Chronicles: 1965 Year In Review

425ci V8 and front-wheel-drive can mean only one thing, the beautiful 1965 Oldsmobile Tornado...

The all new HD Holden, contentious then but now rare and highly collectable...

Caroll Shelby once again managed to squeeze a V8 into the engine bay, but this time the donor car was an Alpine...

When the S600 was released in Australia, it represented a complete break-away from the traditional Brisith sports cars with their iron-block engines. The S600 featured a half-litre 4 cylinder, quad carburettor, water-cooled, double-overhead-cam, four-cylinder aluminium power plant spinning all the way to 8000 rpm...

If we can exclude the beautiful Cord’s from the 1930’s for a moment, the huge and stylish Oldsmobile Tornado became the first car of its kind to bring front-wheel-drive to the U.S market. Sitting on a massive 119 inch wheelbase, and weighing an enormous 4,366 pounds (the size and weight counting against it if you were looking for a true sports car) the new generation "muscle" car used the mighty 425 ci V8 producing 385 bhp as standard, matched to an aggressive style and wonderful flowing lines that somehow belayed its sheer mass.

1965 also ushered in the replacement for the ever popular EH Holden. Many considered the new HD Holden to represent 'Holden's Disaster' – and most considered it an ugly duckling after the public's acceptance of the EH's shape.

The new look, while thoroughly modern, proved to be contentious, with the biggest criticism being reserved for the leading front guard design, a design that saw the front edge of the fender extend past the front headlights. Debate grew concerning pedestrian safety and even headlight effectiveness. Certainly they proved susceptible to car park damage.

Nevertheless the HD did represent progress over the EH, featuring self adjusting brakes and the use of a ball joint suspension system up front rather than the previous King Pins. Safety improvements were not overlooked, with the HD being the first model Holden to offer disk brakes as standard on the Premier, and optional on all other models.

The HD had a completely new body, making it wider and longer than previous Holdens. Engineered entirely in Australia, the new model offered substantial increases in passenger and load space. Although in later years the HD would probably be the least favourably remembered Holden, the early demand was exceptionally high.

During the first few months HD sales actually outstripped those of the record-breaking EH. In fact, May 1965 would see the General post a record, with HD registrations exceeding 19,000.

The most interesting mechanical feature of the HD was the more powerful “X2” engine. Available as an option for all models, it developed 105 kw (19 kw more than the standard) by virtue of twin carburetors, a modified camshaft, new manifolds and a low - restriction exhaust system. On the transmission front, the Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission was replaced by the Powerglide two-speed.

With a choice of three engines, two gearboxes and an expanded options list (which included the latest fashion, the vinyl roof), the HD gave the Holden buyer the greatest choice yet. Unfortunately, the new model's early promise was not realised. A downturn in the market was compounded by a general cooling of public affection for the appearance of the HD.

1965 is remembered by many as the year Maxwell Smart appeared on our screens in the NBC TV Comedy series "Get Smart", but a somewhat silent star of the show was undoubtedly the Sunbeam Tiger. American Caroll Shelby, (perhaps more famous for the AC Cobra) carried out the primary engineering, but all successive work was done by the parent company Rootes.

The much bigger engine required widespread re-engineering, and rather than choke up the high volume Alpine production lines with the new car, Rootes subcontracted the job to Jensen. Today the Tiger is highly sought after and quickly appreciating in value.

In other motoring news, the Nissan Prince Gloria would become the first six-cylinder Japanese car to be sold in Australia, while Alfa Romeo would announce its return to motor racing for the 1965 season. 1965 also saw Honda release the fabulous little S600 sports car in Australia.

The two-seat roadster borrowed its styling and its front-engine/rear-drive architecture, but not much else, from British roadsters. While other Japanese carmakers used cast-iron engines, Honda developed a water-cooled, double-overhead-cam, four-cylinder aluminium power plant, fed by four carburettors. The half-litre engine spun to 8000 rpm - Honda hadn't gone grand prix motorcycle racing without learning a few things about high-revving engines. The engine drove the rear wheels through an innovative chain-drive system.

Formula One Championship: Jim Clark (Britain) / Lotus-Climax

1965 Bathurst Winner: Bo Seton & Midge Bosworth / Ford Cortina GT500

NRL Grand Final:

VFL/AFL Grand Final:

Melbourne Cup: Light Fingers (R. Higgins)

Wimbledon Women: Margaret Smith d. M. Bueno (6-4 7-5)

Wimbledon Men: Roy Emerson d. F. Stolle (6-2 6-4 6-4)

The Movies: