The Holden FE is an automobile produced by Holden in Australia from 1956 until 1958. It was also the first Holden to be assembled in New Zealand, where General Motors New Zealand built their first example on 31 January 1957.[2]
Overview
The FE models were built on a longer wheelbase than the FJ series Holdens which they replaced, and they featured totally different styling, the FJ models having used a body shape carried over from the original Holden 48-215 series introduced in 1948. A single piece windscreen was now fitted and other improvements included a 12-volt electrical system (replacing the previous 6-volt system), improved steering, a front stabiliser bar and wider wheel rims. All models used a 2262 cc in-line six cylinder engine, coupled with a 3-speed manual gearbox. Engine improvements over the FJ included the use of bigger valves and an increased compression ratio of 6.8:1, which increased the power output from 45 kW (60 hp) to 53 kW (71 hp).[3]