READER RESTO
HOLDEN STATION SEDAN
This was Holden’s second station sedan – it superseded the FE and the changes, such as the grille, were minimal. There were some mechanical updates and more noticeable were the inevitable cosmetic changes.
The jump to FE from FJ was actually pretty big. There were more significant mechanical changes but the most important in my view was the switch from six to 12 volt electrics. I own a 48-215 as well (which UniqueCars mag has featured) and the difference between these and the previous generation is dramatic. They feel more like a modern car.
An issue with the six volt systems is they don’t like starting when the car is hot, sometimes you need to let them cool down for half an hour. I don’t know how people used to put up with it, particularly in Summer.
The FC is still basic when it comes to creature comforts, however this one has a heater, which was an accessory. It’s a little noisy, but you put up with it on a cold day.
Oddly enough I came across the car in my street. I noticed it
“HE HAD SEEN ME IN THE 48-215, AND FIGURED I WOULD COME KNOCKING”
hadn’t moved for about six weeks so, after talking to wife Grace about it, I wandered over. He was a young guy and said, “I wondered when you would show.” It turns out he had seen me in the 48-215 and figured I would come knocking on the door.
He had decided to sell and it cost the grand sum of $1200 – this was back in 2005. It was in fair condition, but was running a 186 with a Yella Terra head instead of the grey motor and had been converted to an alternator charging system. The good news it was still running the original type radiator, so the subframe had been left alone. The petrol tank was gone and the cabin reeked of petrol. Fortunately it was downhill to my place, so we rolled it home.
The number plates on it were the originals and I’ve kept that number, even though it’s now on club plates.
Body-wise it was pretty good. If it had needed the sort of work I put into the 48-215 some years earlier, I would have sold it straight away. The floor pans were gone, there was a bit of rust in the guards, but the sills were good, as were the doors and tailgate.
One problem was finding a petrol tank, as they’re different from the ones used in a sedan. The latter has the filler at the rear, while the wagon’s is on the side and there aren’t many out there.
I sourced a grey motor for it and put the engine bay back to standard. It’s based on an old overhead valve Buick six, displacing 132.5ci (2170cc). It got bored out to 138ci (2260cc) for the FB series. That’s matched to a three-on-the-tree manual with synchro on second and third.
They’re a simple car to work on.