TRAX of Australia 1:24 1953 Holden FJ Sedan- Green- Limited Edition of 3200 (Discontinued)

The first Holden (model 48-215 and later FX) got its start in Australia on 29 November 1948. With the strains of a ten-piece orchestra playing in the background, 1200 men and women, including then Prime Minister Ben Chifley, and James Robert Holden, the resident Director of Holden in Adelaide, grouped around a humble, four-door, ivory colored sedan. It was completely new, and designed to become the first successfully mass-produced Australian car. Said design actually had its genesis in America, at Chevrolet. It was rejected as too small for the American car-buying public. The first Holden incorporated advanced features, including a unitary construction body. Powered by a 132.5 cubic inch engine, making 60 horsepower, and weighing less than 2,000 pounds, it provided good performance for a low-cost family car. Owners boasted of 80-mph speeds and 30-mpg gas mileage. Dust sealing and the ride were exceptional. Coupled with the smaller size, these features made the car a good fit for Australia’s climate and roads.

The FJ was basically the same car as the FX, but with a few minor alterations to the body. The car was a marketing success, selling far above anyone’s expectations, creating waiting lists at every dealer. Holden was the car everyone wanted to own, giving the other manufacturers, whose sales were sliding in the other direction, major headaches. With the sales success and demand outstripping the supply for the Holden FJ, GM-H (General Motors-Holden) had to expand yet again. Holden started exporting to New Zealand in 1954.

The FJ enjoyed success as a racecar as well, even after the model was superseded. Its low weight and tweaking by clever race mechanics enabled the little car to hit nearly 185 mph on the fastest tracks. Driven by colorful drivers like “Gelignite Jack” and others in the Redex and Ampol Trials, as well overseas, in such exotic races as the Monte Carlo Rally, the FJ proved a worthy contender. By the time the FJ reached the end of its run, over 250,000 of them were built. The Holden FJ became one of the most loved cars in Australia, and is still the peoples’ choice at many automotive events.

This was the second TRAX 1:24 image put out by this respected mint in what they call “superscale.” Their stock in trade is in the 1:43 scale, which is a popular scale in Australia and Great Britain (Europe too). This image is a repaint of the original, black version (issued in 1998), done in Trentham Green (roof) and Satin Green (body). [Not to be outdone in the repaint and LE arena, TRAX went on to do two more repaints—one in 2002 in Chalet Blue w/Skipper Blue (roof), and another in 2004 in French Grey w/Marl Grey (roof).]

TRAX appears to be a half step behind the US mints in model-making technology. What this means are dogleg-hinged doors, which make for an interesting situation. When you open the rear door first, the dogleg swings it forward, making it impossible to open the front doors. The image does have working suspensions, however. Detailing is excellent under the hood, even considering the simplistic engine, showing pretty much everything. Undercarriage detailing isn’t bad either. In the passenger compartment, the detailing is excellent, showing all handles, levers and dash details. There’s a spare in the trunk, which has a real rubber mat on the floor. The exterior paint is flawlessly applied and the exterior chrome consists of many, separate parts, all nicely proportioned. The build quality is as good as anything offered by FM or DM. Generally, this is a sharp-looking, above-average effort, involving a new scale for TRAX. If you have an appreciation for images of landmark cars of foreign manufacturers, you’d do well to pick up this image from TRAX. When you work out the exchange rate, the purchase price is about the same, or a little less, than those offered here.

From it humble beginnings in 1948, Holden (a GM-spawned Australian independent, similar to today’s Saturn) has grown into a respected, modern auto manufacturer able to compete on the international scene. Often referred to as the “Australian Chevy,” Holden—one of Australia’s own, and with a nearly 60-year history—ranks with the best Detroit and Dearborn have to offer.

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