FE Standard

[Naith05]

Hi everyone,

Newish member here, I've been getting stuck into building a replica of my dads first car, a '58 FE Standard.
Basically making it from odds and ends, starting with a realitivly straight shell. This is my first early Holden project having mostly worked with HQ Holdens prior.

Anyhow a few things I want to clarify, dad reckons it was Elk Blue, but going off the photo's from back then it looks more of a light grey. Anyway to find out for sure? Also, what colour should the engine bay/radiator support be, to be correct. (Sydney Built)

Cheers Nathan.

[DJ]

Nathan, the id plate will confirm the original paint. If you post a photo or the details someone will be able to help.
If you search the site on 'engine bay colours' you will find some examples & variations in previous discussions. The best advice I've seen is from Ken in this thread - http://forum.fefcholden.club/index.php?topic=25487.msg161034#msg161034.

[mcl1959]

Nathan, there is no way to tell unless you have some details of the original car. It would be extremely lucky if you found the old rego number and I have the details of that car recorded in my database.
FE standards were available in Elk blue as well as light grey.
I would go with your father's memory

Regards.  Ken

[Naith05]

Thanks David and Ken,

A couple of options and variations with the engine bay, so might go with the one colour to keep it bright under the bonnet, and black out behind the grille.
I've got all the sales documents that Dad kept from when he purchased her back in '58 but the only details I don't have is the paint and trim codes. He also kept his Astor Blue Dot radio from it which we still have.

By the way, Dad is unaware that I've got this project underway as he was a bit daunted when we went and looked at the shell and considering the idea, (he has just turned 80). I've been plucking his memory as much as possible and plan to reveal it to him when ts ready for paint.

Also how does one post a picture from an iPad?

Cheers Nathan.

[Errol62]

Hi Nathan
Download the Tapatalk app. That's the easiest way mate.
Cheers
Clay


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[DJ]

...... but the only details I don't have is the paint and trim codes.

That's a shame. Being his first car I would also go with your father's recollection. Perhaps something will come up in discussions about the interior to help with your decision. I don't know if there's enough data around to narrow down trim combinations used with elk blue or other colours in NSW.
I recall the Astor radio. There was one on eBay not long ago. We had one. The Astor & the AWA seemed to be very common in Sydney built cars.

[Stewy]

Being a (215) Standard Sedan, the trim was a single colour.
The range was :    477  Taurus Red
                           478   Sky Blue
                           479   Lagoon Green
                           673   Fall Red
                           674   Comet Blue
                           675   Cool Green
                           725   Cordon Brown

If it was Elk Blue, the interior trim would be either Sky Blue or Comet Blue.
If it was Grey, would have had the red or brown interior.

Hope this helps

Cheers Stewy   

[DJ]

That's what I was wondering Stewy.
It narrows it down.

[Naith05]

Cheers guys, this is really helping to fill in the dots!
Was talking with Dad tonight and when I asked about the interior, he said "it was a very pale blue" so I'd assume that'd be Sky Blue?


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[Naith05]

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[Naith05]

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[DJ]

Sounds like it must have been Elk Blue paint then.
I can see how the faded photos didn't really help confirm it.

[Stewy]

I would have to go with the memory as well. To me the pictures show it as Grey with a red interior. You just cant trust faded pictures.
Still they are great pictures to look back on. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers Stewy 

[Naith05]

Yeah it seams dads memory is OK on this one!
I think I can make out a blue rear seat in the last photo, through the rear quarter window.
The only other photo I've found showing the interior is black and white, plus I have dug up a few more slides, which holding up to a light lean to Elk Blue.
What was the difference in Sky Blue vs Comet Blue vinyl?


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[Naith05]

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[DJ]

Stewy may have trim samples to compare. I thought Comet Blue was the darker shade but I can't find either anyway.
The black & white shot shows the seat is a lighter shade than it looks in the colour shot.
Old slides can still be be very good quality. A projector would be worth pursuing.
They can also be digitised these days so you may end up with some very classy digital photos that reveal the whole story.

[mcl1959]

I did a bit of a search through the database and the following are the results
Breton blue and Marlin blue are the most common blue with 8 entries each. Elk blue has 4 entries.
The trim colours are sky blue and comet blue, however early cars have the sky blue interior whilst 1958 models have the comet blue interior
Elk blue is the lightest of the 3 blues, the interiors are fairly similar in colour since one supersedes the other. ( I think comet blue is slightly darker)

Ken

[Naith05]

I found this photo via Google for examples of standard blue interiors, I guess this would have to be fairly close to the mark?

[DJ]

That would be my guess also considering the information Ken posted.

[Naith05]

Would anyone have a template or measurements for the mounting pins for the Holden badge to get them in the right spot on the front guards?


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