'The Red Engine'

In 1963, two versions of a totally new 'Red' 6-cylinder engine were born. They were over-square in design with lower piston speeds. Their capacities of '149' and '179' cubic inches enabled them to produce 100 bhp and 115 bhp respectively, an increase of 33% and 53% over their predecessors. The engines had:

To all intent and purposes they were unburstable.

The Red engine continued its life until it had its last appearance in the new 1980 VB . Commodore started fitting the blue motor with the VC which went through VH, VK and then they dropped the blue motor for the 3ltr. Nissan imported 6 cyclinder motor which went into the VL. Commodore. At this stage the engine had being modified in the capacity stakes with every new model Holden released. The biggest changes the original Red engine had was with the VK Commodore. Electronic fuel-injection, computerised engine management system improved the performance of the engine without loss of fuel economy. At this last stage of its development it developed 106 kW (DIN) and 266 Nm - not too bad for a 21 year old 3.3- litre six.

By this time Holden had introduced the V8 engine into its cars, but that is another story altogether.

 

Model/Engine Type Summary
MODEL BODIES SIX V8 RELEASED SOLD
48-215 Sedan, Ute 131 Nov 1948 120,402
FJ Sedan, Ute, Van 131 Oct 1953 169,969
FE Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 131 Jul 1956 155,161
FC Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 131 May 1958 191,724
FB Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 139 Jan 1960 174,747
EK Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 139 May 1961 150,214
EJ Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 139 Jul 1962 154,811
EH Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 149, 179 Aug 1963 256,959
HD Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 149, 179 Feb 1965 178,297
HR Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 161, 186 April 1966 252,352
HK Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 161, 186 307, 327 Jan 1968 199,039
HT Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 161,186 253, 307, 308, 350 May 1969 197,840
HG Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 161, 186 253, 308, 350 Jul 1970 155,787
HQ Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 173, 202 253, 308, 350 Jul 1971 499,522
HJ Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 173, 202 253, 308 Nov 1974 172,005
HX Sedan, Coupe, Wagon, Ute, Van 202 253, 308 Jul 1976 116,669
HZ Sedan, Wagon, Ute, Van 202 253, 308 Oct 1977 154,155
WB Sedan, Ute, Van 202 253, 308 May 1980 59,031