2008 marks the 60th birthday of Australia’s own Holden. From humble beginnings as a saddlery then carriage maker in Adelaide through to exporting the home grown product to the world stage, Holden are bringing five concept cars to this year’s Adelaide Motor Show including the award winning Efijy and a brand new model.

It was 1948 when Laurence Hartnett - then general manager of Holden - realised the long standing dream of creating a truly Australian car. Based on a Chevrolet design the new 48-215 (or FX as it was unoffically and affectionately named) boasted a 132.5 cubic inch (2,171 cc) engine and soon captured the mind and hearts of Austral- ian motorists.

In 1951 the 50-2106 coupe utility - better known as the ‘ute’, hit the market and this reliable and inexpensive workhorse soon became the preferred vehicle of rural Australia. By 1953, a redesign saw the launch of the leg- endary FJ.

Without doubt, the FJ is the most iconic and famous car ever designed and produced in this country. The Utility Vehicle (Ute) and Panel van versions supplemented the original four-door sedan before year’s end. Exceptional reliability, affordability (£1,023) and aggressive market- ing saw the FJ become one of the most popular cars in Australian history.

Broadly modelled on the silhouette of its predecessor, the FJ featured a bolder more horizontal front grill and small ‘mud guard’ panels to shield the protruding rear wings from low flying dust and gravel. The six cylinder engine was increased in capacity to produce 60bhp at 3,800 rpm. After a mild facelift in 1954, the first exports began to New Zealand and the FJ also took to the roads of Thailand, Malaya and Borneo. In total, 169,969 FJ Holdens rolled off the assembly line.

Such is the lure of the FJ that more than a half-century after its release there are nearly 20 specific FX-FJ Holden Car Clubs throughout Australia. Members of the South Australian club will have a selection of classic FJs on display at this year’s Adelaide Motor Show.

THE AUSSIE CLASSIC REINVENTED

Inspired by the iconic FJ, the Holden Efijy concept car has fast become a design classic in its own right since first seeing the light of day in 2005.

Its ‘Soprano Purple’ paintwork highlights the curvaceous 5.2 metre body, with its radical pillar-less coupe body reinterpreting the classic design cues of the iconic 1953 FJ Holden – updated with state-of-the-art automotive technology.

The Efijy is powered by a Chevrolet 6.0 litre LS2 V8 engine that has been supercharged and modified by Ron Harrop to produces 480 kilowatts (645 bhp) and 775 newton metres (560 ft·lbf) of torque through the rear wheels.

Among the honours bestowed upon Efijy are the 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year award, and Hot Rod of the Year by the influential enthusiast magazine, ‘Hot Rod’ in the United States where it was described as ‘probably the most beautiful concept car ever’.

Designed by self-confessed ‘car nut’ and Holden Head Designer Richard Ferlazzo, the concept for Efijy first appeared on his drawing board in 1989. The dream became reality as a side project during the creation of the 2006 Commodore.

‘Invariably, people smile when they see it for the first time. EFIJY is our accolade to the talented designers who cut loose with some fantastically flamboyant styling in the post-war 1940s and 1950s,’ Ferlazzo said. ‘Most importantly, it sends the message that the same people who have sensible day jobs designing entirely practical cars have the passion and inspiration to create something as outrageous as EFIJY.’

The Utility Vehicle (Ute) and Panel van versions supple- mented the original four-door sedan before year’s end. Exceptional reliability, affordability (£1,023) and aggressive marketing saw the FJ become one of the most popular cars in Australian history.