All interesting responses to the VG etc. (was deliberate to make people think) A few points, some do call the VG ute a VN and a Lexcen is a different make, but still a VN/VP/VR. (VS were something 4 and 5 for series II)

If we are going to be so critical about a VG not being a VN etc, then a 48 is NOT an FX as Holden never called them that (until apparently air ride).

Consistency is all you need here. This is why I have tag pages for each model designation given by Holden, to be consistent with their system. If others wish to use "general terms" that is ok by me, as long as they are consistent, ie do not call a 48 an FX then argue a series I V2 is not a VX.

BTW the VX coupe was on the back of a door trim, and CV6 and CV8 door trims are identical.

Warren

A few points here. I think the reason the FX tag is so well accepted is that there is no other single code or term that collectively describes ALL versions of Holdens pre-FJ. In other words, any Holden which has the original vertical bar grille. As we said earlier an FX Ute is not a 48-215, it is a 50-2106.

This is not a problem with all other Holden model series. If someone says HR or HJ you know exactly what group of cars you are referring to.

If you want to be a 'purist' or 'snob' & not use the FX term, then the closest term that would work might be '48 & 50 series'. I just think FX is simpler.

Byron, as you say there were many occasions when GM-H released a Ute (or other variant) after the initial sedan release. These were:- FJ, FE, EJ, HD, HK, HT, HQ, HJ etc. but in each case the same series code as the sedan equivalent was used. In the case of 50, VG, VQ, VU, V2, I believe the reason they used a different code was that each of these variants were not included when the series was first envisaged.

In each of the cases above (FE-HJ) the commercials would've been part of the original plan from day 1.

When the VN (sedan) was in its early planning stages, the idea of a Ute or LWB version probably wasn't on the horizon. Remember this was a period of time when GM-H was 'on its knees' financially & the whole VN & V6 development was done on a shoestring budget. The VQ & VG came well after the VN began selling well.

Again, the VT (sedan) would have begun its gestation around 1993/94 for its 1997 release. My belief is as that time GM-H wasn't originally planning a Ute to be part of VT/VX series, they probably thought that a Rodeo full-chassis type vehicle would fill that role.

Also, we well know the story of the Mike Simcoe VT coupe (which was to become the V2) certainly wasn't on the drawing board in 1993/94.

So my theory is that each of these sub-series VG, VU, V2 etc. began development after the base vehicle was signed off for production , hence they needed a new series code number to proceed with each sub-series.

Dr Terry

Edited by user Friday, 8 April 2016 11:58:01 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The FJ came out in Aug 1953 that would be a FH ? the rest of them are correct.

I wish someone told those who wrote the National COP for vehicle mods. They use Model where they mean Series.

No, I don't believe that the rest are correct. FB, by that chart would be 1959, not 1960, which would've been EA !!

When I first saw this chart decades ago, the reason given for the FJ & FB being 'wrong' was that they were both delayed in their development, which pushed the release date back.

Dr Terry

The only problem with the V car term Terry, is LH-LX 6cyl/V8 becomes the first V car! So the VB is the second generation V-car.....

I like to view models as GMH expressed them on ID plates, for example in HT a 6cyl Kingswood sedan is a different model to a 6cyl Kingswood wagon, and the V8 variants of both are different models too. To me "Kingswood" is a luxury level or trim level depending on what term you wish to use. I know in the end it is essentially the same thing and we mostly all understand what is meant, just different ways of seeing it. Both ways of using the terminology has pitfalls though, if I use the ID plate model code as a "model" then the option packages like XV2, XW8, XX7, XU1 etc stuff this up, and using simple terms like Kingswood allows you to then use GTS sedan as a separate vehicle, but then Sandman stuffs this up as it applies across different lux levels and body shapes. The way Dr Terry presents this in his GMH/Holden bible is a very neat way to present this in a logical fashion with the regular models, then regular production options then limited production options. I have found in very technical areas it is nice to view a V8 HT GTS as a separate model like GMH did, as it has a different standard driveline to a HT GTS, but as already stated this can also make life difficult in trying to write very general information.

I reckon the Torana was meant to become, or evolve into the Commodore hence why it was a V sized car in terms of model code. It probably explains why they started a new engine number sequence for it. However they obviously changed direction at some stage, so the Torana became a U sized car like its 4cyl variant and the Commodore was slotted in where the Torana used to be. The change in direction was probably the Commodore becoming bigger than originally intended as it was decided to replaced the W size passenger vehicle with the Commodore.

...strictly speaking, the 1953 Air-Ride FX should be viewed as a "model" within the 48 and 50 "series" Holdens, as not too far later on that term was reserved for it for that short period of manufacture in mid/late 1953. Eventually the term became common knowledge amongst the insiders...which led to the car dealers adopting the term, (and by design car racers, whom a lot of were dealers anyway) still strictly abiding by the rule it was for a 1953 Air-Ride only. Within a few short years the term had been adopted for ANY 48-50 series Holden.

So in 1954 you could have a situation at the spare parts counter that went something like this....

'I've got a 1953 Holden mate and I need a new shock absorber'

...that very car may've been a late 1952 plate/model with narrow springs and lever action shock absorbers, but first registered in 1953.

...Or an early 1953 build Holden plate/model with the same mechanicals.

...Or a later 1953 Holden with the "Air-Ride" suspension with the new springs and tubular shock absorbers.

...Or even a very early FJ built from October 1953 with revised rated springs and shock absorbers !!


...the term "FX" was a Godsend to the Nasco and spare parts guys when all of Australia just called their car a Holden. Later on it basically homogenised the series until we became so comfortable with describing it in that far more casual manner ....

Edited by user Monday, 11 April 2016 7:36:17 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

...Nasco or GMH never sanctioned the term FX, but the spare parts personnel and various Holden dealers' staff catering to the second hand market would've found it very convenient, so as mentioned it was initially reserved for the "insiders" within the industry.

...I don't believe you were ever required to quote your ch/no, and i've never quoted my chassis number to ANY Holden spare parts counter....just the year and model and a basic description of the part....THEIR job was to interpret what on earth I was after....

Edited by user Monday, 11 April 2016 7:32:24 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified