Wicked 1953 Holden FJ Custom Goes International with LS3 V8 Conversion

Wild custom 1953 Holden FJ sedan lights up the custom car world with its supercharged LS3 V8, newfound swagger and creative engineering.

When one looks at a vintage Holden FJ from the 1950s, you would be forgiven if you assume it’s not a performance car. When it entered production in the early 1950s, it was powered by a six-cylinder engine that produced a rather paltry 63 horsepower and was a car for the masses. But the FJ did have a reputation for having a timeless design and is still highly revered in its Australian home market. However, what would happen if you take the humble FJ, rip out the wheezy six-cylinder, and replace it with something much more powerful?

Geoff and Peter Hampton, an ambitious father and son team has appeared to give us the answer, with the pair recently unveiling their highly-modified creation to the folks at Street Machine.

Holden FJ Is Packing Heat

Before we get into some of the finer details surrounding this particular FJ, we might as well address the elephant in the room, its new engine. The factory six-cylinder was thrown to the curb with owner Peter Hampton and his dad Geoff cramming a modern LS3 V8 into the FJ’s engine bay. As if that wasn’t enough, they even added a Harrop 1900 supercharger to help supply the engine with massive amounts of boost. The result is 550 horsepower, and while we don’t know the exact torque figures in play here, the setup promises to transform the FJ into a potent street rocket.

But believe it or not, the LS3 was originally not the engine planned for the FJ with Peter and Geoff eying a Holden V8 when they first started the project 20 years ago. Ultimately the advantages of the LS3 won them over, and both the engine and the six-speed 6L80e automatic were ultimately plucked from a totaled VE grade, Senator. If both of those sound familiar to U.S. readers, that’s because the engine and the transmission also saw duty in the Chevrolet Camaro.

Going Under The Knife For Performance

While the additional power provided by the LS3 was a welcome blessing, it also created a big problem for Peter and Geoff in regards to the rest of the build. Stock FJs were known for their flimsy construction, and there was no way that the car in its pure factory form could handle the extra stresses created by the engine’s torque. The solution was extensive surgery to reinforce key points of the car while also using clever ingenuity to develop unique solutions to certain challenges that appeared during the build process.

In addition to the traditional Y-Frames and stiffer chassis pieces, Peter and Geoff also spliced in key components from other Holden models to maintain factory accessibility. That included the rear floorplan, differential, suspension from a VK Commodore, and select components from other Holden models. A notable challenge was making the automatic fit into the FJ, which was achieved by constructing a larger transmission tunnel and a deeply recessed firewall. As for the exterior modifications here were very minor and both Peter and Geoff wanted to maintain a factory fresh look. The major modifications that were done to it actually center around enhancing the car’s safety with the singular taillight being enhanced with extra brake lighting and turn signals being integrated into the bodywork.

It Can Dance Around Corners Too

In addition to its ability to potentially own rivals at the drag strip, this special FJ also has the handling chops to help it weave its way through twisty roads in reasonable comfort. The front end benefits from a Rod-Tech sourced independent suspension with coil springs, while the rear is equipped with a VK coil suspension that features Peddler sourced springs and Koni shocks. Peter and Geoff wanted to create a low profile for the car, and we think they succeeded with the custom having a slick profile, especially when viewed from some angles.

This is enhanced further with the car being equipped with 17-inch HSV VS Senator wheels that are shod in Kumho performance rubber. Those sticky tires help give the FJ an edge in handling and are a good multi-purpose performance tire. Braking duties are handled by front and rear disc brakes with virtually all the components being lifted from a VT Commodore. The lone exception is the master cylinder which is lifted from a VS Commodore.

Award-Winning Masterpiece

With all the work that went into this FJ it should come as no surprise that the car has won its fair share of awards since it made its inaugural debut in 2018 with the car actually winning a Top Innovation & Engineering award at the 2019 Adelaide Auto Expo along with a separate honor at the Extreme Auto Expo with the FJ taking top honors there as well.

I’m so happy with it,” says Peter. “It makes around 550hp, but it is still a fairly light car, so it goes hard. I wanted to put a six-speed manual in it at one stage, but I’m glad we went auto – it would have been a handful with a manual! It’s fast, but it’s also enjoyable to drive. We went to a lot of trouble to keep excess heat and noise out of the interior, so the whole family can enjoy the car. It’s great!”

Photos: Street Machine