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Meanwhile,
on the streets of Australia, the HQ Holden became an automotive icon of the era.
Boasting a huge selection of distinct model variants - 18 in all, plus a number of limited edition specials - the HQ was the biggest-selling Holden ever. Over a three-year production period, total sales of the much-loved model reached nearly half a million, ensuring that Holden’s title as Australia’s number one car manufacturer of the period remained beyond challenge, despite encroaching Japanese imports.
The all-new HQ was a smoother, safer, more elegant car than any previous Holden.
Praised for i
ts
advanced features and individual styling, it represented a more
sophisticated design direction while delivering the rugged durability and
family-size roominess expected by Holden buyers.
Monocoque construction and all-new four-wheel coil spring suspension provided superior ride and handling. Power was delivered through a choice of six and eight cylinder engines. Carried over from the previous model Holden (the HG), HQ’s six-cylinder powerplants were given a longer stroke, increasing respective capacities to 2.84 litres and 3.3 litres. Two versions of the locally-built V8 were offered - a 4.2 litre ‘253’ and a 5 litre ‘308’ - in addition to an imported 5.74 litre ‘350’ Chevrolet engine.
Industry-leading initiatives in automotive safety - a major focus of today’s Holden range - featured in the HQ. Forward vision was increased considerably, courtesy of thinner front pillars, thick padding was incorporated into the dashboard, door curvature and design gave increased side impact protection, rear seats were reinforced and the fuel tank was mounted ahead of the rear axle.
For the first time,
the Holden model range included a long wheelbase derivative.
The original Holden Statesman, with a 26-centimetre length advantage over other HQ sedans, featured a plush, roomy interior and two trim levels: Custom and DeVille.
Also new to the range was the sporty ‘SS’, a four door V8 with four-speed, console-mounted manual transmission, power front disc brakes, bucket seats, GTS instruments and steering wheel, and steel sports wheels. This `boy racer' HQ was a precursor to the hugely popular four-door HQ Monaro GTS sedan, released in 1973.
The HQ range marked the debut of Holden’s first cab/chassis truck. Dubbed the ‘One Tonner’ for its payload capacity, it could be fitted with a number of factory or after market tray-backs, tip-backs or camper bodies. Rounding out the range were the Belmont, Kingswood and Premier sedans and wagons; Monaro Coupe, GTS Coupe and LS Coupe; utility and panelvan commercials. Special limited edition models included a Vacationer sedan and a Silver Anniversary Holden Premier.
HQ Holden Fact-File
Total number built: 485,650
Base price at introduction
$2370 (Belmont sedan)
$4630 (Monaro V8 ‘350’)
$4660 (Statesman DeVille)
Models
Belmont sedan, station wagon panelvan and
utility;
Kingswood sedan, station wagon and utility;
Sandman panelvan, Sandman utility; SS sedan;
Premier sedan and station wagon; 1 tonner cab/chasssis;
Monaro coupe, Monaro GTS coupe, Monaro GTS 350 coupe,
Monaro LS (Luxury Sports) coupe, Monaro GTS sedan;
Statesman sedan, Statesman DeVille sedan.
Engines
2.84 litre six-cylinder ‘173’, 3.3 litre six-cylinder ‘202’,
4.2 litre V8 ‘253’, 5 litre V8 ‘308’ and 5.74 litre V8 ‘350’.
Transmissions
Three-speed manual, four-speed manual,
three-speed Trimatic automatic and three-speed
Turbohydramatic 400 automatic (only with ‘350’ V8).
Dimensions (basic sedan)
Length - 4762mm
Width - 1880mm Wheelbase - 2819mm
Width - 1880mm Wheelbase - 2819mm
1970s milestones
Peter Brock tastes his first victory at Bathurst,
winning the
1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500 in a six-cylinder LJ GTR XU-1 Torana.
25th anniversary of Holden car manufacture in Australia
(1973).
The three millionth Holden (an HQ) is produced (1974)
General Motors celebrates its 50th year in Australia (1976).
A $300 million Holden expansion program, including a new
engine plant for Fishermens Bend, is announced (1979)
Popular songs of the `70s
Eagle Rock (Daddy Cool), I Feel The Earth Move
(Carol King),
Father and Son (Cat Stevens), Rainy Days and Mondays (Carpenters),
It’s Only Rock and Roll (The Rolling Stones), I Shot The Sheriff (Eric
Clapton),
Howzat (Sherbet), Fernando (Abba),
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John and Kiki Dee),
Three Times A Lady (Commodores).
Popular films of the `70s
The Exorcist (Linda Blair),
The Great Gatsby (Robert Redford, Mia Farrow),
The Sting (Robert Redford, Paul Newman),
Jaws (Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw),
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher),
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire),
Saturday Night Fever (John Travolta).