production numbers broken down

go_rat · Post by **go_rat** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:05 am

Does anyone know what FB and EK production numbers were broken down- how many sedans, utes etc.??

careyman · Post by **careyman** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:31 am

Definately would have been done...just finding it...

Finny · Post by **Finny** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:21 pm

I'm also not aware of anything yet.

The post on the GMH Body Ident ification Plates show info on plate numbers.
http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtop ... highlight=

Sedans all seem to be the later numbers (obviously more of them made). So maybe if reflects the number of each type made.

Haven't seen the same body number appear yet, for 2 different body types. So don;t know if they are for each body type. If so then the largest number gives some indication as to how many were made. However that could also be from each factory (Melbourne, Sydney, Adeliade) Still too many questions that no one can answer, but it could provide a clue to lots of things if confirmed.
I hope the above makes sense.

Dr Terry · Post by **Dr Terry** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:27 pm

Hi Guys.

The body number & chassis number system appears to be a maze at first. But it's fairly simple once you know how it works.

Firstly if you exclude overseas cars (New Zealand & Sth Africa etc.) there are only three body production factories for FB & EK. Body production was where the main body shells were welded together in a jig & then partially painted. The 'body plate' was fitted when the body was built. This is why you will only see A (Adelaide), S (Sydney) or M (Melbourne) after the body number on the body plate of Australian Holdens. After the body was built, then it would go onto the 'assembly' line. This is where all trim, glass & bolt-on panels are fitted as well as all electricals & drivetrain. Brisbane & Perth were 'assembly only' plants. Most Brisbane assembled bodies came from Sydney, while Perth cars came from Adelaide. The chassis number was then stamped into the inner guard panel at the assembly plant.

The body numbers run for each body style for each body plant, while the chassis numbers run thru all body styles, but there was a separate run for each assembly plant.

To answer how many of each body type were made, we may never know the exact figures, but I've found a few ways to get some calculated numbers.

Because there were three body plants, the total production number (174,717 for FB & 150,214 for EK) can simply be dived by 3. I've found than the factory outputs didn't differ greatly. That means that around 56,000 FBs were built at each factory (50,000 for EK). Of those the most common body style was the sedan, making up nearly 55%-60%, then around 17%-19% for wagons 12%-14% for utes & 7%-9% for panel vans. From the numbers in the other post it can be seen that the highest body numbers belong to the most popular model - the 225 Special sedan.

Dr Terry

Finny · Post by **Finny** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:27 pm

Thanks Dr Terry, I was doing some numbers and asumptions last night, and was coming to the same conclusions based on probability.

I'll do the results into some charts that visually show the results.

The assembly plant and chassis number info was interesting.

The figures however indicate some significant variations in production per plant, but I'll post that up when I do the charts.

One thing that I haven't found is confirmation anywhere that the figures for total production were Australian only or total ?

(174,717 for FB & 150,214 for EK) ???

Dr Terry · Post by **Dr Terry** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:47 pm

SunnyTim wrote:Thanks Dr Terry. Well there you go, I always thought that all bodies were made in Adelaide and shipped to the other areas in CKD form.
Tim

You are partially correct. AFAIK all individual panels are pressed in Adelaide (Woodville, but nowadays Elizabeth). These individual panels are then shipped to the various body production plants (A, M & S) as described above.

The situation that you describe is how it was in 1948. The early bodies were built in Woodville & then shipped to Fisherman's Bend for assembly. Many things have changed since then. Pagewood beginning full body production of Holdens in the early 50s (& closing in 1980). Fisherman's Bend ceased assembly operations at the end of FJ, with Dandenong taking over as Melbourne's body plant in early FE. Woodville closed in the early 60s to be replaced by Elizabeth. In the early years, Brisbane cars were assembled at Fortitude Valley. This closed when Acacia Ridge opened in 1966. Acacia Ridge was a full body production plant & was closed at the end of TG/WB (1985). The Perth (Mosman Park) assembly plant closed in 1972. The last proper Holdens to come out of Dandenong were VLs but JE Camiras & then LE/LF Novas & Toyota Corollas were built there up until 1994.

Today, all body production & assembly is carried out at Elizabeth, while engines are made at the Fisherman's Bend factory as they have been since 1948.

Dr Terry

Aussie Bob · Post by **Aussie Bob** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:49 pm

FB-215- 2038-A
FB-225-11908-A
FB-229- 3922-A
FB-2104-4015-A

FB-215- 2400-M
FB-225-25433-M
FB-2106-5981-M

FB-215- 1933-S
FB-225-36234-S
FB-229- 8035-S
FB-2106-8954-S

EK-215- 283-A
EK-225-5152-A
EK-2104-7337-A
EK-2106-146?-A

EK-225-13045-M
EK-229-11135-M

EK-215- 2540-S
EK-219- 1877-S
EK-225-21773-S
EK-229- 8642-S
EK-2106-8326-S

Here are the highest numbers we have so far. Would be much clearer if we had the chassis numbers added to the list. This will tell you where the production numbers were up to the compare it to the ID plate per body shape.

Steve

Aussie Bob · Post by **Aussie Bob** » Tue May 12, 2009 3:18 pm

Here are some dates I have just dug out. Will try to add to it.

.

................FB-215-1698S
Chassis:FB-18151-S
Eng B48557

5/7/60 ......FB-215-2356-S
Chassis:FB-23790-S
Eng B67376

22/10/60....FB-22659-S
Chassis:FB-38501-S
Eng: B111733

26/01/61....FB-2106-5192M
Chassis:FB-46951-M
Eng:B148476

22/3/ 61.....FB-225-31261-S
Chassis:

29/03/61....FB-215-2038-A
Chassis: FB-16696-A
Eng:B168290

3/4/61.......FB-2106-5278S
Chassis: FB-27788-S
Eng B80609

............... FB-2104- .... A
Chassis:37900-S
ENG:B189680

7/4/61.......FB-225-35430-S
Chassis:FB-59813-S
Eng B169307

4/5/61 .....FB-2106S4-370-A
Chassis:FB-58319-S
eng

...............EK-219-80-S
Chassis: EK-2576-S

...............EK-225-1890-S
Chassis:EK-6617-S
Eng:B193508

20/12/61..EK-225-2816-A
Chassis: EK-6696-A
Eng:B230426

13/1/62....EK-2106-4426-S
Chassis: EK-29774-S
eng:B251461

28/3/62.... EK-215-57-S
Chassis: EK-38414-S
Eng: B277597 (Auto)

29/6/1962 EK-21637-S
Chassis EK-52757-S
Eng:B313812

.

Finny · Post by **Finny** » Tue May 12, 2009 6:30 pm

Go_Rat this may give you some indication of numbers as per your initial question, however it is based on less than .05% (Thats .05 of 1% of the total vehicle produced)

Although I'm still not sure if the FB and EK total figures include overseas produced vehicles.
For example the highest EK's figures only accunt for 96,000 produced, or 60%.

Figures so far also show a few trends. Let me know if you have any questions ?

Finny · Post by **Finny** » Tue May 12, 2009 6:41 pm

Only kidding

Based on data and trends so far (So it could change when more cars ID plates are entered) If the numbers are higher than those recorded so far.

The numbers indicate than each plant numbers each vehicle type separately. That shows in the greater number of cars with lower numbers.
At this stage you can just add 30% to all these figures to get to the total numbers produced ??? As a guide anyhow.......

Vans were only made in Adelaide.
Sydney produced a lot more vehicles than Melbourne, who made more than Adelaide.

FB and EK Breakdown.

Dr Terry · Post by **Dr Terry** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:51 pm

Finny wrote:
One thing that I haven't found is confirmation anywhere that the figures for total production were Australian only or total ?

(174,717 for FB & 150,214 for EK) ???

Here's the breakdown that I have.

Total production for FB = 174,717
Domestic = 161,939
Fully built-up export = 3,256
CKD export = 9,552

Total production for EK = 150,214
Domestic = 143,362
Fully built-up export = 2,574
CKD export = 4,278

The other point is that, as far as I can see all panel vans were built in Adelaide (this is not just for FB/EK but for all series). Perhaps, because they built all of the vans, their number of sedan & wagon bodies is (proportionally) less than the other plants.

Maybe because there was more demand for fleet vehicles in Sydney & Melbourne , the numbers of 215 (taxis), 219 (salesman) & 2106 (tradies) were more than those in Adelaide.

Dr Terry.

oldnek · Post by **oldnek** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:04 pm

Dr Terry wrote:
Finny wrote:
One thing that I haven't found is confirmation anywhere that the figures for total production were Australian only or total ?

(174,717 for FB & 150,214 for EK) ???
Here's the breakdown that I have.

Total production for FB = 174,717
Domestic = 161,939
Fully built-up export = 3,256
CKD export = 9,552

Total production for EK = 150,214
Domestic = 143,362
Fully built-up export = 2,574
CKD export = 4,278

Keyboard Error on Dr Terry's part, Total Production of FB's should be 174,747

Regards John

oldnek · Post by **oldnek** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:16 pm

After reading that last post,

174,747 FB's to 150,214 EK's Produced.

Leaves a very interesting question:
Were in the hell are they all now.

I can possibly account for a few: Like Jacko's got 50+ of Em, Members here have account for 100 or so.
Possibly 100 survivors overseas. Surely the rest all can't be just rooted.

They must still be out there, Somewhere...................................

Cal · Post by **Cal** » Tue May 12, 2009 11:14 pm

There would be a fair few out there owned by people not in any sort of club.

You would hazard a guess that even if only 5% remain, thats roughly 15,000 FB/EK's still around

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:04 am

The member list is up to 1279, so if everyone only had 1 that is 1279 cars accounted for

, still can only get about 65 to the nationals each year

, Trev

.