Holden Statesman HQ-HZ - Buyer's Guide

By: Cliff Chambers

Date: 26.10.2022

Holden's home-grown luxury car was aimed squarely at Ford Fairlane buyers

Sometime prior to 1968 a decision was taken behind executive doors at Holden to drop expensive, imported Chevrolet and Pontiac models and fight Ford’s Fairlane with an elongated version of the HK Premier.

The ploy wouldn’t work for long, but it did buy Holden the time needed to develop a home-grown luxury sedan that would be called Statesman.

At the launch in 1971, GM-H worked hard to distance its newcomer from the mainstream HQ range. The car carried no ‘Holden’ badging whatsoever – although there were GM-H emblems everywhere – and publicity material referred to the new ‘GM Statesman.’ Cars exported to South Africa and South-East Asian markets were badged as Chevrolets.

In original HQ form, the Statesman was sold in Custom (fleet special) trim and as the more popular De Ville. The Cadillac association was no coincidence. Custom versions came standard with 3.3-litre, six-cylinder engines and three-speed manual transmission, however, the 4.2-litre V8 and Trimatic auto were options.

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De Villes were sold exclusively as V8s with the auto ’box. Most used Holden’s homemade 5.0-litre engine but a few hundred HQs were built with 5.7-litre Chevrolet motors.

Variable-ratio power steering was standard, as were patterned-insert seats, electric windows, fake timber dash embellishments, vinyl roof covering and special badging.

After three years and around 18,000 sales, the HQ Statesman was replaced by an HJ version. Physical changes were limited to a single-section grille and new taillights but the model change saw Custom versions deleted and the addition of a super-luxury Caprice.

With leather trim and more than a dozen interior lights, integrated air-conditioning and even more badging, the Caprice offered attractions to well-off private and business buyers at a price almost 50 percent above the cost of a De Ville.

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Less appealing was the HX version that appeared in 1976 and suffered from Holden’s attempts to meet new emission standards. With power from the 5.0-litre engine slashed by 18kW to 161kW, performance declined as well. Some tests suggested that the 0-100km/h time had blown out to more than 13 seconds, but high-11s was more realistic.

A round steering wheel and column-mounted multi-function stalk helped make these cars a little more drivable, but a major advance would come in 1977 when GM-H introduced Radial Tuned Suspension across its medium and large car ranges. At the same time, HZ Statesmans gained rear-wheel disc brakes and a rear anti-roll bar.

HZs were the only Statesman to be all-disc, but earlier cars with drum brakes at the back still manage reasonable stopping distances for a car of their weight.

With the introduction of Commodore imminent, 1978 saw the Statesman range expand to also include an SL/E version. HZ
SL/Es are scarce yet today they usually cost less than a Caprice of similar quality.

Rarest of all will be genuine 350-engined HQs, of which around 600 were built and very few remain. Be wary of fakes and expect to pay $60,000+ for a genuine car in excellent condition.

Value range: Statesman (HJ-HX Caprice)

Fair: $12,000
Good: $29,500
Excellent: $42,000

(Note: exceptional cars will demand more)

BUYER'S CHECKLIST:

Body & chassis

Eye level is a great place to start when checking a Statesman for rust or poor repairs. Most were built with vinyl roof covering which harbours rust anywhere that water can get between the plastic and unprotected metal. Check around window apertures, rear pillars and the turret itself, then look at rear quarter panels, floors, door skins and around the sill garnish strips. The rear stone tray and fuel tank are vulnerable to impact damage, so check underneath too. Scarce parts include rear mudguards, the bumpers, boot-lid and nose; many of which now adorn modified utes and panel vans. Second-hand bumpers have been seen at $500 each. Correct, colour-keyed hubcaps on HJ-HX cars are prone to damage and can be difficult to replace.

Engine & transmission

Even an engine that’s trailing oil smoke and clattering noticeably should not disqualify an otherwise viable car. Old Holden V8s are simple to work on and can be professionally rebuilt for under $5000. Check the cooling system by switching off the engine once it’s warm and listening for gurgling from the radiator. Oil leaks are common but only of major concern when a rear main bearing seal is dripping. Exhaust manifolds can leak and exhaust systems are prone to rust and crush damage. The T350 transmission fitted to 350 cubic inch and some 5.0-litre engines is tough and rarely gives trouble. Jerky upshifts are typical with a Trimatic but a 'box that slurs changes or takes more than a second to engage is due for a rebuild.

Suspension & brakes

Weight and neglect will hurt various front suspension components, contributing to strange handling and braking performance. Saggy springs, worn bushes and bouncy shock absorbers are the usual culprits and are easy to replace. New rear coils cost less than $200 per pair. Check the steering box mountings for rust and looseness and the power unit for leaks and binding. Brake rotors last up to 100,000 kilometres, with new ones at $170-250 per pair.

Interior & electrical

Interior condition is crucial when considering any Statesman. Leather trim in Caprice versions is expensive to replace and must be in decent condition or the car very cheap. New carpet sets are available at around $300, with kits of body rubbers from $1000. Dash ‘veneer’ is prone to peeling but replacement dash sections in good condition have been seen at $300. Make sure the electric windows move freely and without excessive noise and that reclining seat backs stay locked in position. Air-con condition is crucial as reconditioning the whole system and installing a new compressor can top $3000.

1971 - 1979 Holden Statesman HQ-HZ specs

NUMBER BUILT: 40,000 (approx)
BODY: All-steel, unitary construction four-door sedan
ENGINE: 3298cc in-line six-cyl, 4142cc, 5048cc or 5735cc V8 single downdraft carburettor
POWER & TORQUE: 179kW @ 4800rpm, 427Nm @ 3000rpm (HJ 5.0 litre)
PERFORMANCE: 0-100km/h – 9.4 sec, TRANSMISSION: Three-speed man (HQ Custom only), three-speed auto
SUSPENSION: Independent with wishbones, coil springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bar (f) Live axle with coil springs and shock absorbers. Anti-roll bar on HZ (r)
BRAKES: Disc (f) drum or disc (r) power assisted
TYRES: 7.35H14 cross-ply, FR70H 14 radial

From Unique Cars #469 Aug/Sep 2022

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