Holden's history lesson

While most of the Europe motoring world waits for news of the Tokyo show, Holden today unveiled a concept car that should ensure the Australian International Motor Show shares the headlines.

The spectacular Holden EFIJY is a one-off homage to Australia’s most famous car, the 1953 Holden FJ, and is the brainchild of chief designer and custom car fan Richard Ferlazzo, who first sketched the car’s lines 16 years ago.

Under the 5.2-metre pillarless coupe’s purple-painted lines sits a stretched Corvette chassis, and in place of the FJ’s 75bhp 2.2-litre six there’s a 6.0-litre LS2 V8 from parent company GM. The unit has been reengineered by former FJ racer Ron Harrop, and with the addition of a Roots-type supercharger power is up to a massive 645bhp. That motive force is sent to the vast 22in billet aluminium rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential.

The doors open automatically by proximity sensors and inside it’s a mix of ancient and modern. Timber, leather and hand-finished aluminium contrast with a touch-screen LCD screen that drops from the Bakelite-effect dash to control the adjustable air suspension and a bootful of infotainment hardware.

Designer Ferlazzo describes EFIJY as ‘automotive entertainment’, and reaffirms that it is not a production possibility. After the show, the car will embark on a tour of Australian street machine and hot rod shows.