Market Watch: Holden Statesman HQ-WB
If you were a lover of big, impressive cars in the early 1970s, the one you likely wanted was a Cadillac.
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Climber or slider?
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For years, Holden dealers had been bringing in and converting Caddies for special customers, and for all but a select few, they were too expensive and too much trouble.
Then in 1971, as part of the all-new HQ Holden range, we got our own version of America’s luxobarge, the Statesman.
It shared its 2896mm wheelbase with the station wagon and commercial models. The passenger section shared components with other HQ versions, but front and rear sheet metal and the roof were different.
Statesmans came in Custom or De Ville trim, with a six-cylinder in the Custom, for fleet buyers. Almost everyone else chose a 4.2lt, 5.0lt or 5.7lt V8, with automatic transmission.
Almost three years later the Statesman shape changed slightly and the 5.7lt Chevrolet V8 was no more. The Custom was dropped for an upmarket variant, the Caprice. HJ and HX series gave way to the HZ, which became a changed car with the addition of Radial Tuned Suspension.
Finally in June 1980, the shift to a Cadillac clone was complete, with Holden’s WB Statesman. Longer, wider and heavier than previous models, the WB survived until 1984 and went out a winner in the battle against Ford’s Fairlane/LTD duo.
Holden built around 40,000 Statesmans during the HQ-WB era and most versions exist in good numbers. More would’ve survived had people, who customised vans and utes, not used Statesmans for their front panels.
HQ-WBs were largley built with the 5.0-litre V8. Some had a 3.3lt six or 4.2lt V8, while an estimated 2700 came with the 5.7lt V8.
Conversion of smaller engined cars to 350 cubic-inches is common, as is replacement of Holden’s Trimatic transmission with a T350 or T400, but these cars aren’t worth anywhere near the value of a genuine 350 De Ville.
Significant changes to any Statesman will likely reduce values. As the future unfolds and demand for authentic examples intensifies, modified cars won’t realise the same prices as those that have remained original.
HOW THE PRICES MOVED
| MODEL | YEARS | COND 3 | COND 2 | COND 1 |
| 2010 | ||||
| HQ-HZ Statesman V8 | 1971-79 | $2000 | $7200 | $11,000 |
| HQ Statesman 350 | 1971-74 | I/D | $11,500 | $16,000 |
| HJ-HZ Statesman | 1974-79 | $1800 | $6200 | $10,500 |
| HJ-HZ Caprice/SLE | 1974-79 | $2000 | $7500 | $12,000 |
| WB Statesman | 1980-84 | $1600 | $6500 | $9500 |
| WB Caprice | 1980-84 | $2200 | $7000 | $11,500 |
| 2015 | ||||
| HQ Statesman/De Ville V8 | 1971-74 | $4500 | $11,500 | $19,500 |
| HQ Statesman 350 | 1971-74 | I/D | $14,500 | $27,000 |
| HJ-HZ Statesman/SLE/Caprice | 1974-79 | $3500 | $8500 | $16,500 |
| WB Statesman | 1980-84 | $2800 | $7500 | $15,500 |
| WB Caprice | 1980-84 | $2400 | $8500 | $17,500 |
| 2018 | ||||
| HQ Statesman V8 | 1971-74 | $8500 | $17,500 | $28,500 |
| HQ Statesman 350 | 1971-74 | I/D | $42,000 | $57,500 |
| HJ-HZ Statesman | 1974-79 | $7000 | $14,000 | $22,500 |
| HZ Statesman SLE | 1978-79 | I/D | $15,500 | $24,500 |
| HJ-HZ Caprice | 1974-79 | $8000 | $18,000 | $26,500 |
| WB Statesman | 1980-84 | $5000 | $11,500 | $21,000 |
| WB Caprice | 1980-84 | $6000 | $13,000 | $23,500 |
| 2023 | ||||
| HQ Statesman V8 | 1971-74 | $15,000 | $36,000 | $50,000 |
| HQ Statesman 350 | 1971-74 | I/D | $50,000 | $72,000 |
| HJ-HZ Statesman | 1974-79 | $10,000 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| HZ Statesman SLE | 1978-79 | I/D | $33,000 | $47,000 |
| HJ-HZ Caprice | 1974-79 | $14,000 | $35,000 | $52,000 |
| WB Statesman | 1980-84 | $9000 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| WB Caprice | 1980-84 | $12,000 | $30,000 | $44,000 |
From Unique Cars #485, Nov 2023
Unique Cars magazine Value Guides
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