Secret Holdens – D

by David Burrell It is not often you get to peak behind the high security doors at automotive design studios.  So, here is a rare glimpse o...

by David Burrell

It is not often you get to peak behind the high security doors at automotive design studios. 

So, here is a rare glimpse of some Holdens that never made it into production.

The photos you see here were taken by Holden’s photographic department and span the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

The main purpose of the photos was as reminders for the design team of ideas they had put aside.

Another purpose was for management evaluations locally and in Detroit.

What we reveal here cover the EJ, EH, HD, WB and Commodore models.

The images of the EJ show that early in the design process Holden was considering re-using the FB/EK body with a new rear end. 

Meanwhile, the EH proposal, is all fussy and glitzy.

The EH that ended up in the showrooms was designed in the USA, after GM’s Detroit-based design boss Bill Mitchell saw these photos and basically said: “No Way!” 

In fact, it was the EH photos that helped convince him the HD needed to be shaped in the USA too.

Mitchell had three proposals developed that were based on the 1962 Chevrolet Nova. 

After reviewing them he changed his mind and ordered a clean sheet design.

Before the 1968 HK Monaro was called Monaro, its internal designation was “HK coupe”. 

Here’s the first design idea. It is a pillared two-door.

Meanwhile, in 1967, work on the 1969 LC Torana was progressing, but only as a four-cylinder car.

Around 1980, this Premier, with a Statesman roof, was seriously considered.

Finally in the early 1980s, when it was obvious that Ford’s wider XD Falcon was preferred by buyers over the narrower VB Commodore, the design team created a wide-bodied VB Commodore concept.

Everyone will have a different opinion about whether these prototypes would have been a success or not, if they had appeared in showrooms.

For me, the wide-bodied VB Commodore is the idea that ought to have been followed through. 

As it was, Holden had to endure years of a shrinking market share until the larger VN was released in 1988.

David Burrell is the editor of retroautos

LC Torana

EJ Holden

HD Holden

Wide body VB Commodore

HK Coupe or Monaro as it was later called

Holden Premier with Statesman roof

 

EH Holden

 

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