Californians, Detroits, etc - anything on EKs?

[Michael_Ryan]

Hi to all FE - FC fans,
I'm seeking more info on the Detroit, Californian, etc. trims that were applied to FEs & FCs. Can anyone confirm what options were available, was it just a different body stripe, or was the interior up-spec'd as well? What other ones were there apart from Californian and Detroit? I've heard of Floridas - did they exist???  Finally - and I know this is a little off the topic - does anyone know if similar options were available on EK Holdens? Some info or a direction to someone who does would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RET]

Michael,

The trim kits were manufactured by a company called "Tilli", who had offices in Melbourne and Adelaide.  Hence the name "Tilli's Kit" or "Tilli's Stripe".  They weren't made or sold by GM-H, they were an aftermarket accessory only.  Having said that, plenty of them were fitted by Holden Dealers as a way of tarting up vehicles to sell them (which is also why they are sometimes known as "dealer stripes").  Tilli also made kits to suit other makes and models, such as VW Beetle, for example.

The kits consisted of stainless trim pieces and clips to hold them on, plus instructions and a measuring stick that was used as a template to mark the holes out on the body before firing up the drill.  A kit like the "Detroit" can require up to 200 holes, so you'd want to make sure you measured twice and drilled once, as it were. :o

Accessories for dressing up the interior are another matter entirely, and unrelated to Tilli's kits, as should be obvious from what I've written above.  There were plenty of these available as NASCO accessories as well as items made by other companies.

FE Kits included:
- Detroit
- Dart
- Victoria
- Victoria Twinline

FC Kits included:
- Crestline
- Florida
- Styletone
- Styletone Capri

... and more that I can't think of OTTOMH.

They most certainly were available for FB and EK models, and in fact there were a couple designed for utes and vans that were retrofitted to FE/FC.  Amongst others, there were Miami, Californian, Flashline and Hollywood designs (these last two were used on the Trax EK 40th Anniversary boxed set).  I'm sure there were more, but that's all I can think of.  I'll dig out the catalogue and have a look.  It would also be worth asking on the FB-EK forum.

Hope all that is some help.

cheers
RET

[mcl1959]

It appears that about 1960 through to 1965 were about the most popular years for Tilli and Thornton stripe kits. My catalogue lists the following for FB/EK
Californian
Modern Special
Arrow Look
Sraightline
Modernline
Starline
Hollywood
Newline
Miami
Ambassador
Flashline
Also available from Tilli were Sun visors, weather shields, door & guard mirrors, fender shields, heaters, mud flaps, dust deflectors, wheel trim rings, white walls and venetians.  All of different design to the Nasco range put out by GMH

Ken

[Michael_Ryan]

Thanks to Ken for info on the Tilli's kits. Does anyone have any images of these kits and the various other Tilli aftermarket goodies? Would like to see a copy of their catalogue if possible. Thanks

[RET]

Don't mention it ::)

[TorqueFC]

here is a picture of our fc sedan (slightly photoshopped) fitted with a tilli kit, Ken or RET exactly what kit is it?

[TorqueFC]

EK's fitted with 'Flashline kits'

[TorqueFC]

EK standard fitted with 'Special look' trim kit.

[TorqueFC]

Ek fitted with 'Jetstream' Flash kit

[earlyholdenfan]

Hey Torque, there seems to be some conjuncture on the correct naming of the "Flashline Kit" I have been pulled up on another forum, saying that they are a "Fineline Kit" not Flashline

Can anyone confirm either way?
Maybe I am looking for the wrong thing! ;)
Matt

[COL58FE]

wow,
        look's like the valiant  in the back ground
of the second ek pic got hit up by tilli's too  ;D.
nice pic's too glenn.
                        col. ;)

[RET]

Matt,

It is definitely "Flashline" - you'll note it's referred to as such on the Trax model.  The Tilli catalogue has nothing like "Fineline": plenty of other "lines", but not that one.

Torque,

The one you've called "Special Look" appears to be a "Modernline Special" as near as I can tell.

cheers
RET

[4hammers]

Hi.
Torque is right. Flashline (Tilli products) for the top 3 pics. Haven't heard of fineline. There is a "Finnline", but that is for a Zephyr.

The pink Standard belongs to Tim Bree, from the FB EK Car club of QLD. I think the green one is his brothers...or some relation. Contact him, he is the number one FB EK Flash Kit Guru. I assure you of that. Tell him 4hammers said G'day.
I am quite sure he referred to it as a "Hollywood", but a few of them are so similar & also, take into account, you could chop & change bits if you liked, they could be half & half.

Col, as for the Valiant having a Tilli kit, I have one for the same model, which is the prettiest kit I haave ever seen. Was on a black Val. Sweet.

Rob J

[customFC]

Here's a couple of flashy EK's.





Regards
Alex

[TorqueFC]

Alex,
       Great pics. Just thought i would add though, that last one isnt an original Tilli kit, but has been made out of original ek mouldings. Roger (???) from the fb ek club here in vic spent many hours making those pieces 'work'. Gotta admit though, it has come up pretty sweet 8) 8)