Holden HQ
| Company type | Car model series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | August 1971 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles |
| Parent | Holden (General Motors) |
Model lineup
The primary HQ passenger vehicle selection consisted of four-door sedans and five-door station wagons, available in three distinct trim grades:
- Holden Belmont sedan and station wagon
- Holden Kingswood sedan and station wagon
- Holden Premier sedan and station wagon
The extended-wheelbase luxury variant, known as the "Statesman by GMH," was offered exclusively as a four-door sedan with two trim options:
- Statesman
- Statesman Deville
Launched in August 1972, the Holden SS sedan was essentially a Belmont V8 sedan equipped with the XV2 option package.
The Monaro series initially featured only two-door coupe models:
- Holden Monaro
- Holden Monaro GTS
- Holden Monaro GTS 350
- Holden Monaro LS (Premier)
In March 1973, two four-door Monaro GTS sedans were introduced as option packages for V8 Kingswood sedans: Option XV4 (GTS sedan) and Option XW8 (GTS350 sedan).
The commercial range comprised coupe utilities, panel vans, and cab chassis trucks:
- Holden Belmont utility and panel van
- Holden Kingswood utility
- Holden One Tonner cab chassis truck (a new addition for the HQ series)
Starting January 1974, a Sandman option became available for utility and panel van models, incorporating sporty elements derived from the Monaro GTS.
Powertrains
The HQ series maintained the HG range's two inline six-cylinder engines, now enlarged to 2.83 L and 3.3 L displacements. The 4.1 L (marketed later as 4.2 liters) Holden V8s, along with the Chevrolet small-block V8, were also retained.
| Engine | Displacement | Compression | Output | Torque | Transmission | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bhp | kW | ft·lb | N·m | |||||
| 2.83 L Red I6 | 173 cu in | Low | 112 | 84 | 160 | 220 |
|
|
| High | 118 | 88 | 168 | 228 | ||||
| 3.3 L Red I6 | 202 cu in | Low | 129 | 96 | 190 | 260 | ||
| High | 135 | 101 | 194 | 263 | ||||
| 4.1 L Holden V8 | 253 cu in | Low | 174 | 130 | 247 | 335 | ||
| High | 185 | 138 | 262 | 355 | ||||
| 5.0 L Holden V8 | 308 cu in | 240 | 180 | 315 | 427 |
|
||
| 5.7 L Chevrolet V8 | 350 cu in | 275 | 205 | 360 | 490 |
|
||
Production
Before the introduction of the Holden HJ series in October 1974, total production of the HQ model reached 485,650 units. Assembly took place at GMH facilities located in Adelaide (Elizabeth), Melbourne (Dandenong), Sydney (Pagewood), and Brisbane (Acacia Ridge).
While engines, transmissions, and final drive units were manufactured at Fishermans Bend in Victoria, the 350 cubic inch engines along with their associated drivetrain components were entirely imported from Chevrolet in the United States.
A wide range of Australian automotive suppliers from these regions contributed parts such as wiper arms, glass, carpeting, electrical components, and fasteners.
In New Zealand, HQ vehicles were assembled at GMNZ’s Trentham factory using some locally sourced parts. Production continued there until 1975 to make use of remaining HQ components not incorporated into the following Holden HJ series.
Belmont
Serving as the base HQ variant and successor to the Holden Standard, the Belmont came equipped with a standard 173 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine paired with a column-mounted 3-speed manual gearbox. Its interior featured a more modest door trim design reflecting its entry-level status.
Kingswood
Replacing the Holden Special, the Kingswood was positioned as a mid-tier model offering an upgraded interior that included standard armrests and enhanced exterior chrome detailing for a more refined appearance.
Premier
As the flagship of Holden’s mainstream lineup until the launch of the 1973 XV8 GTS350 Sedan, the Premier boasted woodgrain trim inside, full-length armrests, bucket seats accompanied by a center console, and numerous exterior styling enhancements. Its design elements also influenced the Monaro LS coupé.
SS (Super Sport)
The SS represented a limited edition of the Belmont V8 Sedan (option code XV8), fitted standard with a 253 cubic inch Holden V8 engine and offering an optional upgrade to a 308 cubic inch V8. It featured an Australian-made 4-speed transmission and a 10-bolt Salisbury differential with a 3.36:1 ratio. Popular among younger buyers, strong demand prompted a Series II following an initial production run of 2,800 units. The SS included a Black Roebuck vinyl interior complemented by Houndstooth or Flax-Raydo inserts, standard armrests, a center console with floor-mounted shifter, sports steering wheel, and a complete GTS instrument cluster.
Monaro GTS
Built on the Kingswood platform, the Monaro GTS came fully equipped with distinctive stripes available in most color options. It was powered by either a 253 or 308 Holden V8 engine mated to either a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission, supported by a heavy-duty Salisbury differential. The GTS package featured a fully appointed interior including optional houndstooth inserts on bucket seats, sports steering wheel, center console, tachometer, and dual split gauges.
South Africa
In South Africa, the Holden HQ sedan was sold under the name Chevrolet Kommando, while the HQ utility was marketed as the Chevrolet El Camino. The Kommando was exclusively offered with Chevrolet’s 4.1-litre six-cylinder engine. The Constantia model featured Holden’s 5.0-litre V8 paired with an automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the El Camino was available with both engine options plus an additional new-to-South-Africa 3.3-litre six-cylinder engine that came solely with a manual gearbox. The HQ One Tonner was marketed as the Chevrolet El Toro.
Motorsport
With the launch of the HQ model, Holden transitioned its factory-backed production car racing efforts from the V8 Monaro to the more compact six-cylinder LC Torana. Although a limited batch of Monaro and V8 Kingswood vehicles—such as Malcolm Ramsey's V8 Kingswood—were prepared for competition, these HQ models did not achieve the same level of success as earlier Monaros or the better-funded Torana squads and rival Ford Falcons and Mustangs.
Beginning in the late 1980s, the Holden HQ served as the basis for an economical one-make racing series, which started in Tasmania and quickly grew throughout Australia and New Zealand. This category follows CAMS Group 3H standards, featuring the 202 ci/3300 cc six-cylinder engine and restricted to four-door sedan configurations.
The popularity of this racing class affected the availability of spare parts nationwide, as teams often obtained body panels and components from salvage yards, leading to shortages for owners of street-driven HQ vehicles.
As of 2024, HQ racing competitions continue to be held across every Australian state and territory, with an annual national championship coordinated by HQ Racing Australia.[1]
Statesman HQ
The Statesman HQ series, a lineup of extended-wheelbase luxury sedans derived from the Holden HQ platform,[2] was introduced in July 1971,[3] succeeding the Holden Brougham from the HG range.[3] Sold separately under the Statesman brand rather than as Holdens,[4] it was available in two variants: the entry-level "Statesman Custom" and the upscale "Statesman de Ville".[4]