The Holden FB is an automobile produced by Holden in Australia from 1960 to 1961. Introduced on 14 January 1960, the FB series replaced the Holden FC range.
Model range
The FB range consisted of four-door sedans in two trim levels, five-door station wagons in two trim levels, a two-door coupe utility and a two-door panel van. The six models were marketed as follows: Holden Standard Sedan Holden Standard Station Sedan Holden Special Sedan Holden Special Station Sedan Holden Utility Holden Panel Van
The Holden Business Sedan, which had been marketed as part of the FC range, was not carried over to the FB series.
Changes
The FB was promoted as being longer, lower, more spacious and more powerful than the FC model, but in reality it was only slightly so on each count. Overall length was greater, although the wheelbase remained the same. The engine bore was still , the last model with that specification. Engine capacity remained at but the compression ratio was raised. However, the resulting extra of power did not compensate for the greater weight of the FB, so performance was inferior to that of its predecessor. Changes were also made to the brakes, front coil springs, air cleaner and clutch.
Obvious styling differences were the lower bonnet, finned rear mudguards with new taillights (on the sedans and wagons only) and a wrap-around windscreen. Seating was improved, as was the instrument panel.
Notably, the FB was the first Holden model to also be produced in left-hand drive form, those vehicles being destined for export markets.
Engines
All FB models were powered by a inline six-cylinder engine, the last to have the bore size, producing .
Production and replacement
After a production run of 147,747 vehicles, the FB was replaced by the Holden EK series in May 1961.
References
Further reading
Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, 2002, pages 230–231
Norm Darwin, The history of Holden since 1917, 1983
The Sixties Holden Archive – Holden FB Retrieved from members.tripod.com on 15 October 2009