Holden HG
| Company type | Car model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Holden HT |
| Founded | July 1970 |
| Defunct | July 1971 |
| Successor | Holden HQ |
Area served | Australia, South Africa (as Chevrolet) |
| Products | Automobiles: sedans, station wagons, coupes, utilities, panel vans |
Introduction
Manufactured by Holden in Australia from July 1970 until July 1971, the Holden HG succeeded the Holden HT series. This model was available under several nameplates, including Belmont, Kingswood, Premier, Brougham, and Monaro. Enhancements featured redesigned grilles, updated exterior trim, improved safety elements, fresh colour options, and revamped interior styling. All V8 variants benefited from enhanced disc brakes, while the Monaro GTS received suspension modifications aimed at delivering greater ride comfort.
Model range
The HG lineup consisted of four-door sedans and five-door station wagons offered in three trim grades:
- Belmont sedan and wagon
- Kingswood sedan and wagon
- Premier sedan and wagon
Exclusively offered as a sedan, the Brougham model included an extended boot.
The Monaro series comprised three distinct two-door coupes:
- Monaro coupe
- Monaro GTS coupe
- Monaro GTS 350 coupe
Commercial vehicles included two-door coupe utilities and panel vans:
- Belmont utility and panel van
- Kingswood utility
Engines and transmissions
The HG retained the inline six-cylinder engines from the HT series, alongside V8 options of , , and . A newly introduced three-speed "Tri-Matic" automatic transmission became part of the full-size Holden range, standard equipment on Premier and Brougham models and offered as an option on others except for the Monaro GTS 350.
Production
In July 1971, the HG was replaced by the Holden HQ series. Total production of the HG series reached 155,787 units, with Monaro models accounting for 6,147 of that number.
Export
In South Africa, the HG was sold under Chevrolet badges as the Kommando, Constantia, or El Camino bakkie (pickup). Due to strong demand for the El Camino pickups in early 1972, GM South Africa experienced a shortage of trucks while having a surplus of passenger car components. To address this imbalance, GMSA manufactured approximately 3,400 hybrid El Camino pickups combining parts from Constantia and Kommando models with upgraded features. These hybrids were well received and generated good profitability.