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HQ "GTS wagon"
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Premier 350 Offline
#1 Posted : Saturday, 27 October 2018 10:14:31 AM(UTC)
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On the phone to mate last night, he had the car's owner with him. I haven't seen the car, so here goes.
The owner ( who sounds a reasonable bloke) is claiming that it's a factory 350/TH 400 "GTS wagon" with Recaro seats and rear discs. I'm sceptical.

I can see a Kingswood wagon being optioned with some GTS items, rally wheels, 308, sports dash, etc. But it's still a well optioned Kingswood, not a GTS.



Below is my email to my mate. Feel free to correct any errors, and what should we look for to prove/ disprove the car.


1) GTS was an option on the Kingswood series in HQ. So the VIN won't tell us anything. Model number will tell us what trim level and if a 6 or 8 cyl.
2) A June 72 HQ should still have clear front indicators. Amber came in with ADR 6 on 1/1/73. The compliance plate should list the relevant ADRs. It will also reveal the seating capacity of 5 or 6. 72's and later had headrests
3) GTS had a 140 MPH/ 220 KMH speed. Lesser models had a 120/ 200 unit. The optional 'sports instrumentation' dash was available in most models, but still with a 120/220 speedo.
4) GTS was always floor shift, be it auto of manual. This one is column.
5) Recaro seats. An engineering change like that would require documentation. Holden even documented the correct fitting of the A9X bonnet scoop. That is less of a change than a pair or Recaros. What's the back seat like?
6) Odd that it carries GTS badging on the grill, but Kingswood on the guards.
7) Rear discs. HZ or the A9X were the first in '77 with that. Also an engineering change. There should be a date stamp on the axle housing.
8) I'd be checking that the chassis rails with their numbers match the compliance plate.
9) It's possible that there were show cars built for motor shows. I imagine that they would be Melbourne built. The last letter on the chassis number should tell us where it was built. Ditto the complaiance plate.
10) All the mods described are easy enough bolt ons. Dash, rear axle, 350, TH 400,
11) TH 400 equipped models had a specific trans cross member. Had flat plates welded to each side. Not sure if that was along the entire HQ production run, or just early cars.
12 Does it have a GTS steering wheel? Not sure if that was a factory option, but it a dealer could easily fit one.
13) Casting dates on heads, block and TH400 will date those items. Instruments also were date stamped. Any dates on those components needs to be before 6/72 assembly date.
14) I believe that there were 2 Premier ( me thinks) wagons that had the factory 350/TH 400 combo.
15) All GTS 350 had dual exhaust as standard. Optional on 253 & 308. Dual exhaust was never available ex factory on wagons

Edited by user Saturday, 27 October 2018 10:15:37 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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HK1837 Offline
#2 Posted : Saturday, 27 October 2018 11:38:34 AM(UTC)
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Note that Rally wheels, 308, sports dash are not GTS items - they are normal production option items available on most HQ models. Rally Wheels and sports dash were standard on GTS, but also standard on SS and Sandman. The 253 was standard on GTS, yet people do not call it a "GTS option". 308 auto would be a relatively common option on a HQ wagon, especially a Premier, but still very uncommon compared to a 253.

1. GTS was an option ONLY on Kingswood sedan, option codes XV4 (GTS sedan) and XW8 (GTS350 sedan). In coupe GTS was its own models (80837 and 81837). Early GTS sedan had a Kingswood VIN but later ones had a GTS VIN.

2. GMH nearly always changed stuff earlier than the ADR's appeared on plates, not sure when amber indicators appeared. For example ADR27 didn't appear on plates until about 4/74 but all engines started to get it about 8-9/73.

3. It is a 140mph/225km/h speedo. Sandman got it also. The rest as you say got 120mph or 200km/h speedo.

4. GTS was console shift only, never floor shift. Correct that column shift also never on GTS, SS or Sandman.

5. Correct.

6. Given its a mockup no surprise at all!

7. A9X was first production, but I wouldn't be surprised if a HZ development HJ turns up with rear discs.

8. Yes.

9. Normally yes, but not always.

10. Yes.

11. All TH400 crossmembers (308 or 350) are the same style, just shorter for ute, van and cab-chassis.

12. Only HQ's to get the sports wheel standard were GTS, Sandman and SS. Not optional anywhere else.

13. Yes, unless it is an internal car done for a show, where the original Belmont, Kingswood or Premier stuff was removed.

14. There were 4 Dandenong assembled Premier Wagons with 350ci engine. I believe there were possibly a couple more from Pagewood or Elizabeth.

15. Pretty sure there were no dual exhaust wagons done ex factory. There does appear to be some Statesman dual exhaust component part numbers in catalogues though.

Get me the VIN of the car and it will tell all.

Edited by user Saturday, 27 October 2018 12:09:39 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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Premier 350 on 27/10/2018(UTC)
Premier 350 Offline
#3 Posted : Saturday, 27 October 2018 1:49:21 PM(UTC)
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#11. I pulled the TH 400 & crossmember from a '71 or '72 350 DeVille. That crossmember had the bracing plates I mentioned spotwelded to it. From the grease and the paint, I believe it was original to the car. Anyone else seen these style of cross member?

The car had the 'pebble' grain vinyl, so that ties in with the 6/72 build date, if I remember correctly.
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HK1837 Offline
#4 Posted : Saturday, 27 October 2018 2:51:13 PM(UTC)
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As I said all TH400 gearbox crossmembers were the same apart from the commercial ones being shorter. The slots for the gearbox mount are in a different location in addition to the flat plates across them.
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