Falcon came with the 144ci motor until about the last three months of manufacture in mid 1962. It did come with a Pursuit 170ci motor as well, but this was not advertised as Ford was tr ying to get rid of the last of the XKs before the XL series.

GREAT INSIGHT, James, thanks. There’s no doubt there are owner-fitted red motors in EJs. And we’ve had some compelling testimony that there may have been a factory-fitted example or two getting around out there. It’s a seductive thought, even if the evidence is up for debate.

“WHY WOULD GM-H PUT RED ENGINES IN THE ‘THE EJ WHEN THEY HAD LOADS IN STOCK”