Holden HT
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Holden HK |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Automobiles (sedans, wagons, coupes, utilities, panel vans) |
The Holden HT lineup, manufactured by Holden in Australia between 1969 and 1970, followed the Holden HK series.
Introduction
Introduced in May 1969, the HT range replaced the HK Belmont, Kingswood, and Premier models, with the Brougham and Monaro variants arriving in June. Notable enhancements consisted of updated grille designs, new taillight assemblies, flatter rear side panels, a broader rear window, widened track dimensions, modified suspension setup, an upgraded instrument cluster, and synchromesh gears on all forward speeds for manual gearboxes.
Model range
The HT lineup offered both four-door sedans and five-door station wagons across three primary trim levels:
- Belmont sedan and wagon
- Kingswood sedan and wagon
- Premier sedan and wagon
Additionally, the Brougham was available exclusively as a sedan featuring an extended boot.
The Monaro series included three two-door coupe models:
- Monaro coupe
- Monaro GTS coupe
- Monaro GTS 350 coupe
Commercial versions were presented in two-door coupe utility and panel van configurations with two trim options:
- Belmont utility and panel van
- Kingswood utility
Engines and transmissions
Retaining the 161-cubic-inch (2.6-litre) and 186-cubic-inch (3.0-litre) inline six-cylinder engines from the HK series, the HT introduced locally produced 253-cubic-inch (4.2-litre) and 308-cubic-inch (5.0-litre) V8 engines to replace the previously imported 307-cubic-inch (5.0-litre) V8 units. Initially, the 308 V8 was exclusive to the Brougham model while other vehicles continued using remaining imported 307 engines; after these stocks were exhausted, the 308 V8 became standard throughout the HT range. The HT Monaro GTS 350 succeeded the HK Monaro GTS 327 by upgrading from a 327-cubic-inch (5.3-litre) Chevrolet V8 to a larger 350-cubic-inch (5.7-litre) Chevrolet V8. Transmission choices comprised three-speed manual, four-speed manual, and two-speed "Powerglide" automatic units.
For export purposes, a smaller variant of Holden's inline-six Red engine with a displacement of 2130 cc ("130 HC") was available, delivering 90 horsepower at 4400 rpm and optimized for higher octane fuels.
Production
Production of the HT series concluded with its replacement by the Holden HG in July 1970, totaling 183,402 units manufactured.
Chevrolet El Camino (South Africa)
In South Africa, the HT utility was assembled under the Chevrolet El Camino nameplate, featuring distinct interior designs, front-end styling, and badging tailored to that market. Powertrain options included either a Chevrolet 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder or a V8 engine. Fewer than 500 examples were exported in this configuration.