16/05/2026
Why Did GM Kill the Holden Holden 179 Red Motor - Even Though It Was Too Perfect?
While America roared with big, thunderous V8 muscle cars down in the southern hemisphere, Holden, GM's Australian division, quietly built a weapon.
No hype, no flash, just a compact inline 6 engine.
Tough, precise, and unstoppable.
At Baurst 1963, it didn't just survive.
It embarrassed the giants.
But just as it reached the top, GM slammed the brakes.
Why?
Because it wasn't just good, it was too good.
Good enough to overshadow GM's own strategic products.
This wasn't just an engine.
It was a revolution born in Australia and silenced by the very company that created it.
Today, we uncover the shocking secrets behind the Holden 179, the engine that rewrote Holden's legacy.
And nearly changed the global racing game.
In 1963, Holden was still the rookie in Australia's motorsport arena.
While Ford ruled the tracks with loud, thunderous V8s, Holden clung to its trusty sixcylinder engines, reliable, but second tier in the eyes of many.
Yet, inside the workshops of Port Melbourne, a plan was quietly taking shape.
Holden's engineers knew if they were to survive, let alone compete, they needed something different.
An engine that could challenge the Giants.
Starting with a civilian-grade 2.9 L gray motor, the team overhauled it from the inside out.
They enlarged the pistons, reinforced the crankshaft with seven bearings, and optimized the combustion chambers.
The result was the Holden 179, a 179 cubic inch engine that produced 115 brake horsepower.
An ambitious number for a family sedan.
They labeled it HP for high performance.
With the newly finished 179 engine, ready to roar, Holden knew it needed a debut no one could ignore.
That chance came at the 1963 Armstrong 500, Australia's premier endurance race held at Mount Panorama Baurst.
Holden entered the humble EJ sedan, a familiar family car now hiding a revolution beneath the hood.
Meanwhile, Ford rolled out its full V8 arsenal, Galaxy 390s, Falcon Sprints, raw power with nearly twice the horsepower.
On paper, the odds seemed clear.
But endurance racing isn't just about top speed.
It's about lasting the distance.
Something the 179 excelled at with its rocksolid reliability and smooth power delivery.
As the V8s overheated, suffered brake failure and lost drivetrains, the EJ Holden pressed on.
Drivers Harry FTH and Bob Jane crossed the line first in class, third overall, stunning fans and rivals alike.
That victory didn't just shake up the racing world.
FULL STORY: https://ht2.usstareveryday.com/thanhht/holden179/
