Summary

1/3 scale model of the EFIJY concept car, made about 2002. The EFIJY pays homage to the 1953 Holden FJ and was originally meant to be shown in 2003 as a tribute to its 50 year anniversary but was delayed due to other projects. It made its debut in 2005 at the Sydney International motor show. The brainchild of Holden Design Director Richard Ferlazzo it was an idea he had been toying with since he joined the company 'when I started at Holden, when I saw what materials and technology the company had access to, I thought 'gee, imagine what sort of a hot-rod you could build with all this high-tech gear'.

This 1/3 scale model is what Richard used to sell the concept of the EFIJY to his bosses to allow the full concept car to be created. However he had to keep the costs in check and use materials at hand when making the full concept car. It was built on a lengthened Chevrolet Corvette that had previously been used for testing and features a 6.0 litre LS2 V8 engine, rear mounted 4-speed automatic transmission with a limited slip differential, fully custom exhaust and rides on an air suspension system that lowers the car when it is stopped. It also features electronic instrumentation, including a multi-use display screen that disappears into the dash.

However it's the sweeping 1950s styling with extensive bonnet, coupe roofline and massive rear overhang all in a rich Soprano purple that make the EFIJY such a show stopper. It was named the United States concept car of the year for 2007.

Physical Description

1/3 scale model of the EFIJY made from solid tooling board and painted. Model is painted dark purple and silver on a matte black painted wooden base.

Significance

'Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars' - when this hook for a 1970s Holden commercial jingle was written, Holden was clearly seen as a fundamental pillar in contemporary Australian culture. In fact, for the best part of a century Holden was one of the nation's biggest employers, and in the automotive industry's 'golden age' it often sold more than 50% of new cars in Australia. The end to local manufacture of Holden cars in 2017 and retirement of the brand from 2021 have been received by the Australian public as the end of an era.

Though manufacturing ended in 2017 Holden's Design Centre and Proving Ground facilities remained operational. The Design Centre was one of General Motor's (GM) nine global design centres and one of only two GM design facilities able to design and build concept cars from paper to fabrication. However as sales of new Holden's plummeted the decision was made to close the Design Centre and Proving Ground and only retain a core staff to honour Australian warranty commitments.

These two 1/3 scale models of the EFIJY and Time Attack concept cars were made by the GM-Holden Australia Design Team with both winning international design awards. They help tell the story of the expertise and capability of Melbourne's industrial and automotive design industry, and its continuing value to global companies when local manufacturing is no longer taking place.

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