Come to New Zealand, we have a weekend in Whangamata each year an event called Beach hop, around 1200 registered vehicles, classic, muscle, Australian and American cars, then there are the thousands of cars that come just for the weekend to cruise and park up around our small beach town. Town goes off.
Great video Ian. The FX Ute had a 132.5 cu in (2,171 cc) cast-iron straight six engine which produced 60 hp (45 kW), connected to a three-speed manual transmission. Cheers and thanks m8!
And an oil bath air filter and 6 volt electrics! The sedan only weighed 2,250 pounds, the utes were reportedly lighter than that, even. They weren't slow, for the day, either. 0-60 mph in around 12 seconds and a top speed approaching 80 mph. Fuel economy was pretty good, too. 25 mpg was easily achievable.
they were pretty much a pre war Buick straight 6.. the 6 in the torrie is an Aussie design used from 64 right up until they went Nissan in 86, they were fuel injected by that stage
America was supposed to get the FX Holden ute as well. GM designers from Holden and USA built it for sale in both countries. When finished USA said no one would buy it there and abandoned it. Holden said it will sell in Australia and never looked back.
I have an American " motor services" mechanics manual that belonged to my grandfather that had the information about the Holden under the " British cars" chapter.
The first VK Commodore evolved from GM German OPAL REKORD model. Much later the body changed to a larger body with the VN Commodore that had a revised GM V6 3.8L Engine as well as V8. 5:07
Big rims look stupid. Big rims = low traction on the strip. On the track ? F1 used 13" wheels until recently. NASCAR have 15" wheels. You can pretty much kiss a good 1/4 mile time good by with rims bigger than 18"
@@nordic5490xactly why I love 16"/17"s, they come in Alloys that don't look terrible, they're not massive and you can buy really good rubber for them. And the ride is mint.
My little sister who is retired military and lives in Louisiana has a Pontiac SS that was made in Oz. She had to wait quite awhile after ordering it many years ago now, She traded in a Caddy Eldorado that she did not think was sporty enough. Yes, she is a leadfoot, and should know better for a lady who will be 60 on her next birthday, LOL
The cars real name is Holden Monaro SS, rebadged for the American market to a Pontiac SS, Aussies here even rebadged their own Monaro's to Pontiac🤷🤣🤣🤣🤣
Age is not an issue when it comes to a fast/muscle car, I am also retired military and a little bit older than your sister. Back in the 70s as a young soldier I drove a Torana GTR the model after the one shown in the video, “what a bloody great car”. I had that car until I met my wife (who was also a soldier) she picked me up at the barracks and told me we needed a 4 door car because we have a small person coming to stay. For awhile I had no idea what she was talking about, I also blame my son as well. There is no way that I can afford to by that car now it cost me $3,576 new now it cost about $30,000 to $40,000 if not more I now drive an old convertible sports car not quite the same but after some mods it still got a bit of grunt and it’s fun to drive.
@@warwickmorris9097 Ya, I know, I'm just mostly jealous I guess. I was also a bit of a speed demon, just not in cars. My passion was motorcycles. I just had to sell my BMW roadster a little over a year ago for several reasons, but mostly as I have developed a degenerative back complaint. I had over 110,000 kms on it, I had toured it all over Australia including one trip where I spent from Feb 1 to June 19 doing an entire circuit of the nation and riding all the great roads to ride. I miss it dearly but as I sit here now with my back giving me hell while in a proper support chair I know I would hardly get to the city limits before having to stop if I was on it. Oh, by the way that particular little sister is the youngest of 4 that I have and I just turned 78.
@@jameswitt605 Mate bikes are great on curvy roads and a BMW Roadster that’s not bad. I sympathised back troubles is part of being in the Army to long I’m now 72 although I can still get around OK. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep smiling.
The FX ute is an inline six. The engine is Holden's first power plant the 132ci 'Grey motor' (later to become 138ci). Holden kept this engine from 1948 through to 1963.
Ian the Color was called PLUM CRAZY. Ian, the HQ One Ton models also came in a 1 1/2 Ton, lazy axle in the HJ next Series. Two rear axles but only one was active.
In Wagga Wagga NSW they used the 1 tonner's shortened and a tow crane fitted and running 454's and using them as a quick get to the prang first tow truck. Now that was something to see.
G'day Ian. Mate I'm a dummy when it comes to all of this techno stuff. I haven't got a clue how to do this txt thingy. I've got a couple of mate's, their kid's will know how to do it. Come tomorrow I will go around to the shop and ask them how to do it, the mate or his mrs might even know how. Give me a spanner and I'll make it sing but anything electronic, I'm stuffed.
There were a couple of those in Melbourne back in the 80s, along with a few hot 351s and 460 big block F trucks. 100 - 150s. And those bloody things went hard.
The FX was the first " Holden " ute built , the panel vans was introduced in the FJ series. Those van are more rare than the utes, both are very expensive to purchase in that condition. The HQ one tonner was produced by Holden, came in two six cylinders and two v8 cylinders versions, either three speed ( on the tree ) manual, thee speed auto, or a four speed ( on the floor) manual .
When I was a spray painting Apprentice I used to work with a bloke who had a VN HDT AERO, the model UP from a GTS. It was a Stroked 355 with a 5 speed manual transmission. The thing was a weapon, he let me drive it a couple of times. He said to me, You Bend It, You Mend It... lol
You’re not the only one drooling! My husband had a few of these cars. He was that guy with 5 acres & paddocks full of cars when I met him. When he sold the land he had to remove 40 of them. Oh if we knew then what we know now 😭✌🏼
A bit like the straight (no rust) Kombi that I had. It wasn't running too well, needed a good service and a new battery. I sold it for $300 just to get it off the front lawn. Whoops!
@ : I think I can beat you. I sold my '63 EH Holden ( Metallic blue paint with chrome wheels, sports steering wheel, and lowered front end ) for $1000 in 1982. Lord give me strength.
Great content m8, Us Aussies love our muscle cars, An original FX Ute could go anywhere between $50k - $70k these days. Not many left, awesome collectable now.
Terrific video Ian. Wonderful years from Holden and Ford rivalry at V8 supercars series . Will enjoy when you find the Holden panel vans decked out way back IN the seventies. As the moto goes...... If it's a rockin Don't bother knockin 😅😅😅😅 Drive in nights lol
My husband LOVED Torana's. It was his dream to restore one. Sadly he passed before he got the chance, but now I always know a Torana when I see one. He educated me well!
We also had a (stock) year 2000 Holden VT (V8) with a Gen 3, 5.7 ltr Chev engine. Hubby had all sorts of stuff added to it to make it sound meatier. I freaking loved that car.. but not at first. I went from a small 2.2 ltr Pulsar Q to driving a big loud V8. Sadly we had to sell it, as I was pregnant with my 4th child and we needed a car to fit us all!
G'day Ian from Tasmania. great video I loved all the cars, they took me back to my teenage years. The XU1 originally came out with a 186 ci engine with triple carbs and they thrashed the early GT Falcons at Bathurst. The FX was great, had a couple of them way back. I have heard of them going for upwards of $200,000 AUD. I loved seeing the sludgey old 149ci engine, had a lot of time playing with them. The HQ ute was beautiful, they had a few different engines, 173ci, 202 ci, 253 ci V8. great work on your channel, please do more videos in this vein
LC had 186s (steel billet crank) and LJ 202 but 186 was a much better engine 202s were renowned for warping heads. My old man was an engine builder for Holden in the late 60s early 70s. But he was a Ford man at heart. The last car he worked on was a ford comet 2-door with 460 big block but he passed before it was finished. He built engines for Bricklayer(EH wagon) drag car which ran 7-second quarters, 307chev taken out to 392 on NOS. 7s with nos 9s without, and also built engines for a formula ford racer who won the Aust title in 2 ltr class
Got a 94 Ford Falcon ED with a supercharged straight six Vortech blower, a 1976 Ford Falcon Sedan in 90's Pro Street setup 351 Cleveland and a 1970 Mustang Boss 302 replica that will get a 408 Windsor transplant in a year. Love my old Fords.
To me the best "Kingswood" style was the HJ. Probably because my Dad had a brand new one ! When I was 15 I used to sell Newspapers in Perth on a Saturday night and it was so exciting seeing all the muscle cars "Chucking Laps" around the City. Corner of William Street & Wellington Street (opposite the Horseshoe bridge) for Perthians.
Perth girl here who has the biggest smile on her face at the mention of 'Bog laps'...me and the girls in our first cars with our P plates checking out the boys in their 'souped up ' cars on a Saturday night in Perth...grew up in Belmont.Panel vans everywhere! 😊🇦🇺👏
The keys are the same place as in the USA, rigth side of the steering column. When you get to my age, you will see a $300,000 car and remember the one you had and only paid $500 for it, my first car was a 1964 Dodge coupe and costed $450, 2nd car was a 1969 Pontiac coupe and only costed $600. Now I cry my self to sleep thinking about what the cars sell for now. Note: the Pontiac was not a GTO, but the last of the Pontiacs made in Australia and looked like a GTO.
comming down an incline hits the hand brake sideways parks between 2 cars across the road as incomming traffic pass by my mate in a HQ panelvan 80s lol risky times
Wow, I have to say that I forgot how much simpler the older cars were. Just an engine and a couple of fluid tanks. Today every space around the engine is crammed with something.
I love checking into your channel, you bring back great memories for me, especially all my uncles arguing Friday nights over Ford and Holden. I’m nearly 60 now, but I remember the days of those beautiful cars, within the family, and got to ride in the lime green Torana, the swiftly v6 red Capri that my aunt had, the strange blue valiant if my uncles with the push button automatic, my uncles 2 door 70’s Monaro in aqua blue. What a fun time it was , they were all so passionate over their cars, and we would all go bush to amazing places towing caravans, taking tents etc to god knows where in the Aussie bush on four wheel drive tracks. It was bliss, beautiful memories. Those cars were amazing
i had a HQ one toner when i was a lad, it was the first car i own, 202 red motor with 4 speed on the floor and a 4/1 ratio diff so no speed demon but a true work horse with two extra leafs in the back. we wayed it in one day with a load of 1.5 tones and it handled it with ease. they realy new how to build cars back then.
They're all super cool and sound great, side note, you have picked the cap to wear today, Queensland just won the state of origin series in Rugby League football. "QUEENSLANDER"
So proud that you called it a one tonner, mate, the mullet of automobiles. They didn't come with any tray, just the chassis with fuel tank, spare wheel underslung and muffler showing, every tray was made especially for what you needed, aftermarket alloy trays with dropsides mainly,
In 1972 Peter Brock drove his Torana GTR XU1 in-line six to victory at Bathurst against Allan Moffat in his Phase-3 XYGT-HO Super Falcon. Also I do believe that the GTR XU1 were the last on offer that could be sold off the shop floor new. As the saying goes, win on Sunday, buy on Monday. Awesome one today Ian Aussies muscle is always a treat to see.
Not entirely correct, Moffat never raced his "Super Falcon", Georgian did race his green and white one though. Also, the Torana only won because it was pretty much half the size and weight of the Falcon, in the wet the Torana would excel in the corners, but the big Falc still had a clear edge in the straights. Also, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" pretty much died when the media printed the infamous "140mph Supercars soon" article relating to the XA Phase IV, the Rumoured Torana GTR V8 and the stillborn Valiant Charger R/T V8.
@@michealriseley6261 yes entirely correct, Moffat was P1 in his “super falcon” and placed 9th. Geoghegan placed 4th in a Charger E49. That’s exactly how and why the Torana won, HDT went the other way to Ford, in Fords eyes bigger is better. Hence the XA phase 4. Now 160hp against 300hp is definitely a clear edge on the straights don’t you think, lol. The so called rumoured GTR XU2 V8 actually raced in super sedan racing with Brock and Bond at the wheel and also did a lot of intensive road testing with HDT principal Harry Firth and a young engineer/driver Larry Perkins. And yes the 3 manufacturers , Holden, Ford and Chrysler bowed to the pressure, so Holden postpone it’s introduction of a V8 until the release of the LH series Torana.
There was a fun Wheeler Dealer episode where they (Ant Anstead?) did a Ford Sierra XR4i "rebuild" with an upgraded rear wing (that was the way the designer wanted it, but the accountants refused the funding)
You may enjoy some of the Automotive Karnage videos, He lived in the middle of Western Australia, and a bunch if not most of his videos are going out and finding bush wrecks and doing work on them.
I had a 79' VB Commodore with all the young guy mods in the 90's. Exhaust, intake, massive stereo, rims etc. It was a very fun time to play with cars back around 2000.
i feel like since australians grew up with utes we just see them as a whole vehicle rather than 2 parts like you were saying with the purple holden. to me that just looks as car as any other car. i guess it’s the same way you see your big trucks as just regular “cars”
What a gem of a video and reaction. I love the way that the big three just set their general design language and pretty much left their divisions across the world to do their own thing within those parameters. It's a shame that the economy, fuel prices and infrastructure in the UK never really accommodated big V8 power. Rover, Triumph and Daimler offered small displacement V8s and Rolls Royce and Aston Martin made big V8s for the wealthy. Our Fords, Vauxhalls and Chryslers only ever came with 4s and 6s but we made the most of them. Opel in Germany did make some big V8 luxury saloons like the Kapitan etc.
If you enjoy cars like this, I recommend The Skid Factory with Al and Woody. A spin-off from Mighty Car Mods, where Al (Turbo Yoda) helped Marty and Moog build many of their cars. Skid Factory does all kinds of cool builds, like a V12 Toyota Land Cruiser, a Barra in a Bedford CF, Al's own Crown with a massive engine and more. Anything from Ozzie muscle, to JDM, some Euro stuff and some American. There is something for everyone and the guys are legends. One of my favourite builds is still the Double Unicorn, a Nissan Stagae wagon with a Nissan Skyline R34 nose, a massive engine and twin turbo's. Benny is the owner, his channel is Benny's Custom Works.
Yes a VP V8 commodore, I had the model previous, a VN, mostly only body changes. Mine was a Calais which is top of the line for a sedan. It was only the 3.8 lt V6 but performed very well. Then I decided to go 4WD & never looked back.
The people who drove the Torana are now 70 to 80 years old. And I don’t know if this is just an Australian thing, but the engine sound they would call lumpy. 😃
Funny, as he was trying to describe the toranas inline six different sound I said to myself "yeah, that's a lumpy sound". I'm in Australia so could be an aussie thing.
The VK Commodore was a Vauxhall shell. It did have a very worked 308ci carb fed V8 and suspension upgrades. The cars were designed on the Group A Touring cars series. Peter Brock and Larry Perkins both oversaw the development and production from the VB-VN Commodore. I've seen an original camshaft out of a VK, and all the durations were scratched out at the factory, so it makes it hard to find a cam to match
I love these old cars and never really appreciated them growing up until I couldn't afford them any more. My two favourite Aussie muscle cars are the Chrysler RT Charger and the Ford Falcon XC Coupe. Love to see your reaction doing a vid on them.
That last one had the Holden grey motor , 6 cylinder 138 cu. inch and about 60 hp . After that came the 149 and 179 red motors followed by the 186 which finished in 1971 , then the 202 and 173 boat anchor came out , followed by the blue and then black series . I owned two Holdens with the grey motor , an FB wagon and an EJ wagon . Nothing special but they did the job .
132 CI in the 48-215 (FX) and yes, 60 hp. If my memory serves me correctly the 138 came out in either the FE or FB and with revised tuning, achieved 70 and 75 horsepower.
My uncle had the licence to make the rock protectors in front of the rear wheels on the early Holdens. He worked originally as a coach body builder for GMH and later on worked in the research and development area. He was one of the guys who worked on the Torana GTR-X concept car.
The FX has a Grey motor 6cyl 132 cu inch motor. They used the same block all the way through until the early 80s. It changed fro a low compression grey motor which started as this 132 and then bored to a 138. It then changed in late '63 to a hi compression motor they sprayed red and so called it the red 6cyl. It started as a 149, then a 179, later to a 186 then came the 202. In the '70s they made low-compression workhorse versions the 161 and 173. Through the 60s and 70s, they had sports versions with triple su carbies. british versions and headers as well as slightly larger cams.
My Dad is a Ford man and had an original XYGTHO phase 3. He had it for years and sold it about 4 years ago. I loved it. My husband is a Holden man and has a HJ Statesman and a HZ Premier sedan which he built from the ground up and it goes like the clappers. When he puts his foot down it throws you back in the seat. It's beautiful too. He has a couple of Ute's too. One a HX and the other a WB. Cheers from Aus 🇦🇺
From the 60s on you find the ignition keys on American based vehicles, and that is where Australian manufactured cars came from, on the right of the steering column because it was determined that most people were right handed and that would be more comfortable for them.
If you like the first car you need to check out the Vauxhall lotus carlton or opel lotus omega uk government tryed to ban it the police couldn't keep up was the woulds fastest production family saloon for years plus there's a really cool story of a certain number plate 40RA vauxhall lotus carlton used for smash and grab right by the police station please check it out
The HQ-WB were products of universal tooling. With that one tonner, or any other car in the model range, you could take the interior, front clip, engine, transmission, rear axle, dash, doors, you could swap out any one of them into the one tonner's shell. It was a common custom job to put a Statesman or Caprice interior or front clip without having to cut, weld or solder just about anything. To fit a centre console, you might need to add a mounting for it, but not much else.With the Falcon utes and panel vans, they had similar customising options
Mate I came across your page you have a good eye for cars , Aussie muscle is alive down under pal we love our cars , I never thought you blokes would like Aussie cars , top page kind regards Robbo 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👏🍺
Just looking at the comments - many "replies" - this is not normal. The telegram thing is a scam - iWrocker, personally, some time ago, during one of his videos, tried to tell people that he doesn't use that system. Don't respond to them. He would normally have his own iWrocker reply line and logo/emoji Thanks Adrian M.
My favourite car of all time was my dad's HQ sedan, it was one of 9 Holden's that have been through the family since dad's FJ. Some were even mine. I love and miss that car so much even the 5 Cadillac's I've owned don't fill the void.
From what I can remember most Aussie cars had the ignition switch on the right hand side of the dash Up until the early 70s then they moved it to the steering column which also included a steering lock, I know the Ford's did. Keep up the good work.
I had a Dodge ute. In this country Dodge was not a separate brand. It was branding used by Chrysler Australia for valiants that were built from heavier gauge steel, better suspension, etc., and sold in country areas and marketed toward farmers. Definitely no louvres in the back window. I loved those heavy gauge body panels. That thing was built like a tank.
Interesting what you said about the key placement. Every car I've owned here in Australia has had the key on that side. Including a locally delivered Holden Vectra (which was basically a European built Opel with Holden badges) - despite the indicators and washer stalk being reversed, the key was still on that side. Our 2016 Subaru Forester has a button, but it's again on that side of the steering column. We recently had a current model Izuzu D-Max for a few weeks and for the first time ever the button has been on the left side of the steering column. It caught me out every frigging time.
I think he means how the key is placed over by the door. As from memory the key on the right hand side of the column is the same for u.s and Aussie cars.
One detail most people overlook on the blue group A-SS commodore, are the wheels. Notice the fins on the wheels point toward the front on both sides? Yup, they have L&R handed wheels!
My first car was a Ford focus -88. It sure didn't sound anything like these. But that old and small engine got me from Sweden to Norway and back averaging 160km/h. I'm not a car guy but everything was fixable, I had a huge book on how to change everything, The internet wasn't the primary source for information back then. My buddy and neighbor had the same model, but a few years younger, so his keys would work in mine, so as a practical joke he would have moved it to another parking spot to mess with my mind! 😂😂
My Mother had a succession of HSV Commodores. VN, VP & a VS Senator. Mum is the rev-head in the the family. Dad drove them gently, I gave it to each one when I got to drive them.
14:30 That car looks almost exacly like the Pontiac G8. the side panels door and windows look exactly the same. Pratically ust different bumpers head lights and tail lights.
Pretty clever of Holden in Australia to develop panel parts to make an export Holden off the line in Elizabeth South Australia that convinced so many Americans that it was built by Pontiac.
The XY GT ute does have a little tweaking of the instrument cluster but not much. They all look like the right gauges, but the needles look newish and the faceplate is chrome/silver where most factory ones were flat black. 1971 XY GTHO Phase III was the worlds quickest 4-door production car for DECADES. Factory standard was a FLAT 13 second quarter mile pass. You could literally drive them off the production line to Bathurst, throw your sponsor decals and team stickers on and go racing and expect to compete strongly. The price was set as that equal to a years wage for a working man. I had a 1971 XY Falcon 500 with some tweaks and when you hit the gas pedal you'd get slammed in the lower back or there's something wrong with your car. A lot of the true types of Aussie muscle cars were a bit hard on the driver and didn't make good "dailys" as you had to really work the car. Power-steering, air-conditioning and such took HP away and cost extra, so most people didn't have it. The muscle car scene was exploding in the early to mid 70s, but was knocked on the head by the government (mainly) due to a number of high-profile accidents involving them (too many horses/not enough brakes, no 'crumple' zones) and the oil crisis didn't help. There were a number of manufacturers that were planning models with more than 400hp as "standard" in their production runs. The Phase IV was a high-profile victim of this reasoning.
22:30 that FX Holden was an inline six, I think a 138ci. Seriously underpowered, but still fun. You got me thinking. I've only ridden in one car older than me (at least since I was a toddler) and that was a Model T Ford, circa 1911. My dad had an FX Holden before I was born. I've driven a Torana the same era as the XUI and it was a blast, although it was only a 173, not the triple carby 202. Australian muscle cars had waaaay smaller motors than American ones. Still managed to boogie though
Those 1 tonners with the flat bed could sometimes be a backyard conversion. Our neighbours back in the early 80s spent months of weekends converting an old shit box into something similar.
Great video As an Aussie we didn't really have the variety you guys had in the 60s/70s but we did/do love our muscle cars. Here's a few of my favourites you might appreciate 😎 Ford XW,XY GTHO 1971 XY GTHO phase III was at the time the world’s fastest four door production car and Australia’s fastest four door production car for almost a decade. Ford XA,XB Gt (sedans and coupes) XB coupe is the Mad Max car Ford XC Cobra Coupe Holden HG,HT,HK,HQ Monaro (coupe) Holden HQ sandman (Panel Van... Shaggn wagon 😎) Valiant Charger, VH,VJ,VK Holden Torana SLR5000 Holden VL Walkinshaw Hope you like them
You should definitely check out the Ford Zephyr. Don’t see a whole lot of them but such a good looking car. My friend had one and his dad did a full restoration on one.
First car was sold in Europe is a Opel Omega in the UK as Vauxhall Carlton. Later they build a Lotus Omega/ Lotus Carlton a exclusive sport sedan to go against the BMW M5. The second generation of the car was sold in the USA as a Cadillac Catera but no sport sedan was build of the second generation
Most US cars I have seen the ignition switch on older cars is still on the right hand end of the dash panel its just that your cars are left hand drive.
I still preferred Holden HQ series honestly. in relation to the '73 HQ, a friend done some modifications to his by adding a dual axle on the rear. As he put it, you gotta stand out man
13:13 This ute looks suspiciously exactly the same as an acquaintance in Rockhampton rebuilt some years ago. Same colour, same wheels, same painstakingly polished deck. It may well be the same car.
The VK HDT Brocky in blue is known as the blue meanie. The HQ 1 tonner is actually pink. The colour is called strike me pink but it's been given a candy look to it as well.
Ian the Commodore Also came as a 1 tonner from '03 to '07, they also had a 4 door ute called the crewman with a removable bed PLUS rwd or awd😊. The ford falcon ute from 1998 to 2016 had a removable bed so it could be turned into a 1 tonner.
I have a very soft spot for the HQs seeing as I learnt to drive in one...'71 Kingswood station wagon with the thong slapping 253 V8 with the Traumatic....err...Trimatic gearbox. I miss that old girl. With what you can get from Castlemaine Rod Shop for the HQs, I'd ditch the steering box/pitman arm steering for rack and pinion steering and remedy the "Boulevard ride" suspension, no thanks to the Yank George Roberts who was involved with the suspension of the HQs when they were developed, really fucked up a really good car until the advent of RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) with the HZ.
@@tropicsalt. My paternal Grandfather had a red HJ Belmont. That thing was kept in mint condition until he traded it in for an RB Gemini. I remember the HJ dash as the speedos on the HJ were similar to the speedos in the HKs.
Come to New Zealand, we have a weekend in Whangamata each year an event called Beach hop, around 1200 registered vehicles, classic, muscle, Australian and American cars, then there are the thousands of cars that come just for the weekend to cruise and park up around our small beach town. Town goes off.
1 tunna all the way!
Great video, Ian. Yep, I think I can say with confidence that we viewers of the channel acknowledge your appreciation of the Aussie auto scene. 👍
the ve/vf series clubsport wagon 🤤
Great video Ian.
The FX Ute had a 132.5 cu in (2,171 cc) cast-iron straight six engine which produced 60 hp (45 kW), connected to a three-speed manual transmission.
Cheers and thanks m8!
What we called the " grey motor" same basic motor used until the EH around 1964 I think.
And an oil bath air filter and 6 volt electrics! The sedan only weighed 2,250 pounds, the utes were reportedly lighter than that, even. They weren't slow, for the day, either. 0-60 mph in around 12 seconds and a top speed approaching 80 mph. Fuel economy was pretty good, too. 25 mpg was easily achievable.
they were pretty much a pre war Buick straight 6.. the 6 in the torrie is an Aussie design used from 64 right up until they went Nissan in 86, they were fuel injected by that stage
America was supposed to get the FX Holden ute as well. GM designers from Holden and USA built it for sale in both countries.
When finished USA said no one would buy it there and abandoned it.
Holden said it will sell in Australia and never looked back.
I have an American " motor services" mechanics manual that belonged to my grandfather that had the information about the Holden under the " British cars" chapter.
There’s a company in Colorado called “Left hand Utes”.
They legally convert Aussie Utes to left-hand-drive for the US market.
The first VK Commodore evolved from GM German OPAL REKORD model. Much later the body changed to a larger body with the VN Commodore that had a revised GM V6 3.8L Engine as well as V8. 5:07
I'm not a fan of big modern rims on old cars, but as a Holden guy I do appreciate the XY's and the hardtop. Great vid as always, thanks.
Big rims look stupid. Big rims = low traction on the strip. On the track ? F1 used 13" wheels until recently. NASCAR have 15" wheels.
You can pretty much kiss a good 1/4 mile time good by with rims bigger than 18"
@@nordic5490xactly why I love 16"/17"s, they come in Alloys that don't look terrible, they're not massive and you can buy really good rubber for them. And the ride is mint.
I’m the same but with 4B’s… why put rims on something that should be in the bush lok
My little sister who is retired military and lives in Louisiana has a Pontiac SS that was made in Oz. She had to wait quite awhile after ordering it many years ago now, She traded in a Caddy Eldorado that she did not think was sporty enough. Yes, she is a leadfoot, and should know better for a lady who will be 60 on her next birthday, LOL
she may be getting up there in the numbers but your sister has impeccable taste. Hope the SS was all the car she was looking for
The cars real name is Holden Monaro SS, rebadged for the American market to a Pontiac SS, Aussies here even rebadged their own Monaro's to Pontiac🤷🤣🤣🤣🤣
Age is not an issue when it comes to a fast/muscle car, I am also retired military and a little bit older than your sister. Back in the 70s as a young soldier I drove a Torana GTR the model after the one shown in the video, “what a bloody great car”. I had that car until I met my wife (who was also a soldier) she picked me up at the barracks and told me we needed a 4 door car because we have a small person coming to stay. For awhile I had no idea what she was talking about, I also blame my son as well. There is no way that I can afford to by that car now it cost me $3,576 new now it cost about $30,000 to $40,000 if not more I now drive an old convertible sports car not quite the same but after some mods it still got a bit of grunt and it’s fun to drive.
@@warwickmorris9097 Ya, I know, I'm just mostly jealous I guess. I was also a bit of a speed demon, just not in cars. My passion was motorcycles. I just had to sell my BMW roadster a little over a year ago for several reasons, but mostly as I have developed a degenerative back complaint. I had over 110,000 kms on it, I had toured it all over Australia including one trip where I spent from Feb 1 to June 19 doing an entire circuit of the nation and riding all the great roads to ride. I miss it dearly but as I sit here now with my back giving me hell while in a proper support chair I know I would hardly get to the city limits before having to stop if I was on it. Oh, by the way that particular little sister is the youngest of 4 that I have and I just turned 78.
@@jameswitt605 Mate bikes are great on curvy roads and a BMW Roadster that’s not bad. I sympathised back troubles is part of being in the Army to long I’m now 72 although I can still get around OK. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep smiling.
The FX ute is an inline six. The engine is Holden's first power plant the 132ci 'Grey motor' (later to become 138ci). Holden kept this engine from 1948 through to 1963.
Ian the Color was called PLUM CRAZY. Ian, the HQ One Ton models also came in a 1 1/2 Ton, lazy axle in the HJ next Series. Two rear axles but only one was active.
In Wagga Wagga NSW they used the 1 tonner's shortened and a tow crane fitted and running 454's and using them as a quick get to the prang first tow truck. Now that was something to see.
G'day Ian. Mate I'm a dummy when it comes to all of this techno stuff. I haven't got a clue how to do this txt thingy. I've got a couple of mate's, their kid's will know how to do it. Come tomorrow I will go around to the shop and ask them how to do it, the mate or his mrs might even know how. Give me a spanner and I'll make it sing but anything electronic, I'm stuffed.
All the fuel used running a 454 would be pid for by the towing cost
That is my neck of the woods.
Hulls smash repairs had one
There were a couple of those in Melbourne back in the 80s, along with a few hot 351s and 460 big block F trucks. 100 - 150s. And those bloody things went hard.
The FX was the first " Holden " ute built , the panel vans was introduced in the FJ series. Those van are more rare than the utes, both are very expensive to purchase in that condition.
The HQ one tonner was produced by Holden, came in two six cylinders and two v8 cylinders versions, either three speed ( on the tree ) manual, thee speed auto, or a four speed ( on the floor) manual .
When I was a spray painting Apprentice I used to work with a bloke who had a VN HDT AERO, the model UP from a GTS. It was a Stroked 355 with a 5 speed manual transmission. The thing was a weapon, he let me drive it a couple of times. He said to me, You Bend It, You Mend It... lol
All for the Aussie car content loved the video!
You’re not the only one drooling! My husband had a few of these cars. He was that guy with 5 acres & paddocks full of cars when I met him. When he sold the land he had to remove 40 of them. Oh if we knew then what we know now 😭✌🏼
A bit like the straight (no rust) Kombi that I had. It wasn't running too well, needed a good service and a new battery. I sold it for $300 just to get it off the front lawn. Whoops!
I'm willing to bet he knew. I'm guessing he was quite stubborn when pressed to part with them 😜
@@MadMushroom66 Haha nope! I was new on the scene, it was all in motion before we knew each other & they were a dime a dozen back when 🤣✌🏼
@ : I think I can beat you. I sold my '63 EH Holden ( Metallic blue paint with chrome wheels, sports steering wheel, and lowered front end ) for $1000 in 1982. Lord give me strength.
Great content m8, Us Aussies love our muscle cars, An original FX Ute could go anywhere between $50k - $70k these days. Not many left, awesome collectable now.
Terrific video Ian.
Wonderful years from Holden and Ford rivalry at V8 supercars series .
Will enjoy when you find the Holden panel vans decked out way back IN the seventies.
As the moto goes......
If it's a rockin
Don't bother knockin 😅😅😅😅
Drive in nights lol
My husband LOVED Torana's. It was his dream to restore one. Sadly he passed before he got the chance, but now I always know a Torana when I see one. He educated me well!
We also had a (stock) year 2000 Holden VT (V8) with a Gen 3, 5.7 ltr Chev engine. Hubby had all sorts of stuff added to it to make it sound meatier. I freaking loved that car.. but not at first. I went from a small 2.2 ltr Pulsar Q to driving a big loud V8. Sadly we had to sell it, as I was pregnant with my 4th child and we needed a car to fit us all!
ruclips.net/video/H3Td4t0ivk8/видео.html
The W1 is an absolute beast but I’ve always been a VK guy so I was drooling 🤤 over the Brock Group A 🔥🤤
G'day Ian from Tasmania. great video I loved all the cars, they took me back to my teenage years.
The XU1 originally came out with a 186 ci engine with triple carbs and they thrashed the early GT Falcons at Bathurst.
The FX was great, had a couple of them way back. I have heard of them going for upwards of $200,000 AUD. I loved seeing the
sludgey old 149ci engine, had a lot of time playing with them. The HQ ute was beautiful, they had a few different engines, 173ci, 202 ci, 253 ci V8. great work on your channel, please do more videos in this vein
Let the true facts be known Was Alan Moffat and the GTHO Falcon weren't on a sight seeing tour at Bathurst! 1970,71,73,77 John Goss 1974
LC had 186s (steel billet crank) and LJ 202 but 186 was a much better engine 202s were renowned for warping heads. My old man was an engine builder for Holden in the late 60s early 70s. But he was a Ford man at heart. The last car he worked on was a ford comet 2-door with 460 big block but he passed before it was finished. He built engines for Bricklayer(EH wagon) drag car which ran 7-second quarters, 307chev taken out to 392 on NOS. 7s with nos 9s without, and also built engines for a formula ford racer who won the Aust title in 2 ltr class
Unfortunately the Torana XU1 only won Bathurst in 1972. The current Falcon GT versions best them in every other year they ran against each other.
Got a 94 Ford Falcon ED with a supercharged straight six Vortech blower, a 1976 Ford Falcon Sedan in 90's Pro Street setup 351 Cleveland and a 1970 Mustang Boss 302 replica that will get a 408 Windsor transplant in a year. Love my old Fords.
To me the best "Kingswood" style was the HJ. Probably because my Dad had a brand new one !
When I was 15 I used to sell Newspapers in Perth on a Saturday night and it was so exciting seeing all the muscle cars "Chucking Laps" around the City.
Corner of William Street & Wellington Street (opposite the Horseshoe bridge) for Perthians.
I’m a perthite as well! My first car was a “74 HQ 253 wagon, love the old girl and of course like so many stupid teens I sold it because of a woman
Well OutcastAussie truth be known I probably drove past you, while doing bog laps , in one of the many cars I've owned. Small world .
@@macman1469
Then let me say a thankyou for being a part of the soundtrack of my youth.
And what a soundtrack, huh ?
My uncle drives a HJ here in Perth! A 75 hj de ville with the 308 replaced with a 350.
Perth girl here who has the biggest smile on her face at the mention of 'Bog laps'...me and the girls in our first cars with our P plates checking out the boys in their 'souped up ' cars on a Saturday night in Perth...grew up in Belmont.Panel vans everywhere! 😊🇦🇺👏
The Holden FX ute at the end is a six cylinder, If in doubt you can count the spark plugs.
The keys are the same place as in the USA, rigth side of the steering column.
When you get to my age, you will see a $300,000 car and remember the one you had and only paid $500 for it, my first car was a 1964 Dodge coupe and costed $450, 2nd car was a 1969 Pontiac coupe and only costed $600. Now I cry my self to sleep thinking about what the cars sell for now. Note: the Pontiac was not a GTO, but the last of the Pontiacs made in Australia and looked like a GTO.
comming down an incline hits the hand brake sideways parks between 2 cars across the road as incomming traffic pass by my mate in a HQ panelvan 80s lol risky times
robin you still out there its bicky now living back in my hometown vic country town
Wow, I have to say that I forgot how much simpler the older cars were. Just an engine and a couple of fluid tanks. Today every space around the engine is crammed with something.
Memories! These aren't just mass produced machines but real works of art! 🤗😂🇦🇺
The Torana was always the best Holden
I love checking into your channel, you bring back great memories for me, especially all my uncles arguing Friday nights over Ford and Holden. I’m nearly 60 now, but I remember the days of those beautiful cars, within the family, and got to ride in the lime green Torana, the swiftly v6 red Capri that my aunt had, the strange blue valiant if my uncles with the push button automatic, my uncles 2 door 70’s Monaro in aqua blue. What a fun time it was , they were all so passionate over their cars, and we would all go bush to amazing places towing caravans, taking tents etc to god knows where in the Aussie bush on four wheel drive tracks. It was bliss, beautiful memories. Those cars were amazing
I thought it was only mine who fought over Holden and Ford My husband was a Holden man all the way ❤❤🇦🇺🐨🐨🇦🇺
i had a HQ one toner when i was a lad, it was the first car i own, 202 red motor with 4 speed on the floor and a 4/1 ratio diff so no speed demon but a true work horse with two extra leafs in the back. we wayed it in one day with a load of 1.5 tones and it handled it with ease. they realy new how to build cars back then.
They're all super cool and sound great, side note, you have picked the cap to wear today, Queensland just won the state of origin series in Rugby League football. "QUEENSLANDER"
So proud that you called it a one tonner, mate, the mullet of automobiles. They didn't come with any tray, just the chassis with fuel tank, spare wheel underslung and muffler showing, every tray was made especially for what you needed, aftermarket alloy trays with dropsides mainly,
My Dad was into Valiants back in the day. Aussie Wog Dad 💪
later cars in OZ had their key in the steering column because it released the steering lock. Until then? they put them where ever they wanted.
In 1972 Peter Brock drove his Torana GTR XU1 in-line six to victory at Bathurst against Allan Moffat in his Phase-3 XYGT-HO Super Falcon. Also I do believe that the GTR XU1 were the last on offer that could be sold off the shop floor new. As the saying goes, win on Sunday, buy on Monday.
Awesome one today Ian Aussies muscle is always a treat to see.
Not entirely correct, Moffat never raced his "Super Falcon", Georgian did race his green and white one though.
Also, the Torana only won because it was pretty much half the size and weight of the Falcon, in the wet the Torana would excel in the corners, but the big Falc still had a clear edge in the straights.
Also, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" pretty much died when the media printed the infamous "140mph Supercars soon" article relating to the XA Phase IV, the Rumoured Torana GTR V8 and the stillborn Valiant Charger R/T V8.
@@michealriseley6261 yes entirely correct, Moffat was P1 in his “super falcon” and placed 9th. Geoghegan placed 4th in a Charger E49.
That’s exactly how and why the Torana won, HDT went the other way to Ford, in Fords eyes bigger is better. Hence the XA phase 4. Now 160hp against 300hp is definitely a clear edge on the straights don’t you think, lol.
The so called rumoured GTR XU2 V8 actually raced in super sedan racing with Brock and Bond at the wheel and also did a lot of intensive road testing with HDT principal Harry Firth and a young engineer/driver Larry Perkins. And yes the 3 manufacturers , Holden, Ford and Chrysler bowed to the pressure, so Holden postpone it’s introduction of a V8 until the release of the LH series Torana.
There was a fun Wheeler Dealer episode where they (Ant Anstead?) did a Ford Sierra XR4i "rebuild" with an upgraded rear wing (that was the way the designer wanted it, but the accountants refused the funding)
You may enjoy some of the Automotive Karnage videos, He lived in the middle of Western Australia, and a bunch if not most of his videos are going out and finding bush wrecks and doing work on them.
Holden's are nice but I like Valiants more.
The triple Webber carburettors sound cool AF. My dad has a VK Charger ✌️
I had a 79' VB Commodore with all the young guy mods in the 90's. Exhaust, intake, massive stereo, rims etc. It was a very fun time to play with cars back around 2000.
i feel like since australians grew up with utes we just see them as a whole vehicle rather than 2 parts like you were saying with the purple holden. to me that just looks as car as any other car. i guess it’s the same way you see your big trucks as just regular “cars”
What a gem of a video and reaction. I love the way that the big three just set their general design language and pretty much left their divisions across the world to do their own thing within those parameters. It's a shame that the economy, fuel prices and infrastructure in the UK never really accommodated big V8 power. Rover, Triumph and Daimler offered small displacement V8s and Rolls Royce and Aston Martin made big V8s for the wealthy. Our Fords, Vauxhalls and Chryslers only ever came with 4s and 6s but we made the most of them. Opel in Germany did make some big V8 luxury saloons like the Kapitan etc.
If you enjoy cars like this, I recommend The Skid Factory with Al and Woody. A spin-off from Mighty Car Mods, where Al (Turbo Yoda) helped Marty and Moog build many of their cars.
Skid Factory does all kinds of cool builds, like a V12 Toyota Land Cruiser, a Barra in a Bedford CF, Al's own Crown with a massive engine and more. Anything from Ozzie muscle, to JDM, some Euro stuff and some American. There is something for everyone and the guys are legends.
One of my favourite builds is still the Double Unicorn, a Nissan Stagae wagon with a Nissan Skyline R34 nose, a massive engine and twin turbo's. Benny is the owner, his channel is Benny's Custom Works.
When Cars Were Simple To Work On , And The Golden Era Of Carburettors & Contact Breakers .
So what your saying is keys on the right hand side is weird because that's exactly where your keys are?
LOL, Samantics.
Yes a VP V8 commodore, I had the model previous, a VN, mostly only body changes. Mine was a Calais which is top of the line for a sedan. It was only the 3.8 lt V6 but performed very well. Then I decided to go 4WD & never looked back.
The people who drove the Torana are now 70 to 80 years old. And I don’t know if this is just an Australian thing, but the engine sound they would call lumpy. 😃
Hey settle down a bit, i'm only 66 and I used to drive a LJ torana 1972 model. The most fun car to drive.
Funny, as he was trying to describe the toranas inline six different sound I said to myself "yeah, that's a lumpy sound". I'm in Australia so could be an aussie thing.
Oi…. I’m 57 now. My first car was a Torana back in 83.
The VK Commodore was a Vauxhall shell. It did have a very worked 308ci carb fed V8 and suspension upgrades. The cars were designed on the Group A Touring cars series. Peter Brock and Larry Perkins both oversaw the development and production from the VB-VN Commodore. I've seen an original camshaft out of a VK, and all the durations were scratched out at the factory, so it makes it hard to find a cam to match
like the Vauxhall Carlton Lotus
waking up to that in the morning.... lol I could imagine Ian programming his wake alarm tone to that sound
I love these old cars and never really appreciated them growing up until I couldn't afford them any more. My two favourite Aussie muscle cars are the Chrysler RT Charger and the Ford Falcon XC Coupe. Love to see your reaction doing a vid on them.
My first car was a Mach 2 Cortina 1969.. Sweet little car.
That last one had the Holden grey motor , 6 cylinder 138 cu. inch and about 60 hp . After that came the 149 and 179 red motors followed by the 186 which finished in 1971 , then the 202 and 173 boat anchor came out , followed by the blue and then black series . I owned two Holdens with the grey motor , an FB wagon and an EJ wagon . Nothing special but they did the job .
132 CI in the 48-215 (FX) and yes, 60 hp. If my memory serves me correctly the 138 came out in either the FE or FB and with revised tuning, achieved 70 and 75 horsepower.
The old 186 with triple side draft Weber carbies certainly made for a sweet sounding car.
Australian muscle car sales would be the LAST place I’d buy a car. Those guys are crooks.
They are in it to make coin like all of the dealers are.
My uncle had the licence to make the rock protectors in front of the rear wheels on the early Holdens. He worked originally as a coach body builder for GMH and later on worked in the research and development area. He was one of the guys who worked on the Torana GTR-X concept car.
Was that in Radelaide?
@@roop366 Nah, the Holden R&D department was at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.
Yes, it’s an inline 6 in the FX. 132 cu inch I think😬
The FX has a Grey motor 6cyl 132 cu inch motor. They used the same block all the way through until the early 80s. It changed fro a low compression grey motor which started as this 132 and then bored to a 138.
It then changed in late '63 to a hi compression motor they sprayed red and so called it the red 6cyl. It started as a 149, then a 179, later to a 186 then came the 202. In the '70s they made low-compression workhorse versions the 161 and 173. Through the 60s and 70s, they had sports versions with triple su carbies. british versions and headers as well as slightly larger cams.
My Dad is a Ford man and had an original XYGTHO phase 3. He had it for years and sold it about 4 years ago. I loved it. My husband is a Holden man and has a HJ Statesman and a HZ Premier sedan which he built from the ground up and it goes like the clappers. When he puts his foot down it throws you back in the seat. It's beautiful too. He has a couple of Ute's too. One a HX and the other a WB. Cheers from Aus 🇦🇺
13:50 One of those in "Spitfire Green" is a sight to behold.
LOVE the Torana's and 1 tonners!! Sad we're not still producing Aussie made Holdens 😢
The Falcon ute is nice. Ford didn't make a GT ute but a couple of dealers optioned them up and did a paint job on them. That dash looks terrific.
Ford Rancheros is what Americans call them
@@greggabel7238 yeah I guess so but we just call them utes.
From the 60s on you find the ignition keys on American based vehicles, and that is where Australian manufactured cars came from, on the right of the steering column because it was determined that most people were right handed and that would be more comfortable for them.
If you like the first car you need to check out the
Vauxhall lotus carlton or opel lotus omega uk government tryed to ban it the police couldn't keep up was the woulds fastest production family saloon for years plus there's a really cool story of a certain number plate 40RA vauxhall lotus carlton used for smash and grab right by the police station please check it out
Appreciate your kind comments on our cars dude 🇦🇺
The HQ-WB were products of universal tooling. With that one tonner, or any other car in the model range, you could take the interior, front clip, engine, transmission, rear axle, dash, doors, you could swap out any one of them into the one tonner's shell. It was a common custom job to put a Statesman or Caprice interior or front clip without having to cut, weld or solder just about anything. To fit a centre console, you might need to add a mounting for it, but not much else.With the Falcon utes and panel vans, they had similar customising options
3:14 "Still had a manual feel to it!"
Man it had a CIGARETTE LIGHTER! It is conspicuous due to its absence now😂
Mate I came across your page you have a good eye for cars , Aussie muscle is alive down under pal we love our cars , I never thought you blokes would like Aussie cars , top page kind regards Robbo 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👏🍺
I definitely want to see more of this! One of my fave videos of yours.
That gtsr w1 with those kms on the clock would sell for around 500k . Fukn insane
Just looking at the comments - many "replies" - this is not normal. The telegram thing is a scam - iWrocker, personally, some time ago, during one of his videos, tried to tell people that he doesn't use that system. Don't respond to them.
He would normally have his own iWrocker reply line and logo/emoji
Thanks
Adrian M.
The colour on the LC XU-1 was Lina Mint. Just one of many cool colours bought out on the late 60’s-70’s muscle cars.
My favourite car of all time was my dad's HQ sedan, it was one of 9 Holden's that have been through the family since dad's FJ. Some were even mine. I love and miss that car so much even the 5 Cadillac's I've owned don't fill the void.
From what I can remember most Aussie cars had the ignition switch on the right hand side of the dash Up until the early 70s then they moved it to the steering column which also included a steering lock, I know the Ford's did. Keep up the good work.
I had a Dodge ute. In this country Dodge was not a separate brand. It was branding used by Chrysler Australia for valiants that were built from heavier gauge steel, better suspension, etc., and sold in country areas and marketed toward farmers. Definitely no louvres in the back window. I loved those heavy gauge body panels. That thing was built like a tank.
And Dodge trucks up to semi trailer size. Yet also the luxury expensive US based Dodge Phoenix. An unusual mix for Chrysler Australia.
The Australian Dodge Phoenix was very similar to a 68/9 Plymouth Fury 3 with 383 big block and Torqueflite trans.
Interesting what you said about the key placement. Every car I've owned here in Australia has had the key on that side. Including a locally delivered Holden Vectra (which was basically a European built Opel with Holden badges) - despite the indicators and washer stalk being reversed, the key was still on that side. Our 2016 Subaru Forester has a button, but it's again on that side of the steering column.
We recently had a current model Izuzu D-Max for a few weeks and for the first time ever the button has been on the left side of the steering column. It caught me out every frigging time.
I think he means how the key is placed over by the door. As from memory the key on the right hand side of the column is the same for u.s and Aussie cars.
One detail most people overlook on the blue group A-SS commodore, are the wheels. Notice the fins on the wheels point toward the front on both sides? Yup, they have L&R handed wheels!
I had a maroon 6 cylinder 2.6L Torana in the day. Used to take off like the clappers. Loved it, drove it for years.
It can only be considered v8 a muscle car if it has a carburetor no fuel injection
5lt Holden V8 is the best sounding rig going.
My first car was a Ford focus -88. It sure didn't sound anything like these. But that old and small engine got me from Sweden to Norway and back averaging 160km/h. I'm not a car guy but everything was fixable, I had a huge book on how to change everything, The internet wasn't the primary source for information back then.
My buddy and neighbor had the same model, but a few years younger, so his keys would work in mine, so as a practical joke he would have moved it to another parking spot to mess with my mind! 😂😂
My Mother had a succession of HSV Commodores. VN, VP & a VS Senator. Mum is the rev-head in the the family. Dad drove them gently, I gave it to each one when I got to drive them.
14:30 That car looks almost exacly like the Pontiac G8. the side panels door and windows look exactly the same. Pratically ust different bumpers head lights and tail lights.
Pretty clever of Holden in Australia to develop panel parts to make an export Holden off the line in Elizabeth South Australia that convinced so many Americans that it was built by Pontiac.
@@johnd8892 is there an equivalent model in Europe?
The XY GT ute does have a little tweaking of the instrument cluster but not much. They all look like the right gauges, but the needles look newish and the faceplate is chrome/silver where most factory ones were flat black.
1971 XY GTHO Phase III was the worlds quickest 4-door production car for DECADES. Factory standard was a FLAT 13 second quarter mile pass. You could literally drive them off the production line to Bathurst, throw your sponsor decals and team stickers on and go racing and expect to compete strongly. The price was set as that equal to a years wage for a working man.
I had a 1971 XY Falcon 500 with some tweaks and when you hit the gas pedal you'd get slammed in the lower back or there's something wrong with your car.
A lot of the true types of Aussie muscle cars were a bit hard on the driver and didn't make good "dailys" as you had to really work the car. Power-steering, air-conditioning and such took HP away and cost extra, so most people didn't have it. The muscle car scene was exploding in the early to mid 70s, but was knocked on the head by the government (mainly) due to a number of high-profile accidents involving them (too many horses/not enough brakes, no 'crumple' zones) and the oil crisis didn't help. There were a number of manufacturers that were planning models with more than 400hp as "standard" in their production runs. The Phase IV was a high-profile victim of this reasoning.
I enjoyed the video. I remember all of those vehicles. By the way, I love your cap. You have excellent taste in footy teams as well.
Only cap better would be a Cowboys cap.
Did you notice the difference in shape of the front and rear wheel arches? They attached the face lifted body panels to the previous models body.
My grandpa worked at Holden, and one of his jobs was inspecting and prepping HQ bumpers before chroming.
22:30 that FX Holden was an inline six, I think a 138ci. Seriously underpowered, but still fun. You got me thinking. I've only ridden in one car older than me (at least since I was a toddler) and that was a Model T Ford, circa 1911. My dad had an FX Holden before I was born. I've driven a Torana the same era as the XUI and it was a blast, although it was only a 173, not the triple carby 202. Australian muscle cars had waaaay smaller motors than American ones. Still managed to boogie though
FX had the 132.5ci, 138 came out in the FB/EK then the EJ then they canned the grey engine.
Not underpowered for the early fifties Australian market.
Especially power to weight wise.
@@johnd8892 l drove a FJ once with a reconditioned Repco Grey engine in it & it had some scoot for an old girl👍
@@johnd8892 I had a mate with a nice FJ. He said he got 35mpg from it. This was 45 years back when it wasn't a rarity to see them as daily drivers.
Those 1 tonners with the flat bed could sometimes be a backyard conversion. Our neighbours back in the early 80s spent months of weekends converting an old shit box into something similar.
The car I would love to have now is a car dad had when I first got my license lol an old valiant station wagon . Man that thing had some guts lol
Great video
As an Aussie we didn't really have the variety you guys had in the 60s/70s but we did/do love our muscle cars.
Here's a few of my favourites you might appreciate 😎
Ford XW,XY GTHO
1971 XY GTHO phase III was at the time the world’s fastest four door production car and Australia’s fastest four door production car for almost a decade.
Ford XA,XB Gt (sedans and coupes)
XB coupe is the Mad Max car
Ford XC Cobra Coupe
Holden HG,HT,HK,HQ Monaro (coupe)
Holden HQ sandman (Panel Van... Shaggn wagon 😎)
Valiant Charger, VH,VJ,VK
Holden Torana SLR5000
Holden VL Walkinshaw
Hope you like them
You should definitely check out the Ford Zephyr. Don’t see a whole lot of them but such a good looking car. My friend had one and his dad did a full restoration on one.
First car was sold in Europe is a Opel Omega in the UK as Vauxhall Carlton. Later they build a Lotus Omega/ Lotus Carlton a exclusive sport sedan to go against the BMW M5. The second generation of the car was sold in the USA as a Cadillac Catera but no sport sedan was build of the second generation
Most US cars I have seen the ignition switch on older cars is still on the right hand end of the dash panel its just that your cars are left hand drive.
9:40 I'm up to the VC ute and yeah, absolutely love it. Chrysler/Valiant fan from way back as you know.
I still preferred Holden HQ series honestly. in relation to the '73 HQ, a friend done some modifications to his by adding a dual axle on the rear. As he put it, you gotta stand out man
From memory you had the legend Pedro with you when you took the Camaro for a ride. 🤠 Haven`t seen him in a while. I hope he`s doing well. 👍
13:13 This ute looks suspiciously exactly the same as an acquaintance in Rockhampton rebuilt some years ago. Same colour, same wheels, same painstakingly polished deck. It may well be the same car.
The VK HDT Brocky in blue is known as the blue meanie. The HQ 1 tonner is actually pink. The colour is called strike me pink but it's been given a candy look to it as well.
Ian the Commodore Also came as a 1 tonner from '03 to '07, they also had a 4 door ute called the crewman with a removable bed PLUS rwd or awd😊. The ford falcon ute from 1998 to 2016 had a removable bed so it could be turned into a 1 tonner.
I have a very soft spot for the HQs seeing as I learnt to drive in one...'71 Kingswood station wagon with the thong slapping 253 V8 with the Traumatic....err...Trimatic gearbox. I miss that old girl. With what you can get from Castlemaine Rod Shop for the HQs, I'd ditch the steering box/pitman arm steering for rack and pinion steering and remedy the "Boulevard ride" suspension, no thanks to the Yank George Roberts who was involved with the suspension of the HQs when they were developed, really fucked up a really good car until the advent of RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) with the HZ.
I've had an HQ, HJ and a WB, I thought Radial Tuned Suspension was on HJ's. I could be wrong though.
@@tropicsalt. RTS wasn't until HZ as I had to look it up myself just to be sure.
@kevkoala Ii must be remembering the WB dash, thanks.
@@tropicsalt. My paternal Grandfather had a red HJ Belmont. That thing was kept in mint condition until he traded it in for an RB Gemini. I remember the HJ dash as the speedos on the HJ were similar to the speedos in the HKs.