FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

g'day all  ..  one of my favourite quirkiest Holdens was the FE-FC ute or van with all the "no frills" options LOL ...

...the FE commercials had a chrome grille and headlight rims, but no blinker/park lamp assembly...and the FC's had a painted grille/headlight rims...but provision for the blinkers in the park lamps...

...is anyone contemplating an 'nth degree resto on one of these old classics...and even right down to the no glass upper tailgate?....(sorry fellas  ..  i'm a purist at heart LOL)

Yep, the Nationals have seen all these variations. Quite a few FC Utes and vans done with painted grilles. Only one FC van that I can remember with the no glass upper tailgate.
I will dig up some photos and post for you.

Ken

S.A. club had our show and shine on Sunday at the National Motor Museum.
One of our members has the classic rusty holden ute.
Painted grille and headlight and taillight surrounds.
Lock only on passenger door.

(http://s11.postimg.org/t5uw2f53z/FCute.jpg) ($2)

Cheers Stewy   8)

FE van at Philip Island
(http://s14.postimg.org/56zak7c8d/Sun082.jpg) ($2)
FC van at Mildura
(http://s11.postimg.org/jiyqeov4v/97_Mildura_010.jpg) ($2)
Regards
Alex

...thanks for the replies fellas...next question!  .. has anyone seen an FE/FC 2104 body plate that doesn't have RPO 303? (rear tailgate window)

I don't have a photo of one, but I have 40 records for FE vans of which 9 do not have a 333 code.
For FC I have 15 recorded without a 333 out of 120 records.
Just from this statistic it seems FE was more common than FC to have no rear glass.
Now some of these may have been given to me incorrectly and there was a 333 on the plate, but a large percentage of these were recorded by me and definitely have no 333 on the plate. The interesting thing is that all the ones I personally have seen without the 333 all had the rear glass.
Gary Claypole's (Zulus) ambulance has barn doors and he has supplied me with the details of his ID plate.
Maybe Gary can confirm the lack of 333 on his ID plate and put up a photo?

Ken

...thanks Ken  ..  there were certainly quite a few that apparently came from the factory without the rear window, but would they have actually seen the roads without it? (registration state by state?)....there seems to be nothing to show for one of these top 'gates ever in a picture except for the GMH adverts of the day

...and also was the interior mirror deleted from the non 333 and option 333 vans...similar to the requirement for the RH external one as in the FJ vans...ex factory?

...i have two or three FE/FC 2104 body plates with the 333 option ('scuse the 303 mistake) and will post the details ASAP....cheers fellas

Hi Ken

The Boonah Ambulance was purchased as a panel van from the successful tenderer, Faulkner Motors for the sum of £837.0.0.

it was then converted for Ambulance use by Hedges Bodyworks £392.17.6 who fitted it with the barn doors

(http://s11.postimg.org/sjihqdn3j/AMB_VIN.jpg) ($2)

(http://s2.postimg.org/hcneu16s5/AMBO_VIN.jpg) ($2)

Hi Ken

The Boonah Ambulance was purchased as a panel van from the successful tenderer, Faulkner Motors for the sum of £837.0.0.

it was then converted for Ambulance use by Hedges Bodyworks at a cost of £392.17.6 who fitted it with the rear door behind the driver, barn doors, attendants seat, rear cupboards, split front seat, black glass, rear headliner and all the other bits and pieces

(http://s11.postimg.org/sjihqdn3j/AMB_VIN.jpg) ($2)

(http://s2.postimg.org/hcneu16s5/AMBO_VIN.jpg) ($2)

Bit hard to read in the pic, it's CHASSIS NO FC-16147-B

(http://s9.postimg.org/cq9cxnm1n/FC_AMBO_DSIDE024.jpg) ($2)

(http://s9.postimg.org/uf13p9xsr/FC_AMBO_FRONT021.jpg) ($2)

(http://s9.postimg.org/bpdpm9ufv/FC_AMBO_PSIDE022.jpg) ($2)

(http://s24.postimg.org/qujvkdm8h/ATT_DR_VIEW_ALEX_AHD.jpg) ($2)

I have a copy of a pic of an FC van circa 1970? Without the rear window. It's a modified van but appears to be original without rear window.
According to the parts book, no vans were fitted with an internal rear view mirror.
It us possible that option 333 was not just the inclusion of a rear window, but the inclusion of an internal rear view mirror as well.

Ken

thanks for the gen fellas  ..  sorry for the barrage of questions too  ..  these commercials are a fascinating bunch and you would wonder why the reason for the blanked off upper gate?...considering the FJ vans never had that option...


...the funeral industry maybe?...and not neccessarily a hearse...?

Here is the pic

(http://s28.postimg.org/xefwn0a2h/image.jpg) ($2)

My personal opinion is that contractors of the day found that the FJ van had a deficiency in that sunlight could get in the rear window onto the contents.
If you were a florist or a grocer etc then you don't want sunlight coming through the rear window onto the contents.
Don't know why it was never continued in later models apart from the fact that they were very difficult to reverse.
Ken

On Kens point about internal mirror in Panelvan, or the lack of, the 3 door van has a very old reversible mirror, possibly from an earlier car, anyone recognise it?

There appear to be no other holes in the headliner where a stock mirror would have been

(http://s10.postimg.org/bqelsq5b9/BODY_PLATE.jpg) ($2)

(http://s23.postimg.org/85iuqjckn/PREP_029.jpg) ($2)

(http://s10.postimg.org/a0ijny6p1/PREP_019.jpg) ($2)

That red van belonged to Wes Collis.
Taken at Castlereagh drags in 1983, here's a better pic.

(http://s30.postimg.org/zeyqdjnjx/83_0731_Castlereagh3.jpg) ($2)
A couple of years later he put a back window in.

(http://s13.postimg.org/owiofhp1f/2_Early_Club_Run13.jpg) ($2)
As a matter of interest, the black FC on the left was an ex hearse.
Regards
Alex

jeeez!  ..  he may still have the windowless tailgate hanging around somewhere...that would certainly be a rarity...

Thanks for sharing that pic of the Wes Collis van Alex, apart from the obvious answer, do you reckon that's an FC colour?

Seminole Brown perhaps?

Hey Gary.
Not a standard colour.
(http://s24.postimg.org/5c03tbxc1/84_09_Greens_Swapc.jpg) ($2)
Last I heard from Wes was about 20 years ago and the car was off the road following an accident.
His brother was driving and a woman came around a corner too wide and ran into the front of the van. He said he was rebuilding it, but I have not seen it since.
Regards
Alex

...going the other way on the van options  ..  i'm sure there were a few full windowed "two door Station Wagons" for lack of a better term...panel vans glazed all round ??...would that be true?

This is an FE Panelvan, but badged as a Station Sedan,  has no spare tyre door, has a full headliner, with wagon rear glass

(http://s17.postimg.org/dgl85dj0b/DSCF0085.jpg) ($2)

(http://s17.postimg.org/bdfebg8l7/DSCF0087.jpg) ($2)

(http://s17.postimg.org/wocyfpqpn/DSCF0088.jpg) ($2)

(http://s16.postimg.org/qncynhf8x/DSCF0098.jpg) ($2)

(http://s17.postimg.org/5zl7hn88r/DSCF0696.jpg) ($2)

Aussie Nomad?

....thanks Zulu  ..  i'm going back in the grey matter a fair way with all these questions, but i do remember these and the 3 door versions back in the day...so these ones essentially were a wagon after all with a wagon bodyplate?...

...do you know if they have a different body number sequence to the normal wagons?

To my knowledge, and I could be mistaken, but these variants all began life as Panel vans and were either dealer fitted or aftermarket fitted with the glass, sliding or fixed, rear seats, and even a rear door if you wanted one

The exception to this would be factory build variants such as PMG, Army, Air related, and others, which had additional codes stamped onto the body plate

So the normal body codes are
Standard Sedan 215
Business Sedan 217
Special Sedan 225
Standard Wagon 219
Special Wagon 229
Panel Van 2104
Utility  2106

Ken has the factory special order codes for the various Government vehicles

 

...those full glass two and three door jobs would have been a heck of a lot of work for a dealer or afterfit firm if they originated from a panel van...especially around the lower tailgate valance and bumper etc. etc....

...the numbers on that one just posted would be very interesting....cheers fellas

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/DSCN1980_zps86da526a.jpg) ($2)

This is my old van it was dealership fitted here in Brissy back in the day {Bill Harrisons}with dicky seat ,taxi rail ,Smith's heater demister, under dash tray etc .The chrome and paintwork and other mods. are mine . I have been the second owner for close to 30 years[the first owner, a mate of mine who lives near by, his  Grandfather was the first] so I have its complete history .It is a beautiful car to drive , even in comparison to modern vehicles and I expect this is because I have had it [and a physical disability]for so long and have made so many mods. Red motor,larger radiator,,5 speed,cable clutch and diff gear,disc brakes,rear rack,bucket seats and small consul,centre handbrake,shorter collapsible column and many more smaller mods. Haydn

Haydn,

How did you sort out the rear trim to make it one piece, rather than segmented like an FC wagon?

The passenger side ,I used 2 sedan trims .Stop and restart either side of the fuel filler, you just have to shape the ends to blank them . Drivers side I tig welded 2 together .Not real neat but I didn't have a lot of experience with stainless or time to do it in the work sheet metal shop some 25 years ago . An interesting thing about the van is that it has a piece of floor that is removable behind the drivers side seat , in front and to the left of the dicky seat. At first I thought it was put there to carry a spare battery as at the time of the crash it was towing a caravan but there is no sign of a clamp or wiring . I think it was used to give space to stand a rifle behind the driver and tie around the taxi rail . The old fellow that owned the van always holidayed in outback Australia .
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/headonvan_zps5492f848.jpg) ($2)

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/SAM_0384_zps4468e5db.jpg) ($2)
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/DSCN1993_zps28507275.jpg) ($2)
Just a few little mods to make life easier. Cheers Haydn
 

There's a lot of [excellent] work in that van, Haydn.

That crash looked pretty nasty. The FC's occupants survived, I gather. What made you want to repair it, rather than the be be disposed of? Dumping these old cars or just walking away from them seemingly occurred far too often with these old cars back in the day, when they weren't desirable, and could be picked up pretty cheaply as a consequence. 

...as i understand it, the adverts for these things 2nd hand back in the day described them as  "Stationettes"...even a few of the FJ vans got this moniker when windows and a basic rear seat was added...along with the modified partition and folding front bench....still a bloody lot of work to convert 'em  back then all the same...

There were a lot of body building firms around in those days which made ambulances, hearses, custom tuck bodies etc. To make a 2-door wagon out of mostly factory parts would've been a breeze to them.

I'm sure you will find these cars to have begun life as a basic 2016 panel van, a much cheaper vehicle than a wagon. I believe that a 2106 was around £300 ($600) cheaper than a 219 & £500 ($1,000) cheaper than a 229, which was a lot of moolah in those days a huge % of the car's whole purchase price.

Dr Terry

...good point there Dr Terry  ..  would the forum members know if the FE/FC full glass jobs have a split front seat like the FJ's had?....or indeed a back seat at all ??.....just a nice, "airy" panel van !

Ok ,when I think about it ,your right there was probably plenty of other old cars in better condition getting around at the time . Then ,I knew the history of the vehicle, it had no rust and 26000 original miles on the clock and I had plenty of friends that were panel beaters and or spray painters and a brother in law who owned the local garage where I sometimes worked . As I had owned plenty of old Holdens and a lot of them were Fe-Fc, parts were not an issue . But I guess the clincher was being in my early 20's single and of a mind to stay so ,I saw this as a great party [sleep anywhere] weekend on the coast , general escape with a girlfriend type of machine. So with all the body and mechanical parts I needed I first built it as a weapon and could run the speedo needle past the odometer . Eventually after a few years the car converted back to something more practical and others could drive it . Cheers Haydn

My van didn't have a split seat ,just the original bench with the taxi rail [I guess that was to protect it as the kids climbed over] . Another interesting thing is the very thin strip of steel that remains between the sliding windows and the rear station wagon glass . Its only about 15mm wide and single thickness which makes it very easy to fit new rear window rubbers unlike station wagons. Haydn

Just out of interest Zulu ,Alf Poelitz offered me that ambulance many years ago . At the time it looked more hard work than the vanette . Cheers Haydn

I don't recall any of the vanettes or estate wagons that I have seen having split bench seats. I have photos of a dozen or so.
Even the hearse from the last Nats does not have a split seat, rather a notch cut out of the Middle of the back of the seat.
Ken

All these vehicles start life as a panel van. I have ads for various companies offering conversions. My 3 door van was built by Baileys in Melbourne.
Body numbering was in line with regular production. Even GMH built vehicles like the PMG vans followed the number system unlike FJ numbering.
Whether there was a back seat or not depended on what the customer wanted. The little flip up back seat seems peculiar to A Sydney company. All Victorian conversions seem to have been fitted with a wagon rear seat if the seat was ordered.

Ken

Yeah, the dicky seat is still in there but only as a curiosity .
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/photos004_zpsba87dd18.jpg) ($2)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/FEFC%20instr/fold-a-way.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/FEFC%20instr/foldaway4.jpg)
Regards
Alex

That's priceless Alex, a picture and a few words tells the story, Ken has posted brochures on here for the Baileys mob that did them in Melbourne in the past also

Jeez Haydyn that was a hard punch on the nose for your vanette / wagonette but you have done a nice job on it, looks the goods and nice that you have it's story as well

John (judge 65) also apparently saw the Ambo at Alfs yard, I didn't deal with Alf though, I purchased it from the bloke that got it from him

Yes, they didn't leave much metal behind when they cut out for the side windows

The Ambulance seat was split but it doesn't fold, the passenger side where the stretcher goes just slides forward towards the glovebox to give the stretcher room
 
(http://s29.postimg.org/5sigqwiv7/011.jpg) ($2)

not much wriggle room for the poor old driver

(http://s1.postimg.org/98xc5aqgr/014.jpg) ($2)

When I get a chance I'll take some pictures of the weird front seat hinges on the Brown Panel van, supposedly to allow access to the rear seat
 

...great info fellas  ..  theses Holdens have always been fairly mysterious to me, and it's fantastic to get right to the bottom of it all...from ever since i was a teenager wondering if they were factory or not...

...i have a split fold FJ front seat that looks very similar to the type that zulu put up...except that it's fixed in place but the LH seat back pivots...the van it came out of had four windows, but i couldn't really say it was a wagon conversion as the full wooden floor boards were in place....also if you google  "google newspapers",  the Saturdays Age going back through the 1950's has various dealers describing these wagon conversions as stationettes...but that's probably their own made up appellation....Cheers

A funny story . Yes I have had it referred to as a vanette ,a wagonette and a stationette . But back to the story ,a few years ago a friend of mine [a very old man] from Boonah was looking at the dicky seat in my van and told me he had a similar one in the shed . He walked into one of his many sheds and produced a seat of the same design but the backrest was smaller in that it was positioned about 4" above the seat but hinged and braced the same .He gave the seat to me .I told him I didn't need it as I only had the one van ,his reply was, "Its not for your car, its for a horse drawn sulky that you are restoring for your Dad". He wondered at my amusement at finding that these seats were used in sulkies [floor height behind and below the single seat] as well as old holdens . As he said " coachbuilders were still building horse drawn vehicles here in Boonah in 1962". Anyway the advertisements do make the dicky seats look much safer than they actually are . When you unfold the seat from the floor and sit in it your legs slide under the floor toward the short steel dividing wall . I would hate to have a passenger in that position in a decent head on .It's as about as comfortable as sitting on a house brick and would be near impossible to put seat belts for . Cheers Haydn

...with no fold forward front LH seat, i wonder how a lady might've clambered into the back seat! ( just going by the picture in the ad) LOL

(http://s27.postimg.org/el8w952vj/Orange_Sat_199.jpg) ($2)

Regards
Alex

...that's very clever and (depending on how close the pedals were to the seat front) would be an even easier entry to the back with an FC and its shorter steering column...

Hi fellas  ..   speaking of shorter steering columns on the FC...was that deemed to be a major boo-boo on the FE's?...or just a refinement of the models' progression.....

Just safety being progressed as injuries identify weak areas. All early cars had a flat steering wheel and injuries in crashes from the steering column were chronic. The dished steering wheel on the FB lessened injury and the introduction of seat belts a few years later dropped injuries even more.

Ken

Now don't shoot me I know it's a Ford , 62 XK .. Picked this van up a year or so age to go with my FC pano .. Have a thing for windowless panos .. Just showing use as it has aluminium rear doors that have been well made .. Most common thought is it might have been a Tip Top delivery van or postal van special order ?? came from around Seymour Vic apparently ..
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac6/froger66/T2eC16NHJIIE9qTYI12jBRPZU-HjSg60_3.jpg) ($2)
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac6/froger66/image_4.jpeg) ($2)

Cool van,nothing wrong with that,i got a 63,not many GM/ford panno,s left,it would be good to know it's history,the holdens with barn doors were f/glass as far as I know,you may have a rare bird :D,good find,Gaz!

Are you suggesting that FE steering columns are longer than those in FCs ?

Dr Terry

I didn't read it that way, I thought it was a discussion between FE FC columns and FB EK columns. But now on re reading it does look like that is the question.
Just to be clear FE and FC steering columns are the same. :)

Ken

Cheers Gaz.. Good to see someone with no bios .. A rare Bird maybe :) .. Would also like toknow the origins of the van .. Been on a few ford forums with no results ..
Any pics of your 63 ??

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1520672_10153469406219311_4154675237942194918_n.jpg?oh=759f7ea92803244b32c695a3413ffc50&oe=55ADDA50&__gda__=1436555066_1d9834575e6e4b3c5dcc185752c362e0)

Here's a different take on the blind van.
This is Greg Gleeson's van in '86.
It now has a full rear window and no side windows.
(....and a Big Block and tubs.)
Regards
Alex

Hi fellas  ..  that's a nice pic custom FC

....somewhere in the dark recesses of my tired brain was the story of the FE steering columns being a fair bit shorter than the FC ones  ??...and i seem to recall that when i used to look at an FE, the column did seem to stick out a bit further  ??....

...anyone with a tape measure! LOL

No , they are the same . They only differ in horn ring and wiring for indicators [early and commercial or later and passenger] . Haydn

I'm with you Haydn FE FC are the same I swapped mine out to an FB EK one when I bought the car first started work on it in 1996 to get it closer to the dash and out of my face.
I now run a custom column but thats a different story  ::)

Regards
Neil H

Nice Van,i'd like to see some updated pic's if there is any.It's hard enough to reverse with no side windows,let alone no rear ones,i'm in the process of putting a Rear Camera in the HT for that reason!

Yeah Neil, I done the same ,then change to same length with the collapsible with the rack . You just got to be careful that you can still see the speedo . Haydn 

Hi fellas  ..  i goofed my reply this morning saying the word "shorter" rather than "longer" for the FE column....no biggy, as i goofed on the whole thought that they were different anyway .....cheers

I don't quite follow that.

To my knowledge the columns are the same for both model series (except horn ring of course). Just 2 types, blinkers or no blinkers.

Blinker availability was the same for both FE & FC, standard equipment for all Specials, but only optional for all Standards, Business, Ute & Vans.

Dr Terry

..curly question 4022! LOL....did the provision for the indicator arrow exist in the dashboard gauges across all the FE/FC models? .. or was only provided in the models that came standard with the indicator fitment....??   cheers

Yes, the arrow & the light socket receptacle exist in all FE/FC cars.

Not so in FB/EK though, the arrow 'housings' are left out & the plug in put in their place.

Dr Terry

As requested.
(http://s23.postimg.org/e3vzjgc6f/Greg_Gleeson1.jpg) ($2)

(http://s14.postimg.org/vjuc31159/Greg_Gleeson2.jpg) ($2)

Regards
Alex

[quoteTo my knowledge the columns are the same for both model series (except horn ring of course). Just 2 types, blinkers or no blinkers. ][/quote]
earlies had red indicators (brake light) Late 59 had orange indicators so this is where the wiring changed. Columns are the same.
cheers
Scott

...the early red indicators had the brake light interrupter, which was a cool set-up...how exactly did that work?....

Terry, I think Haydn is referring to the indicator wiring difference between FE and early FC versus late FC.
Differences in steering columns off the top of my head, there are probably more.....
Wiring harness - none in commercial, red blinkers and orange blinkers in specials
Blanking plate in commercial models versus indicator mechanism in specials
Indicator stalk is different between FE and FC
Honey pot is different on early FE
Horn ring
Horn contact spring and wire assembly

Ken

... from all  accounts the FE columns were painted body colour across the range, whereas the FC ones were painted black ....

Only the early ones. My November 57 wagon column is black on a two tone blue special.

Cheers Stewy   8)

Hi fellas  ..  thanks Stewy for the info....another curly one from the memory banks...i think ??....

...the FE specials had the chunky number plate surround and associated holes for their mounting in the bumper bar pieces....i recall that the alternative bumpers on the base and commercial models didn't have these surrounds or holes, and were becoming somewhat of a rarity even back then  (about 20 years ago say).....

....is that all bunkum?...or is there a bit of truth in it......cheers

1956 FE's have painted steering columns.
FE commercials have no number plate surround but the centre section of the bar still has the holes in it.
A lot of FE commercials are wrongly restored with FC front centre bars without the holes in them
Granted they do look better, but not correct.

Ken

...thanks Ken for all the clarifications, and it's interesting to see how they standardised the FE bumper across the range...holes and all.

...also did the FE dashboard ashtray always have provision for a cigarette lighter?...or was that a different receptacle on the base and commercial models....(please excuse the barrage of questions....the FE stuff has always been of great interest to me)

All FE and FC have the ashtray lid in the dash, and the ashtray inside. Special models came with a cigarette lighter fitted, but all other models had a blank plate where the lighter could be installed. Whether this had to be drilled out or could be punched out I'm not sure - it's rare to see one unmolested.

Also, the early FEs with the painted steering column have a chromed column support bracket.

Now, as to the number plate frame on the FE - that is an interesting thing. Although I've never seen a picture that clearly shows what was different about them, the "Preliminary" FE parts catalogue shows there were originally two different part numbers for the front and back versions. However, by the time of release, there was just one universal item. Note also that the centre section of the bumper is the same front and back, so whilst it's true that undrilled centre sections are harder to find, it's not for the reason you mentioned, as Ken has intimated. Only the front bumpers on FC models are undrilled, so basically the ratio of drilled to undrilled is close enough to 3:1.

Hope that helps.

cheers
RET

...interesting stuff RET  ..  that preliminary parts list didn't tell lies, as discovered in the 48-EJ Master Parts Catalogue "Parts History Index" the original centre bumper bar (front and rear) for FE/FC was part number 7414456 which was superseded by p/n 7408731.....

...there is a distinct possibility that the front number plate surround was not going to be fitted to the FE...hence the two different numbers...(and possibly no holes in the front centre piece?)....

Other way round Detective. FE preliminary parts catalogue lists the centre front bumper as # 7408731 and the same for centre rear.(with holes)
where as the master parts catalogue I have 48-EK lists FE centre front as # 7408731 and FC centre front as # 7414456 and centre rear for both FE and FC as # 7408731

Cheers Stewy   8)

On this subject, take a look at the front cover of the FC brochure. It shows the yellow and black FC with the FE commercial front bar rather than the FC bar

Ken

...that's the rub Stewy  ..  the 7414456 part being originally only I/4 of the whole assembly production was apparently dropped by the time the 48-EJ catalogue was produced...thereby standardising the part...for an FC front bar replacement you got the spare holes for free!!  LOL

...admittedly, i think that RET was saying that the number plate guards themselves were different  ?

That's exactly what I was saying, sorry if it wasn't as clear as it might have been.

The FE Special Sedan was always going to have a number plate guard on the front, but the preliminary parts manual suggests the guards were originally going to be different front and rear. All FEs shared the same bumper centre front and rear (where fitted), so commercials and standards had the holes in the bumper on the front.

The FC never had the front number plate guard under any circumstances, so the front bumper centre was produced with no holes, and received a new part number. The rear centre continued through from the FE unchanged. Hence my comment about the ratio of drilled to undrilled centres.

cheers
RET

Thanks for all the answers fellas to these myriad questions that have had me intrigued for so many years...

...about 1977  when i was about 16, the slightly older lads in the industrial area i worked in would thrash and wreck any old car they could find in the paddocks all around us...i didn't care much about the Simca's, prefect's, falcon's or even the numerous EK's or EJ's they killed, but one day they fronted up with a fairly tidy FE...which even then was becoming a bit rarity (in my opinion)...

...it lasted all afternoon, into the evening...was crashed and belted in to any object available...all the while with steam and smoke issuing forth until there was literally nothing more it could do...stopped and siezed

...looking back i wish i had a camera, as the smoking, steaming wreck had no life left except one lonely headlight park lamp looking downwards in the dark....she was totally knackered....and even then as a kid i thought "what a bloody shame"

I would expect that the original number plate guard for FE front would not have had the holes to mount the number plate on.
The front number plate is attached to the bumper whereas the rear number plate is attached to the guard.
I think GMH probably dropped the idea for simplicity.

Ken

...on that note Ken, some states apparently didn't require the front number plate to be fitted and may explain away the earlier differences between the two number plate guards until they decided to standardise on one type or the other prior to production...??

Hi fellas  ..  i wasn't sure if this should belong here, but a bit more miscellany for the members to look out for has popped up in some of the reading of the FE road tests from back in the day...

...a really interesting thing in the earliest FE wagons was the lack of floor strips for the load area, which was apparently just a thin foam padded vinyl cover...including the rear seat back...

...the strips were to be made available via the Nasco people, but they also may have been retro-fitted under warranty for disgruntled purchasers, as the writers noted the issue of items tearing the covering may cause problems...

...has anyone seen this early set-up?...it would be very rare to see these days if so....cheers

This is a tricky one which had me looking for any evidence as I have to admit that with the extreme rarity of FE wagons and FE 219's especially, it's hard to find pictures.
I looked at some of the pics in the road tests and read the text that you refer to.
The FE special in the pics does not appear to have rear strips although the parts book lists the special as having the wear strips.
The interesting thing though was the the standard wagon had material in the back early and this was replaced with wear strips.
I had a special wagon and it had wear strips but I don't recall the last standard wagon I saw as to what it had in the rear area.

Ken

Hi Ken  ..  the info came out of a Brooklands Road Test book titled "Holdens 1948-1962"...

...yes, a special, although I can't say I've ever seen one like this and the photos are reasonably clear.... tested by "Wheels" at the introduction of that model with this following quote...

      "We question the wisdom of the makers offering this vehicle with a plastic-clad loading floor that has no form of strip steel runners whereon to slide heavy loads. It is understood that such loading strips will be shortly available through N.A.S.C.O. as extras, but in the meantime the Holden's neatly upholstered floors are likely to suffer somewhat from box corners, petrol drum edges, and such like."

.....end quote

...it would be good to see if this detail could be implemented into a correct early FE wagon restoration one day, although the test car may also have been a pre-production job  ??.....cheers

I seem to be lost in this conversation. I didn't think any wagon had cargo strips, FE and FC.
Here's a GMH shot of the rear from the FE wagon launch.

(http://s13.postimg.org/ql3favloz/FE_Wagon_launch2_web.jpg) ($2)

Regards
Alex

(http://s23.postimg.org/4hnxz7n7r/fc_21904.jpg) ($2)

What about this one Alex.  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

I also imagine the original design for the front number plate guard would not have had the bulge where the globe fits. One of those 'how many angels fit on the head of a pin' discussions, really :)

.....RET  ..  I love these obscure technical discussions, as they get to the bottom of some otherwise forgotten or unknown detail...

....the Master Parts Catalogue has been very helpful getting to the bottom of this one as there was indeed a change very early on in the FE 219 wagons...although the MPC shows an FE special with no floor strips!

...up to body number 1487A there was a series of wear strips around the perimeter of all the FE wagon tailgates but no wear strips on the tailgate/floors/seat back on the 219.... with the tailgate/floor area/rear seat back wear strips reserved for the specials

...from body number 1488A the perimeter wear strip was deleted from the FE 219 standard wagon tail gate and from then on all standard wagons had the series of 5 wear strips only (no tailgate perimeter strips) up till the end of EK..

...all 229 special wagons got the tailgate perimeter strips AND the series of 5 floor wear strips up till the end of EK

...so by all accounts the FE 219 had no longitudinal wear strips on the first 1487 Adelaide builds....it still doesn't account for the pictures of the FE 229 in the Wheels road test or the MPC....cheers fellas

The FE 219 from body number 1488 had the rear material deleted according to the parts book, hence why the perimeter wear strips were deleted. The cargo area strips were then added to the back cargo area.
So the rear of a 219 would have looked like a van rather than a wagon.
I don't recall seeing any special wagon without strips. All the early test photos show the special with no strips though.
Possibly a recall?

Curious

Ken

Hi Ken  ..  the MPC shows the floor strips in Section 12, whereas the "diamond" load area trim is in section 15...with that confusing FE 219 deletion

...does anyone mind all these shenanigans?...the FE's were always a rare breed, and the remaining ones deserve a decent study....and I don't even own one! LOL

(http://s10.postimg.org/3jmbsc14l/027.jpg) ($2)
 
This is my 57 FE Station Sedan.

Will not be a concourse restoration but just a good representation of Holdens first mass production wagon.

And I love driving him (FErgus)

Any information about these wonderful cars is most certainly welcome.  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

Very neat wagon you have there Stewy ! Gaz!