Holden EH Special Sedan
The EH Special was the smartly trimmed middle member of a hugely popular Australian family. Its new red-painted six-cylinder engine was smoother and stronger than the old gray motor, while a simple column-shift three-speed sent power to the back wheels.
1963 Australia Holden EH Special sedan profile cover · Jeremy from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Holden introduced the EH range in August 1963. The Special sedan could be identified in factory coding as EH/225, with M marking the manual version. Holden's heritage archive calls the EH the fastest-selling Australian car and records 256,959 examples across the whole EH family during an 18-month run; that total must not be mistaken for Special-sedan production alone.
Look a little closer.
The 149 was called a red motor for a wonderfully literal reason: production engines were painted red.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
The red motor was more than a color change
Museums Victoria describes the 149 as smoother, quieter and more powerful than its predecessor. Its 3.25-inch bore and 3.00-inch stroke made 149 cubic inches, and the high-compression version was rated at 100 bhp. The engine later grew into 161, 179, 186 and 202 cubic-inch relatives, so the EH launched an important Australian engine family.
Source: Museums Victoria — GM-Holden 149 engine ↗One badge, several possible powertrains
A 1963 EH Special badge alone does not prove the engine or gearbox. Holden offered manual and Hydra-Matic Special sedans, a low-compression 149 existed, and the larger 179 appeared in special or later combinations. This profile deliberately fixes the EH/225M, high-compression 149 and three-speed manual so every power figure belongs to one coherent car.
Source: EH Holden Car Club of Victoria — EH specifications ↗Where these facts come from
- Holden Heritage — Setting the Pace
- Holden EH period sales brochure scan
- Museums Victoria — GM-Holden 149 engine
- EH Holden Car Club of Victoria — EH specifications
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.