1979 Holden HZ Kingswood – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 28.10.2020

Unrestored 4.2 V8, M20 four-speed car: good condition for age, dual fuel

While the new-for-77 HZ Holden didn’t look a whole lot different from the preceding HX, the big changes came under its skin with the transformative ‘RTS’ (Radial Tuned Suspension) tuning.

RTS was the brainchild of Peter Hannenberger, Opel’s chassis wizard, who was invited to Australia as Holden Chief Engineer Joe Whitesell’s assistant in 1976. The results were astounding, especially for the full-size Kingswood which now went pretty much were you pointed it with out the notorious understeer inherent to earlier HQ-HZ vehicles.

Engines options ranged from the 202ci (3.3lt) inline-six, and 253ci (4.2lt) and 308ci (5.0lt) V8s. Trimatic three-speed autos were the norm for most family buyers, except for the 308 which gained the stronger Turbo Hydramatic 400. Three and four-speed manuals were also offered.

This sweet surviving Kingswood station wagon comes in SL trim, specified with the original and numbers-correct 253 V8 and four-speed M20 manual gearbox.

The sellers describe the car as unrestored, wearing mostly original Sage Green Metallic paint which still presents well with no rust and the odd minor parking bump amassed over its 41 years of life. The car is fitted with a dual fuel system however.

The interior is hard to fault with no tears, burns or rips to be observed whilst reportedly still retaining its original carpet and hoodlining. As an SL-spec car, the Kingswood boasts some added niceties such as bucket seats and AM radio, and is further optioned with power steering. The old Kingswood comes with its original SA plates, owner’s manual, radio booklet and original logbooks authenticating its 182,879km odometer reading. 

History is well documented and shows that the car belonged to two long-term South Australian-based owners before the current New South Wales-based owner.

The car has recently had all oils replaced as well as its rear main seal. The original paint work has also recently been ceramic coated for the utmost protection.

You can find this Kingswood station wagon in New South Wales, listed for $42,000.

Check out the full listing here!

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