HOLDEN EH RETRO

HOLDEN EH RETRO

The Holden EH Retro was an automobile produced by General Motors-Holden’s in Australia from 1963 to 1965. The EH was released in August 1963 replacing the Holden EJ series and was the first Holden to incorporate the new “Red” engine, with a 7 main bearing crankshaft instead of the 4 main bearing crankshaft used in the “Grey” engine. The larger capacity 149 ci (2400cc) engine was first only sold attached to a three-speed manual gear box or the “Hydramatic” three-speed automatic transmission with a (column shift). The 179 ci (2900cc) engine was only sold with the “Hydramatic” three-speed. The first EH with a 179 ci engine and a manual gear box, was called the “EH-S4”. The 179ci engine then became available with an up-graded manual gear box, with stronger gears than the 149ci gear box. The three-speed manual (column shift) gear boxes had no synchromesh on first gear, requiring double de-clutching. The 179 ci manual also used an up-graded clutch.

A total of 256,959 EH Holdens were produced and sold from 1963 to 1965, when the EH was replaced by the Holden HD series.

The Holden EH range was offered in the following models: Standard Sedan, Standard Station Sedan, Special Sedan, Special Station Sedan, S4 Special Sedan, Premier Sedan, Premier Station Sedan, Utility and Panel van.
The Station Sedan name was used on all station wagon models.

“Standard” models were basic with no side badging and were mostly fitted with 149ci engines, rubber floor mats and single-tone acrylic paint finish. “Special” models came equipped with stainless moulding strips all round, special badges and optional two-tone paint jobs still in acrylic paint.