Holden Belmont

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Holden Belmont
Manufacturer	Holden
Parent company	General Motors
Predecessor	Holden Standard
Successor	Holden Kingswood

An unrelated vehicle, Vauxhall Belmont, was marketed by Vauxhall, GM's British subsidiary from 1984 to 1991.

The Holden Belmont was the entry-level version of the large car built by General Motors–Holden's Ltd. of Australia from 1968 to 1980. It was available as a four-door sedan, five-door station wagon, a panel van and a pick-up, or ute.

It replaced the Holden Standard Sedan and its series changes are identical to that of the Holden Kingswood, the mainstream model of the range. There was only a single trim level.

However, unlike the Kingswood, the Belmont nameplate disappeared from passenger cars when it was absorbed into the main Kingswood range, after the HX series of 1977. (The Kingswood range, at this point, became two models rather than one: a base model and a slightly more upmarket SL.) Commercial vehicles—a ute and panel van—continued the Belmont name until the end of the 1980 model year with the HZ series.

[edit] Engines

Engine options were a 161 or 186 in³ in 1968, but a 253 in³ HT series van was offered in 1969–70 and a 307 in³ van in 1970–1. Usually, the passenger cars only had the smallest unit.

After the launch of the HQ series in 1971 the engines were a 179 in³ (HQ series) or 202 in³ (sedan only in 1973 and not available for the sedan or wagon in 1974). Vans were still offered with the base and the more powerful engines.

The HJ saw the engine displacement expressed in metric, though they were the same capacities. The sedan and wagon had the 2.9 L six from November 1974, while the utility had the 2.85 and 3.3 L; the van was available with all units plus a 4.2 L V8.

The 2.85 L was deleted in 1976 with the launch of the HX in July that year (it would still continue with the Torana, and later the VB-VH series Commodores). The sedan and wagon had the 3.3 L six while the commercials had the 4.2 L option. Both engines were available for the ute and van until their deletion in 1980.