1963 Holden EJ Special Sedan

Description

Ushering in a new era of luxury for the 1960s was the EJ Holden which was announced in July 1962, replacing the upright lines of the FB/EK series with lower, wider, squared-off styling that was again a combination of American and British influences. The last traces of separate front and rear wings were gone, replaced by a sleek full-width grille, greater glass area and more interior space. The cabin architecture of the EJ was also new, with rubber padding on the fascia and a larger glovebox. Mechanically, the EJ remained much as before, retaining the trusty 'grey' motor with a choice of either a three-speed manual or Hydra-matic automatic transmission. Twin-servo brakes were a useful new safety feature, along with safety belt mounts for the first time and stronger front suspension. The electrical system was upgraded with a thermal circuit breaker and the spare wheel mounted in the boot to improve luggage capacity. Expanding the model range, Holden developed a more luxurious model, badged Premier, which boasted items like a white steering wheel and console buttons, four-door armrests, chromed wheel trim and bonnet ornament, gold/red badges on the boot lid and front guards, along with whitewall tyres. The EJ built on the success of previous models and the 1,000,000th Holden was built during its production run, a period that also saw the opening of new plants in Elizabeth, South Australia, and Fisherman's Bend in Melbourne to meet demand.