AN Australian concept car produced as a tribute to the iconic FJ Holden has been named hot rod of the year by a leading United States motoring magazine.The EFIJY was produced by Holden's design team for the 2005 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The radical pillarless coupe featured a supercharged 6.0 litre V8 engine resting on a Chevrolet Corvette underbody.
The US Hot Rod magazine described the car as probably the most beautiful concept car ever to come from an automotive manufacturer. Editor Rob Kinnan said concept cars produced by car companies normally carried implied messages that they might, one day, become production models. "It was obvious here, however, that this was a pure hot rod built by true gearheads who just happened to work for a new car company," he said.
Holden's chief designer, Richard Ferlazzo, who led the EFIJY project, said: "The car has created quite a bit of interest in the states, which is great recognition for our team.
"It's not immediately obvious, but this sort of interest also helps to promote the capabilities of the GM Holden organisation in a wider field."