FJ Holden - 5 Years After The First, Not A Lot Changed...

The FJ came along after five years of producing the 48-215 (FX) and was basically the same car with a few minor alterations to the body. Minor alterations?, tell that to the folk of 1953 who were dazzled with the fantastic bright work and creature comforts introduced that year! The rather boring vertical grille was replaced by an elegant finned and detailed version, and the new chrome cone shaped hubcaps looked the part. There were new bright metal body decorations, 5.90 x 15 tyres, new bumpers and wonderful new chrome fins placed on the rear mudguards.
And at last the Holden could be seriously optioned. For example, the 'Special' featured armrests, deluxe leather seat trim, front door courtesy switches, chrome instrument surrounds, black knobs with chrome inserts, dash facia grille extending to the glovebox, rear passenger assist straps, window winders, a cigarette lighter and (for the first time) came in a two-tone finish. The FJ afforded excellent ground clearance, a good ride (the FJ still came with the tried and true 48/215 suspension), a rugged drivetrain, energetic performance, comfortable seating for six, low maintenance, fuel economy and unbeatable value for money. For the time the whole package was well sorted.
The FJ was a marketing success, selling itself incredibly well and beyond the most opportunistic marketing managers estimates - invariably there were waiting lists at every dealer. It was the car everyone wanted to own - which was no doubt a worry for other manufacturers whose sales were sliding in the other direction. Once again demand far outstripped supply and GMH needed to expand again. Raising the profile of the FJ (particularly for its reliability and strength) were people such as "Gelignite Jack" Murray, who raced the FJ around Australia in the Redex and Ampol Trials - as well as in exotic overseas events such as the Monte Carlo rallye.New Zealanders could also join in the love affair we Australians were experiencing, with shipments to the "land of the long white cloud" commencing in 1954.
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[@johnd8892]

To answer the radio hole question it might have been good to show an FJ dash without a radio fitted. Maybe the blue one was more standard without a radio.
Another way to tell if it was a valve radio is to ask or demonstrate turning it on. Valve radios took at least ten to thirty seconds for the valves to heat up enough to work properly. Same with valve TVs.
Took well into the sixties for transistor radios with instant volume to become common.

[@keithhayes5839]

Three trim levels,Standard,Business and Special.You did'nt need to cut a hole in the dash for a radio.it was done at the factory with a cover plate with either a Holden or Special badge on it.At the very least you might have to make enlarge the radio hole depending on the size of the radio ie the number of valves.The 1954 and 56 models had different size radiators and the 54 had grease nipples on the universal joints whereas the 56 had prepacked ones.

[@lundsweden]

I love these cars! They are so elegantly simple and everyday people could afford them.
I have great nostalgic memories of these cars, Grandad, who was a carpenter had a Ute version back in the day.
I had a neighbour who owned a dark (green?) Colored one back in the 80s, the owner would've been about 90 and hadn't driven it for 15 years, but still loved it and enjoyed showing it off to people (although covered in thick dust, hence the confusion about the color!

[@julesknight9504]

The blue special has the Holden Air Chief valve radio. Nice accessories with sun visor and mirrors. Thanks for the clip,

[@bodgiesteve8849]

Not fair to say "not much changed". Wide rear springs replaced narrow, dampers changed from lever to telescopic, front x-member redesigned, new pressing for boot lid, front guards and bonnet restyled to suit new grill, rear door locks moved from trailing edge to leading edge of door, ashtray added for rear seat passengers.
the VE went from July 2006, till June 2013, man, Australia doesn't have the market for regular redesigns.

[@bigears4426]

The camry from 87 to 93 same car , plenty others with model runs the same , the fx grill in my eyes is nicer than the fj. 5 years is pretty standard for model runs