Secret 1950s FE Holden prototypes

Long gone are the days when young boys would pester their fathers to take them to see the new Holden or Ford and then pester them some more with the phrase "when are you going to buy one".

These days it is more likely that Gen Zers are lined up outside an Apple store waiting for the release of a new iPhone or iPad. But back in July 1956, when the `new look' FE Holden was introduced, the situation was very different.

Crowds flocked to dealers to see the Alf Payze designed car. It was a BIG event, particularly in provincial cities and country towns where the Holden dealer was a central part of community life and its prosperity.

Some capital city newspapers devoted the entire front page to the event. Apart from a major re-style, the FE was considerably different to it FJ Holden predecessor. It was sleeker and cleaner in design, doing away with the rounded bulbous look of the FJ.

In fact the FE was cast in the image of the 1955 Chevrolet, but without the dogleg front pillars and wrap around windscreen. To give the car a lower, wider look, Holden reduced the wheels from 38cm to 33cm in diameter and straighten out the rear mudguards.

The wide, horizontal grille was laden with chrome. It gave the car real presence! The interior was given a "luxury" look, with new two tone patterns on the seats. But it all could have looked VERY different as these previously secret pictures of two FE prototypes clearly show.

They highlight the styling themes being considered in the early 1950s for what would become the FE. Both cars look similar but are different in many respects, including the shape of the mudguards, rear doors, roof lines and rear windows.

What both share is a heavy, pondering appearance when compared to the production model. Would either of these prototypes have been as successful as the production FE and its successor, the FC? Our guess is YES! Just being new and different when compared to the FJ would have been enough for the buying public to desire it.

retroautos.com.au