Holden 48-215
| Holden 48-215 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden (General Motors) |
| Also called | Holden FX (unofficial) |
| Production | 1948–1953 |
| Assembly |
Pagewood, New South Wales Fortitude Valley, Queensland Birkenhead, South Australia Mosman Park, Western Australia Woodville, South Australia Fishermen's Bend, Victoria |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan (48-215) 2-door coupe utility (50-2106) |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 132.5 cu in (2,171 cc) I6 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 103 in (2,620 mm) |
| Length | 172 in (4,370 mm) |
| Width | 66.9 in (1,699 mm) |
| Height | 61.8 in (1,570 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,230 lb (1,010 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Holden FJ |
The Holden 48-215 is a mid-size sedan which was produced by the Australian automaker Holden between November 1948 and October 1953. The 48-215 was the first model from General Motors in Australia to bear the Holden name. In mainstream parlance, the official name of "Holden 48-215" was eschewed in favour of the shortened "Holden" designation. Following the replacement of the first Holden, the 48-215 gained the unofficial nickname of Holden FX. This designation was first used in the Drawing Office at GM-H in 1952 as an unofficial means of distinguishing between early 48-215 vehicles with front suspension using lever-action shock absorbers, and those with the new telescopic shock absorber front suspension introduced in 1953 - the term "FX" was pencilled onto a parts list for the new suspension components. The title "FX" later came into use in used car advertisements to describe models with the later suspension, first being used by Melbourne dealer Reg Smith Motors in two advertisements in the 10 February 1960 issue of The Age. Use of the term "FX" gradually spread to cover all 48-215 and 50-2016 vehicles, although the term has never been used by Holden in any official manner.
The design was originally penned in the United States by Chevrolet, but was not used because it was deemed too small for the U.S. market as it developed after the war. Instead the design became the basis of only the 48-215 model. Its American origins are quite apparent, as it closely resembles Chevrolets of the period that did make it to production, particularly the Fleetline Aerosedan and the second generation Deluxe. Development of the 48-215 began in 1944.
Three prototypes were built by hand in 1946 by American and Australian engineers at the General Motors workshop in Detroit. Months of durability and performance testing were undergone in the US before the three prototypes were shipped to Australia. Prototype number one was first registered (as a Chevrolet) in Victoria as JP-480 on 12 February 1947. It survives as part of the National Museum of Australia collection. Prototypes two and three were registered at the same time as JP-481 and JP-482.
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Wikipedia