Holden EH: the first Holden with the red engine

The Holden EH was built in Australia from 1963 to 1965 and released on 26 August 1963 as the replacement for the Holden EJ. It was the first Holden to use the new red engine, whose seven-main-bearing crankshaft replaced the four-bearing grey engine.

Holden EH at a glance

History of the Holden EH

A new engine

The EH was the first Holden to incorporate the new red engine, which used a seven-main-bearing crankshaft instead of the four-main-bearing grey unit. It came initially in two capacities, the 100 hp 149 and the 115 hp 179 cubic inch versions. All models except the Premier had the 149 as standard, with either manual or Hydramatic transmission, and a lower-compression 95 hp 149 was available as an option.

The Premier models received only the larger 179 with the HP cast block, at first with the Hydramatic alone. That automatic was a four-stage unit with a column shift that worked effectively as a three-speed except at full throttle. The manual was a three-speed column shift with a non-synchromesh first gear and synchromesh only on second and top.

The S4 and the 179 manual

The first EH to combine the 179 engine with a manual gearbox was called the EH-S4, officially EH225M-S4. It had an upgraded gearbox with stronger gears than the 149 version, plus a stronger clutch and brakes and a few other changes. The S4 Special was introduced in September 1963 for racing homologation, with at least 100 required to be built and sold. It had the 179 engine, a manual transmission with hardened gears, a 12-imperial-gallon fuel tank instead of the standard 9 gallons, a more comprehensive tool kit, metal-lined brake shoes and a larger tailshaft; six were built at Dandenong and 120 at Pagewood.

The mainstream release of the 179 engine with the three-speed manual across all models came on 10 February 1964.

The range

The EH came as Standard and Special sedans and station sedans, the S4 Special sedan, Premier sedan and station sedan, a utility and a panel van; the Station Sedan name was used for all wagons. Standard models had no side badging, rubber floor mats and single-tone acrylic paint. Specials added stainless moulding strips, special badges and optional two-tone paint. The Premier was the top of the range with the 179 engine and Hydramatic, leather interior, bucket seats, a fold-down centre armrest in the rear, carpets, metallic paint, a centre console with heater and demister, a handbrake warning light, a boot light in sedans and chrome-plated wheel trims. A radio was not standard, despite the common belief.

The Standard EH cost the same as its EJ predecessor at £1051. After 256,959 cars the EH was replaced by the Holden HD series in 1965.

Design and features

• Red engine: seven main bearings instead of four, in 149 and 179 cubic inch sizes.
• Hydramatic: a four-stage automatic that behaved like a three-speed except at full throttle.
• Premier luxury: leather, bucket seats, metallic paint and a console with heater.
• S4 homologation special: bigger fuel tank, hardened gears and a larger tailshaft.
• Acrylic paint: standard across the range, with two-tone optional on Specials.

Holden EH versions

• Standard sedan and station sedan: basic trim, mostly 149 engines.
• Special sedan and station sedan: stainless mouldings and optional two-tone paint.
• Premier sedan and station sedan: 179 engine, Hydramatic and leather.
• S4 Special (1963): 126 cars built for racing homologation.
• Utility and panel van: the two commercial bodies.

The EH replaced the Holden EJ and was followed by the Holden HD; the Premier name lived on in the Holden Premier range. More cars are in the Holden collection.

Video: EH HOLDEN LS2 tuff & elegant

Video by Monaro on YouTube.

Sources

• Holden EH, English Wikipedia: engines, models, production, prices