HOLDEN EJ-EH

THESE HOLDENS MAY BE APPROACHING PENSION AGE BUT THEY OFTEN STEAL THE SHOW AT CAR AND COFFEE GATHERINGS

As mentioned in the Market Review section of this guide, the EJ and EH ranges were in the market for just 30 months ( July 1962 until February 1965) and during that time changed the culture of the Holden brand.

No longer would Holdens be burdened with styling discarded years earlier by the Design Office in Detroit. And from mid-1963 when the EH appeared, Holdens would no longer be powered (or underpowered as the case may have been) by engines dating back to the Great Depression.

When the EJ range appeared on 30 July 1962 the difference between it and the horribly outdated EK was immense. Lower, modern and more compact with not a tailfin in sight, the EJ was a head turner and more than 10,000 a month were being immediately sold.

Despite its smaller dimensions, the EJ sedan would still accommodate six adult Aussies and a stack of luggage. Those needing more space could choose a station wagon or for extra cargo a utility or panel van.

Mechanically not a lot had changed, with a 2.3-litre version of the traditional ‘grey’ Holden motor making just 45kW. Three-on-the-tree manual transmission was standard with Hydramatic as an option, all-drum brakes and leaf rear springs.

There was a new model though; a Premier sedan with leather seats – separate buckets up front, not a bench – metallic paint, white-wall tyres, a heater/demister and carpets.

The EJ lasted just 13 months in the market and had obviously been keeping the seat warm for Holden’s more dramatic EH. While the two were not hugely dissimilar in size and shape, the EH was a substantially different car.

The turret and rear quarters were new, as were the boot lid and rear light clusters. Even the grilles which appeared to be similar in design were quite different when placed side by side.

Big news came when the bonnet was lifted and the engines revealed. They still had six cylinders and a single carburettor but the ‘small’ 149 cubic inch (2.4 litre) version produced 75kW while the 2.9-litre ‘179’ took power to a massive 115bhp or 86kW.

The EH with its more aggressive shape ideally matched the additional performance available from the new ‘red’ motors and not even a disaster at the 1963 Bathurst 500, where the potentially front-running Holdens lost or broke wheels, could dampen demand.

With more than 155,000 EJs and 250,000 EHs sold, lots have survived and demand from the enthusiast market remains strong. However, we aren’t likely to see again the 303 cars surveyed by the 1995 Value Guide or an average value of $4320. Premiers were scarce even then, with only 39 found at an average of $6360.

Move into the current market and a decent EH Special sedan will bring $35,000 – a bit more if it comes with a factory-fit ‘179’ and manual gearbox. EJ Specials in nice condition cost around $10,000 less than a 179 EH. Premiers however are on a much higher price scale