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2012 Shannons Vehicle Auction at MotorEx
Lot
18

1961 Holden EK Standard Station Sedan

PASSED IN

Passed In

Specifications

Engine In-line, 6-cylinder 138-cid
Gearbox 3-speed manual
Body Work Station Sedan
Colour Cataract Grey
Interior Red/Grey
Trim Vinyl
Wheels Steel disc
Brakes Drums

Description

This lot is no longer available

As was the case with the previous 2 body shapes, the FB Holden was face lifted in 1961 and released as the "EK". The list of refinements included revised interior trim, new exterior badges and mouldings (the rear-side colour flash of the FC and FB was deleted), a new fresh-air/heating unit, a new ventilation air intake located forward of the windscreen and a new grille with eight vertical bars instead of six.

Parking lights were incorporated into the top grille bar. At last the old "vacuum" wipers were replaced with electrically operated units, which were indeed far superior if not far safer! Most notable was the availability of a new "Hydramatic" 3 speed automatic transmission.

Imported from America, the Hydramatic was regarded as one of the best available in the world - and brought the "EK" to a new level of luxury. Once again there were two levels of refinement, "Standard" being the basic car with no additional trimming or fittings, the body being painted in a single colour and "Special", the most popular model, with stainless steel trims along the side, chrome Special badges, two-tone vinyl interiors, as well as a better choice of exterior colours with a white roof.

Holden choose to make the Hydramatic available as an option only on the "Special", while their 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.