Interesting Max, I read about that somewhere before and had forgotten about it
I think HD was the one that changed the numbers - because it was one of the head honchos initials (edit, just looked and apparently David Hegland was MD at the time)
The FX designation has been of some speculation - often it has been suggested car dealer who was sick of writing 48-215 and abbreviated it.
However, another more believable reason was detailed in one of Don Loffler's Holden books. Apparently (according to one of the engineers working for Holden's at the time) stated the FX was name from 1951 ish onwards when they changed the suspension - F for fifty X meaning cross member.
We will probably never know definitively as most of the people who were involved have passed away
And the Highly Dangerous HD had the vent window which opened inwards and if not really careful when turning the steering wheel you smacked the back of your hand into it and that was extremely painful. They rectified the problem with the HR
I always thought the HD looked like the HR's goofy cousin. The rear looked ok, if a little bland. An HR Premier with 186 and Powerglide 2 speed transmission. That's the luxury car for me!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I haven't heard of any other Holden models having letters that matched a numerical system ,that's right Tyler the HD was given random initials ( Hegland David) because Holden didn't like the fact that too many people had cracked the code.
Interesting info on the FX ,I was told X for unknown code letter model.
Yep no VD Holden WCE ,surprised they had a VB commodore sounds more like a beer. I knew people who hated Commodores VB VC VH VK VN VG VP, very boring, very crude. very hideous, very knave, very nasty, very grimson, very plastic.
Yes the HD was never Highly Desirable BB,I still have an original sales brochure for the HD except I haven't seen where it's hiding for a few years now.
Holden had some strange air vents Norm,I remember with the HQ Holden you could flick them so they spun around when driving and they would continue spinning until the car slowed down enough so the vent air would not effect them anymore.
Think I have a HD or HR owners manual around here somewhere Max
I remember a few years ago hearing 1 or 2 VD commodore did slip through - apparently because letters were confused with TD gemini. Only problem is the TD stopped in 79, and the VC was early 1980 to Nov 81
No WC statesman either.
Originally Posted by Bonnar_Bloke
HD was affectionately known as "Holden's Disaster" .
Or HD Horribly Designed and HR Hastily Rectified haha
And what about the FB with the weird wraparound windscreen that you could smack your knee on.
First Holden my grandparents bought was a FB (prior to that 2 Ford Zephyrs) - apparently Nan forgot she left the back door open and ripped it off on the garage post.
Then there was the one of the Torana's with 4 wheel drum brakes that got wet in a big puddle and she lost brakes down a steep hill and went into a ditch. 6 week old car and she refused to ever drive it again - from what I am told it was traded in on a Torana SL 6 with front discs (LJ). After that a HX Kingswood Vacationer, VB 202, and then the JB Camira.
She has to hand in her license next month - so roughly 50 years of driving nothing but Holden (would be 60 years but there was a Valiant Regal for 2 years in the late 60's)
I had my father's 48-215 workshop manual that is identical to your first image Max, but sadly it copped a guts full of water some years ago in a flash flood and it was totally destroyed. It was in absolute mint condition prior to that.
I had to iron dry all the pages individually and as such I still have it, but not in it's best state like it used to be.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Here my copy - 1952 update. It was used by the RAC originally - so very poor condition. The later ones are better though.
It was a HR manual - also found a manual from the arch nemesis
There are still a few Camira's about - have seen a few locally - a 1983 sedan and a later JE wagon, both driven by presumably the original owners.
Nan bought hers new in sept 83, and it has had a somewhat interesting life. She has always looked after it, but along the way it has been stolen from a mechanic and thrashed up 1.5 hr from perth (big dents in the sump and trans pan from rocks), had the front end taken off by a fairlane driven by a guy (who incidentally ended up in jail a few years later after conviction in a bikie gang murder).
The engine has been cooked several times (warped head, etc) ran probably 50 km with nearly no oil (blown sump gasket once, mechanic left oil cap off another time so bonnet soundproofing covered in oil), ran about the same dist with no coolant a few times (blown radiator, several coolant hoses), abused by many mechanics (timing advanced so far it wouldn't turn off, putting used oil back in, tying choke half shut with chicken wire, plugging vac lines with bamboo skewers, smacking a camry thermostat in with a hammer, disconnecting vacuum advance, disconnecting fast idle cam).
After a fair bit of work over the years getting it right, it is running pretty well - nice to drive and use. Proud to have it.
That's a shame about the manual BB when it was mint, my manual is a hand me down so it's well used and a bit grimy.
I'm always impressed when people keep repairing a vehicle rather than replace it, I don't think of cars as status symbols ,as long as the owner likes their car that's all that matters.
Sounds like Nans Camira has had a colourful past Tyler.
Someone tried to steal it circa 2008 from a shopping centre - broke the drivers door lock barrel - so now has 2 keys - 1 for drivers door, other original for everything else
Knowing the area, I conclude they were stoned or on meth and thought it was a VH Commodore haha
It has the crook lock on the steering wheel, plus an immobiliser installed in the mid 90s when the government were offering them cheap - think it only cost $99 at the time.
The aboriginal kids were breaking into car fuel caps armed with screwdriver, jerry can and siphon hose in 2012. They got (or at least broke the filler door) of the neighbours BA falcon, a few falcons down the road , but they couldn't get past the Camira's locking fuel cap - as opposed to the other cars remote filler doors with unlockable caps. Police were called (2 times one night) and chased them off twice.
I also have at least 80 manuals as well - ranging from late 30's Morris's, Austin's, MG Magnette, HQ, Corona's, Camira's, VL commodore onwards, pintara, skyline, bluebird, sigma's, sigma scorpion, pajeros, 323, etc. Good to read sometimes and sometimes have a laugh about things they put in there
Nice Prem by the way - HK? 350ci or 327? - placement of oil filter looks distinctly chev but I don't know minute differences
I'm always impressed when people keep repairing a vehicle rather than replace it, I don't think of cars as status symbols ,as long as the owner likes their car that's all that matters.
I have a 92 Fairlane Ghia 302 and 89 Laser 1.6 and enjoy my laser more despite being less powerful. Ever since I reduced the tyre pressures to 24psi as recommended on the placard, it handles and rides way better than at 30psi or above. Fuel economy hasn't suffered either! It feels very sure footed and relaxed on tight bends. The Fairlane hasn't been on the road in a couple of months as it won't fire up due to no spark. My mechanic came over and found no spark and suggested it's the ecu relay switch. I just tried another one I got off a wreck (new Ford ones are no longer stocked by Ford) and it made no difference. The problem started after I left the boot incompletely shut, leaving the boot light on and draining the battery dead flat in the next few days. After recharging, it wouldn't start. I managed to get it to go one day but then it wouldn't start the next. It's been sitting ever since. Parts for early 1990s Falcons and their derivatives like my Fairlane are drying up. Try finding any at the wreckers now. My car has become a museum piece by the looks of things.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
It's a 327 with a Ford Z9 oil filter conversion Tyler ,the car behind the motor is a HG and the other 2 pics are the same HT Premier, I've had a few HK/T/G Prems ,I can recall at least seven.
Mf ,I've heard with the 90's Fords ,you check your interior lamp fuse which is a 10amp fuse inside the car because this fuse is wired up to the smart lock system,also check to make sure the smart lock light is flashing when the ignition is off,anything like a blown boot light or interior lamp will blow the fuse effecting the ignition so I've heard.
I would check the boot light globe hasn't burnt out and fuses and I did hear something about leaving the ignition on for 30 min and then crank the car to start it,worth a try nothing to loose. The old points cars would over heat the coil if ignition was left on without engine running but computer ignition should not have that problem but it would be worth checking the temperature of the coil after a few minutes just to make sure it's not getting hot.
HT, of course. I was thinking 'HT onwards had the ABS plastic grill', but that was only belmont and kingswood. HK had holden written in the bottom, whereas the HT had the middle badge.
I find it silly they route so many things through 1 fuse. In the old wheels magazines there was the regular column 'Dirty Wheels" - the writings of a motor mechanic. I think it was Bill Tuckey's Brother writing under a pseudonym.
They had a 928 Porsche with flat batteries - no alternator charge - rip out the difficult to remove unit, only to find no issue - turned out it was a blown charge indicator light on dash.
