Holden HQ
Encyclopedia
The Holden HQ series is a range of automobile
s that was produced by General Motors-Holden’s
in Australia
from 1971 to 1974. The HQ was released on 15 July 1971, replacing the Holden HG
series. It was the first ground up redesign of the Holden since its released in 1948 and included all new body, chassis and suspension.
models in three trim levels.
A Holden SS Sedan was released in August 1972. Although marketed as a separate model in reality it was a Belmont V8 Sedan fitted with Option XV2.
The Monaro range initially consisted only of 2-door coupe
s.
A 4-door sedan variant of the Monaro GTS was released in March 1973.
The commercial vehicle range included coupe utility
, panel van
and cab chassis truck
models.
The One Tonner, which was new for the HQ series, was a cab chassis truck
.
A Sandman option, which was offered on Utility and Panel Van models from January 1974, included various “sports” items from the Monaro GTS.
series in October 1974.
but very quickly expanded to every state to become the entry level motor racing category nation-wide. The cars are built to comply with CAMS
Group 3H Technical Regulations.
from the HG range
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s that was produced by General Motors-Holden’s
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1971 to 1974. The HQ was released on 15 July 1971, replacing the Holden HG
Holden HG
The Holden HG is an automobile which was produced by General Motors Holden’s in Australia between 1970 and 1971. It was marketed under Belmont, Kingswood, Premier, Brougham and Monaro model names.-Introduction:...
series. It was the first ground up redesign of the Holden since its released in 1948 and included all new body, chassis and suspension.
Model range
The mainstream passenger car range consisted of 4-door sedan and 5-door station wagonStation wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
models in three trim levels.
- Holden Belmont Sedan
- Holden KingswoodHolden KingswoodThe Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...
Sedan - Holden PremierHolden PremierThe Holden Premier is an automobile that was produced by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors between 1962 and 1980. The Premier was an upmarket version of the:* Holden Standard/Special: between 1962 and 1968....
Sedan - Holden Belmont Station Wagon
- Holden Kingswood Station Wagon
- Holden Premier Station Wagon
A Holden SS Sedan was released in August 1972. Although marketed as a separate model in reality it was a Belmont V8 Sedan fitted with Option XV2.
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
s.
- Holden MonaroHolden MonaroThe Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
- Holden Monaro GTS
- Holden Monaro GTS 350
- Holden Monaro LS
A 4-door sedan variant of the Monaro GTS was released in March 1973.
The commercial vehicle range included coupe utility
Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
, panel van
Panel van
A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows...
and cab chassis truck
Chassis cab
A chassis cab or cab chassis is a body style, and type of vehicle construction, often found in medium duty truck commercial vehicles.Instead of supplying the customer with a factory pre-assembled flatbed, cargo container, or other equipment - the customer is given the vehicle with just 'chassis'...
models.
- Holden Belmont Utility
- Holden Kingswood Utility
- Holden Belmont Panel Van
- Holden One TonnerHolden One TonnerThe Holden One Tonner is a cab chassis automobile that was produced by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors between 1971 and 1984, and again between 2003 and 2005....
The One Tonner, which was new for the HQ series, was a cab chassis truck
Chassis cab
A chassis cab or cab chassis is a body style, and type of vehicle construction, often found in medium duty truck commercial vehicles.Instead of supplying the customer with a factory pre-assembled flatbed, cargo container, or other equipment - the customer is given the vehicle with just 'chassis'...
.
A Sandman option, which was offered on Utility and Panel Van models from January 1974, included various “sports” items from the Monaro GTS.
Engines
The two inline six cylinder engines from the HG range were carried over to the HQ, but were enlarged to 173 cu in (2.8 l) and 202 cu in (3.3 l). The 253 cu in (4.1 l), 308 cu in (5.1 l) and 350 cu in (5.7 l) V8s were also carried over.| Engine | Displacement | Compression | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bhp | kW | ft·lb Foot-pound force The foot-pound force, or simply foot-pound is a unit of work or energy in the Engineering and Gravitational Systems in United States customary and Imperial units of measure. It is the energy transferred on applying a force of 1 pound-force through a displacement of 1 foot... |
N·m Newton metre A newton metre is a unit of torque in the SI system. The symbolic form is N m or N·m, and sometimes hyphenated newton-metre... |
||
| 2.84 L Red I6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
173 cu in | Low | 112 bhp | 160 lb·ft |
|
| High | 118 bhp | 168 lb·ft | |||
| 3.3 L Red I6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
202 cu in | Low | 129 bhp | 190 lb·ft | |
| High | 135 bhp | 194 lb·ft | |||
| 4.2 L Holden V8 V8 engine A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
253 cu in | Low | 174 bhp | 247 lb·ft | |
| High | 185 bhp | 262 lb·ft | |||
| 5.0 L Holden V8 V8 engine A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
308 cu in | 240 bhp | 315 lb·ft |
|
Production
Production of the HQ range totalled 485.650 vehicles prior to its replacement by the Holden HJHolden HJ
The Holden HJ is a series of automobiles which were produced by General Motors-Holden’s in Australia from 1974 to 1976. The HJ series was released on 4 October 1974 and was an improved and facelifted version of the superseded Holden HQ series which had been in production since 1971.- Model range...
series in October 1974.
Motorsport
From the late 1980s, the Holden HQ was used in Australia as the basis of a one-make motor racing category with an emphasis on cost. The category began in TasmaniaTasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
but very quickly expanded to every state to become the entry level motor racing category nation-wide. The cars are built to comply with CAMS
Confederation of Australian Motor Sport
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport , has been the governing body of Australian motorsport since 1953. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile ....
Group 3H Technical Regulations.
Statesman HQ
The Statesman HQ range of long wheelbase luxury sedans, based on the Holden HQ series, was also released in July 1971.The Statesman models replaced the Holden BroughamHolden Brougham
The Holden Brougham is a large, luxury automobile which was produced by General Motors–Holden's in Australia between July 1968 and 1971.It was based on the mainstream Holden Premier of the same years, but with a lengthened rear body. The boot was simply extended by rather than increasing the ...
from the HG range