Holden Red motor
| Company type | Engine series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Port Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Straight-six engines (Grey, Red, Blue, Black), Starfire four-cylinder engine |
| Parent | General Motors Holden |
The Holden straight-six engine series was manufactured by General Motors Holden at their Port Melbourne facility between 1948 and 1986. The first iteration, known as the Grey engine, derived its name from the color of its cylinder block. Subsequent versions included the Red, Blue, and Black engines, along with the four-cylinder Starfire unit. These powerplants were installed in all Australian-designed Holdens throughout that era, with the Starfire four-cylinder also being utilized in the Toyota Corona (XT130). While the Grey engine maintained a unique design, the later Red, Blue, Black, and Starfire engines shared numerous components and casting similarities.
Grey
Manufactured from 1948 until 1963, the Grey engine featured a cast iron block and head painted grey, employing an overhead valve configuration. It first appeared in the Holden 48-215 paired with a three-speed column-shift manual transmission. Later models such as the Holden EK and EJ series introduced an optional three-speed GM Roto-Hydramatic 240 automatic gearbox. Its design was based on a pre-World War II Buick Straight-6 engine and saw only incremental modifications over its 15-year lifespan.
Initially displacing , it produced 60 bhp (45 kW) in the 48-215 model released in 1948. By the FE series in 1956, power output had increased to 72 hp (53 kW) due to a higher compression ratio of 6.8:1. The FB series of 1960 featured an enlarged bore resulting in an engine displacement of , with a compression ratio of 7.8:1, generating 76 bhp at 4200 rpm and torque of 120 lb.ft (162 N.m) at 1400 rpm. This performance surpassed contemporaries from Austin, Morris, Vauxhall, and Ford UK. The engine’s low-stress architecture emphasized durability through low compression ratios, making it favored for racing applications such as open-wheelers, marine vessels, and industrial equipment including forklifts.
The cylinder head was a seven-port non-crossflow cast iron design with three shared intake ports and five exhaust ports aligned on one side. Fuel delivery was managed by a single-barrel Stromberg carburettor paired with traditional Kettering ignition featuring coil and distributor components. Early versions operated on a six-volt electrical system; however, from the FE model onward, twelve-volt negative-earth systems were adopted.
Engine serial numbers commenced at 1001 in 1948 and proceeded sequentially until July 1956 when engines equipped with twelve-volt electrics for the FE model began receiving an "L" prefix. The "U" prefix denoted original electrical configurations found in FJ utility and panel van models until mid-1957. Engines with increased displacement to were identified by a "B" prefix, which was later replaced by "J" for EJ series vehicles starting in 1962.
Applications
- 1948–1953 Holden FX
- 1948–1953 Holden 48-215 (sedan)
- 1951–1953 50-2106 (coupé utility)
- 1953 48-215-257 (business/taxi sedan)
- 1953–1956 Holden FJ
- 1956–1958 Holden FE
- 1958–1960 Holden FC
- 1960–1961 Holden FB
- 1961–1962 Holden EK
- 1962–1963 Holden EJ
Red
The Red engine was introduced between 1963 and 1980 as the successor to the Holden Grey powerplant, featuring an entirely new design that incorporated a seven-bearing crankshaft, full-flow oil filtration system, and hydraulic valve lifters. Recognizable by its red-painted cylinder block, this engine made its debut in the Holden EH model range with displacements of and , offering power increases up to 53% compared to its predecessor.
Initially, engine size was not cast onto the blocks; instead, high-performance variants were designated with an "HP" marking. Starting January 1965, coinciding with the HD model release, capacity markings were added to the blocks.
Prior to January 1968, all Red engines employed forged steel crankshafts except for some HR model field test vehicles. Following the commissioning of Holden’s Nodular Iron Foundry in February 1967, production transitioned to cast nodular iron crankshafts beginning with HR model field tests and fully implemented on HK models from January 1968 onward. Forged steel crankshafts remained available as options for performance-oriented versions such as X2 and LC186 XU1 variants. The standard paint color evolved from "Holden Engine Red" to "Rocket Red," which was further updated in 1978 to Rocket Red MkII.
- Displacement options
- 130 – South Africa HQ export models
- 138 – LC & LJ Torana
- 149
- 161
- 173
- 179
- 186
- 202
Holden Standard, Special, Premier (1963–1968)
Holden Belmont, Kingswood, Premier (1968–1980)
- 1968–1969 Holden HK
- 1969–1970 Holden HT
- 1970–1971 Holden HG
- 1971–1974 Holden HQ
- 1974–1976 Holden HJ
- 1976–1977 Holden HX
- 1977–1980 Holden HZ
Holden Commodore (1978–1980)
- 1978–1980 Holden Commodore VB
Holden Torana (1969–1979)
- 1969–1971 Holden Torana LC
- 1972–1974 Holden Torana LJ
- 1974–1975 Holden Torana LH
- 1976–1978 Holden Torana LX
- 1978–1979 Holden Torana UC
Bedford (1971–1979)
- 1971–1979 Bedford CF (Australasian models only)
Blue
The Blue engine was introduced with the 1980 Holden Commodore VC and represented an advancement over the preceding Red engine. Key enhancements included a redesigned cylinder head featuring a unique 12-port layout with individual ports assigned to each cylinder, along with a new T5 camshaft profile. This engine was available in both 2.85- and 3.3-litre configurations.
In the larger 3.3-litre variant, counterweights were added to each crankshaft throw, and the connecting rods were reinforced. The smaller 2.85-litre version maintained its original crankshaft design but adopted larger main journals identical to those on the bigger engine. Standard equipment comprised a two-barrel Varajet carburettor, a dual-outlet exhaust manifold, and a Bosch HEI distributor.
Applications
- 1980–1985 Holden WB
- 1980–1981 Holden Commodore VC
- 1981–1984 Holden Commodore VH
Black
First appearing in the 1984 Holden Commodore VK, the Black engine was produced solely in a 3.3-litre displacement and came in both carbureted and fuel-injected forms. The carbureted variant bore close resemblance to its Blue engine predecessor but incorporated electronic spark timing (EST) controlled by a computer linked to the flywheel. Its port spacing differed from earlier models, preventing interchangeability of intake manifolds.
The fuel-injected version utilized Bosch LE2-Jetronic multipoint injection technology, featured a long-runner intake manifold, a tubular exhaust manifold arranged in a 6-3-1 configuration, and conventional HEI ignition. Cylinder head intake ports were redesigned for improved airflow, with injector mounting notches added and camshaft specifications updated to enhance both power output and fuel economy compared to the carbureted model.
Due to increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the transition to unleaded petrol complicating local engine modifications, Holden replaced its Australian-designed six-cylinder engines with Nissan's RB30E and RB20E units starting with the 1986 Holden Commodore VL.
Applications
- 1984–1986 Holden Commodore VK
Starfire
The Starfire Four was a 1.9-litre (1,892 cc) four-cylinder engine developed in Australia by effectively removing two cylinders from Holden's existing 2.85-litre straight-six design to satisfy local content requirements. Introduced in 1978 during production of the UC Sunbird, it succeeded the Opel-sourced 1.9-litre cam-in-head engine used previously in early Torana and Sunbird models.
Delivering peak power of , this engine enabled a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of approximately 17.5 seconds in the VC Commodore. However, achieving such performance necessitated operating the engine at high revs, resulting in fuel consumption rates comparable to six-cylinder engines. Consequently, it earned nicknames like Misfire or Backfire. The Starfire was eventually discontinued in Australia in favor of the Camira's OHC GM Family II engine but continued production in New Zealand until 1986 for four-cylinder VK Commodores.
Toyota Australia also utilized this engine under the designation "1X" to meet local parts content mandates for their Corona XT130 model. Toyota's version incorporated distinct camshaft profiles, intake manifolds, and carburettors, producing at 4800 rpm and of torque at 2400 rpm.
Applications
- 1978–1980 Holden Sunbird (UC) (red block variant)
- 1980–1981 Holden Commodore VC
- 1981–1984 Holden Commodore VH
- 1984–1986 Holden Commodore VK (marketed in New Zealand)
- 1979–1982 Toyota Corona (XT130)
ADR27A Compliance
The ADR27A standard, an Australian Design Rule, was introduced on 1 July 1976 to regulate fuel evaporation and exhaust emissions in Australian passenger vehicles, aiming to mitigate air pollution. The following engine models complied with ADR27A requirements:
- Red (only models produced after 1 July 1976)
- Blue
- Black
- Starfire
Engines conforming to these emission controls typically experienced reduced performance. For instance, the 202ci Red engine's peak power shifted from approximately @4400rpm before ADR27A implementation to around @3900rpm in compliant versions, while its peak torque moved from roughly @2000rpm down to @1400rpm.
See also
- Holden V8 engine
- Nissan RB engine (inline six-cylinder engine utilized in the Holden Commodore VL)
- List of GM engines