Holden HQ

Holden HQ
Holden HQ Kingswood Sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors-Holden's
Also called	Chevrolet Kommando (ZA) Chevrolet El Camino (ZA) Chevrolet El Toro (ZA)
Production	1971 to 1974
Assembly	Australia
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door wagon 2-door coupé 2-door coupé utility 2-door panel van 2-door cab chassis
Layout	FR layout
Related	Statesman HQ
Powertrain
Engine	173 cu in (2.8 L) I6 202 cu in (3.3 L) I6 253 cu in (4.1 L) V8 308 cu in (5.0 L) V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111 inches 114 inches (Wagons)
Length	187.5 inches 190 inches (Wagons)
Width	74.0 inches 73.9 inches (Wagons)
Height	54.0 inches 54.8 inches (Wagons) 53.1 inches (Monaros)
Curb weight	2,950 lbs (Kingswood Sedan)
Chronology
Predecessor	Holden HG
Successor	Holden HJ

The Holden HQ series is a range of automobiles that was produced by General Motors-Holden’s in Australia from 1971 to 1974. The HQ was released on 15 July 1971, replacing the Holden HG series.^[1] It was the first ground up redesign of the Holden line since its original release in 1948,^[2] and included an all new body, chassis, and suspension.^[1] The HQ was later developed into a series of successor models, finally ending production after the WB series was discontinued in 1984.

Model range

The mainstream passenger car range consisted of 4-door sedan and 5-door station wagon models in three trim levels.^[1]

• Holden Belmont Sedan
• Holden Kingswood Sedan
• Holden Premier Sedan
• Holden Belmont Station Wagon
• Holden Kingswood Station Wagon
• Holden Premier Station Wagon

The long wheelbase luxury model, "Statesman by GMH" consisted of one body style (4-door sedan) and was available in two trim levels.

• Statesman
• Statesman Deville

A Holden SS Sedan was released in August 1972.^[2] Although marketed as a separate model in reality it was a Belmont V8 Sedan fitted with the XV2 option package.^[3][4]

The Monaro range initially consisted only of two-door coupes.^[5]

• Holden Monaro
• Holden Monaro V8
• Holden Monaro GTS
• Holden Monaro GTS 350
• Holden Monaro LS
• Holden Monaro LS V8

Two four-door sedan variants of the Monaro GTS were released in March 1973^[2] and similarly to the SS the new sports sedans were a special vehicle package optioned on a lesser model, in this case on a V8 Kingswood sedan. Option XV4 was the HQ GTS sedan. Option XW8 was the HQ GTS350 sedan.

The commercial vehicle range included coupe utility, panel van and cab chassis truck models.

• Holden Belmont Utility
• Holden Kingswood Utility
• Holden Belmont Panel Van
• Holden One Tonner

The One Tonner, which was new for the HQ series, was a cab chassis truck.^[2] A Sandman option, which was offered on Utility and Panel Van models from January 1974,^[6] included various "sports" items from the Monaro GTS.^[4]

• 

  Holden HQ Premier Sedan

• 

  Holden HQ Kingswood Station Wagon

• 

  Holden HQ SS Sedan

• 

  Holden HQ Monaro LS Coupe

• 

  Holden HQ Monaro GTS Sedan

• 

  Holden HQ Monaro GTS Coupe

• 

  Holden HQ Belmont Utility

• 

  Holden HQ Sandman Panel Van

• 

  Holden HQ Sandman Utility

Engines

The two inline six cylinder engines from the HG range were carried over to the HQ, but were enlarged^[2] to 173 cu in (2.8 L) and 202 cu in (3.3 L).^[7] The 253 cu in (4.1 L), 308 cu in (5.0 L) and 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8s were also carried over.^[7]

Production

Production of the HQ range totalled 485,650 vehicles^[6] prior to its replacement by the Holden HJ series in October 1974.^[8] Holden HQ series cars were produced at GMH plants in Adelaide South Australia (Elizabeth Plant), Melbourne Victoria (Dandenong Plant), Sydney New South Wales (Pagewood Plant) and in Brisbane Queensland (Acacia Ridge Plant).

Engines, transmissions, and final drive assemblies were produced at the engine casting plant at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne, although 350ci engines and its drivetrain components were fully imported from the United States.

Many local automotive component businesses in all these states across Australia supplied the main plants with many other parts, such as wiper arms, glass, carpets, electrical systems, fasteners, and the like.

South Africa

For the South African market, the Holden HQ sedan was marketed as the Chevrolet Kommando, the HQ utility as the Chevrolet El Camino and the HQ One Tonner as the Chevrolet El Toro.^[9]

Motorsport

The "Group 3H" Holden HQ of Sarah Mitchell

From the late 1980s, the Holden HQ was used in Australia as the basis of a one-make motor racing category with an emphasis on cost. The category began in Tasmania but very quickly expanded to every state to become the entry-level motor racing category nation-wide. The cars are built to comply with CAMS Group 3H Technical Regulations.^[10]

The HQ motor racing category also had an effect on spare parts in wrecking yards around Australia, with parts and body panels becoming scarce as many of the teams would 'raid' the yards for cheap spares. This led to a shortage of spares for the HQ model for anyone who owned a road-going version.

Statesman HQ

Statesman HQ de Ville

The Statesman HQ range of long wheelbase luxury sedans, based on the Holden HQ series,^[11] was also released in July 1971.^[12] The Statesman models replaced the Holden Brougham from the HG range ^[12] however they were marketed as Statesmans rather than as Holdens.^[13] Available in two trim levels, the entry car was called the "Statesman" and the premium car was the "Statesman Deville".

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Darwin, Norm (2002), 100 Years of GM in Australia, Ballarat, Victoria: H@ND Publishing, p. 260, ISBN 9780646414768 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Davis, Tony (1987), Aussie Cars, p. 120 
3. ↑ Holden SS V8 sales brochure, July 1972
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Darwin, p. 260
5. ↑ Darwin, p. 258
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Holden HQ Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 24 February 2010
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Holden HQ sales brochure, January 1972
8. ↑ Davis, p. 156
9. ↑ Holden abroad, Restored Cars #220, Sep-Oct 2013, pp. 45-47
10. ↑ "How to get involved in HQ Racing". HQ Racing Australia. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
11. ↑ Davis, p. 121
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Darwin, p. 259
13. ↑ Statesman HQ sales brochure, General Motors-Holden’s, 1971