Could one buy a HQ 1 tonne new from the dealer with an auto in the 173 or 202 or were they only the M22 box.
What about diff ratios only the 4.44 in the 6 cyl.
No M20 option ever ?

4.44 certainly isn't listed in the 11/71 HQ parts catalogue.
11/71 HQ sales brochure for ute, van and 1-tonner list the standard 1-tonner as 173, 3spd and 3.55:1 diff with 3.36:1 available as economy option. Only options are M20 4spd (3.74:1 1st) with same diffs as 3spd OR M40 trimatic with 3.36:1 diff standard and 3.55 as performance option. At that stage 202 or V8's were not optional on 1-tonner.
Funnily enough the same sales brochure shows for utes and vans the 3.74:1 M20 4spd as standard with 173 and 3.05:1 M20 as standard behind 202 (as Dr Terry says the 3.74:1 M20 was later called the M22). The 1973 HQ ordering procedure says all 4spd 6cyl commercials get the wide ratio 4spd (still called M20). However come 1974 and HQ 6cyl 4spd commercials appear with M22 stamped on the BODY plate. The few 6cyl HQ Sandmans that have turned up have M22 on the BODY plate. Yet the 1/1974 HQ Sandman sales brochure says the HQ Sandman comes with the 3.05:1 1st gear M20 4spd. Odd....
The red HQ service manuals, volume 6 (ucommercial vehiles) also shows the 3.74:1 M20 as only being fitted to 173 vehicles.

I've seen the 4.44:1 diff in the 1973 HQ ordering procedure,a nd it is in the 1974 edition of the parts catalogues.

So as to when the 4.44 was introduced....Anyone's guess? Mine would be at V8 HQ tonner release in early 1973 or possibly when the 202 was made available on the 1-tonner (same time?).

HX-HZ 1-tonner was standard with 202 and 4.44 with M15, M22 or M40. 3.55 was economy option.

WB was the same except 3.55 was standard with M40 and 4.44 was the performance option with M40.

Neither has any mention of the 3.05:1 M20 being available. It was optional with 253 though, M15 was standard except WB where M20 was standard with 253.

Not sure about HJ. I assume the early cars followed as per HQ and the later were like HX when late in HJ the engine lineup was rationalised a bit.

I agree that a 308 TH400 1-tonner was the best, but they were not really that easy to buy in HJ, HX and WB. HZ you could get one but only as an Ambulance pack. A 253 M15 (or M40) with 3.36:1 diff is quite good, much better than an M20 for a workhorse as the 3spd has a much better reverse gear than the M20. Uphill reversing a fully laden 4spd manual 1-tonner with a diff taller than a 3.55 is a challenge.
My old WB 1-tonner with mild red 202 (just cam, Yella Terra head and extractors) and VK EFI trimatic with 3.08:1 LSD was a really good car. It would tow all day (big tranny cooler), reversed just about anywhere with a bit of a load on it and easily cruised on the freeway at 115kM/h. Used bugger all fuel too, got like 27MPG daily use. They are pretty light with an alloy tray and 6cyl, from memory they are only about 1300kg or thereabouts.