HOLDEN EK RETRO

HOLDEN EK RETRO

The Holden EK Retro series is a motor vehicle that was produced by Holden in Australia from 1961 to 1962. Introduced on 2 May 1961, the holden ek retro series was a face lifted version of the Holden FB, which it replaced.

The Holden EK Retro range consisted of four-door sedans in two trim levels, five-door station wagons in two trim levels, a two-door coupe utility and a two-door panel van. The six models were marketed as follows: Holden Standard Sedan, Holden Standard Station Sedan, Holden Special Sedan, Holden Special Station Sedan, Holden Utility and Holden Panel Van.
The EK, the first new Holden released in the 1960s, was a minor face-lift of the superseded FB series, with obvious changes limited to a new grille of eight vertical bars (instead of six), and body side mouldings. In terms of finish, “Standard” vehicles were painted in a single colour with no additional trimming or fittings, while “Special”, the most popular model, came with stainless steel trims along the side and a white roof, as well as chrome Special badges, and two-tone vinyl interiors. Parking lights were incorporated into the top grille bar, and other changes included new exterior badges, a revised interior trim, electric wipers (replacing the old vacuum type ones), and a new fresh-air unit with a new ventilation air intake located forward of the windscreen.

The only significant mechanical change from the FB was the introduction of the first automatic transmission to be offered on a Holden. Marketed as the Hydra-Matic, it was a well-regarded three-speed unit which was fully imported from the United States. It was only offered as an option on the Holden Special models.