Hey all.

Noticed something new today. Ben Stewart asked me about HJ grilles. HE pointed out in the HJ Features Manual that it states for Belmont sedan & wagon and Holden ute and van that the grille surrounds are painted grey. It is a mid 1975 amendment.

At HJ release the Holden grilles are:

Holden cab-chassis - painted steel or chrome steel.
Holden & Belmont - silver horizontal bars and black vertical bars.
Kingswood, Premier and BO6 - all silver.
GTS and Sandman - black painted.

All of the above have the same stainless surrounds, top, bottom and sides. All early HJ photos I have show the stainless surrounds.

But what the Features Manual states got me researching more. We all know that HX Belmont & Holden grille is the same plastic design as HJ Holden, yet the Parts Catalogue has a new part number for this grille. Also in the same HX parts Catalogue, the grille stainless surrounds are listed separately for the newer HX grilles, but there is no stainless listed for the HX Belmont and Holden grille! Also, the only image I can find of a HX Belmont of Holden grille is on the HX van sales brochure. There is a yellow HX Holden van and the grille surround is not bright, it is the same grey as the grille plastic. The HX Features Manual was also originally issued in 1975 and has a May 1976 revision for the Belmont and Holden grilles which is the identical text as HJ:

"Radiator Grille is a one piece plastic moulding of bold egg-crate texture featuring 7 horizonal silver bars. A silver painted border surrounds the grille."

I have never seen a HJ Holden ute/van or HJ Belmont sedan/wagon with any grille other than a stainless surround. So I'm wondering if it was just a HX thing, or has anyone seen a later HJ with teh grille surround as grey paint not stainless?