Best Motorbuys: March 06, 2020

incorporating best motorbuys
The Top 5 Holdens
With the announcement recently that GM will stop making right hand drive vehicles and bringing the iconic Holden brand
to an end. We thought we would take a look back at our Top 5 Picks of our favourite Holden models that were produced.
1 – Holden Statesman
Nothing says elegance more than a 1970s or
1990s Holden Statesman. Originally created in
1971, the Holden Statesman initially based on
the Holden HQ Station wagon platform. With
the concept in mind of offering more interior
room for its passengers as well as more
luxurious features amongst compared to rest
of the Holden range. The original Statesman
HQ long wheel base were released on 22
July in 1971 and stopped in 1974. Retaining
the Statesman De Vile, they created a new
flagship model in the Caprice. This carried
on with the HX in 1976, HZ in 1977 through
to the WB in 1980. With production stopping
for this series in 1984. It was re-introduced in
1990 and then again in 2010 as a Caprice. But
there was nothing that screamed elegance in
Australia and NZ than a Statesman.
2 – Holden Commodore
Originally produced to replace the long
serving Kingswood and Premier, the
Commodore was based on the Opel model
- popular in Europe as a smaller sedan to
appease the market. Released in 1978 the
Commodore was a result of Aussies and
Kiwis starting to down size their vehicles due
to the oil shortages and high rises in petrol in
the mid-1970s; no longer was it economical to
drive around in huge gas gurgling rear wheel
drive sedans. The Commodore was touted as
smaller, economical alternative. Also at this
time the Asian Imports started to become
more popular as cars from Toyota, Nissan
and Datsun starting becoming more common
in the market. No longer was it fashionable
to ride around in large Kingswood or
Statesman’s. Production of the Commodore
commenced at the Pagewood (Sydney) and
Dandenong (Victoria) plants in Australia
in 1978 and ended in October 2017. New
Zealand was also producing the model from
1979 through to 1990. Easily one of the most
iconic vehicles of the 1980s through to the
2010s – the sight of a Commodore cruising
past and everyone wanting one was also
fuelled by the Popular Australian V8 Super
Cars series.
3 – Holden Colorado
One of the shining lights in their range over
the last decade has easily been the Colorado.
Holden utes have been a popular ride since
the original Holden Kingswood utes of the
1970s and 90s Maloos but with the rise of
Utes and SUVS in the 2010s, Holden took a
while to get a viable product into the market
place. The Holden Colorado utility vehicle
(and then similar Holden Colorado 7) SUV
were introduced in 2008 to replace the
Holden Rodeo model. The current model,
(introduced in 2017) is a right-hand-drive
version of the Brazilian, third-generation
Chevrolet S10 dual cab.[1] The Colorado 7
was rebadged as the Holden Trailblazer in
2017 and is built in right-hand-drive at the GM
Thailand plant. Originally a mild run about
the Colorado grew into statue with its second
generation and release of its LTZ model and
then its Sports model the Sports cat. Both
came with rave reviews and excellent driving
results and was one of the better models of
utes on the landscape.
4 – Holden Kingswood
The original Holden Icon was released with
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the HK series in 1968 and Aussies and Kiwis
have been in love ever since. From its 2 door
coupe/ute, 3 door panel van, 4 door sedan
or 5 door station wagons, the Kingswood
has been a major Kiwiana or Aussie icon
since. Since the HK, the Kingswood has
had many more series from the HT to the
HG. Then the second generation launching
in 1971 with the likes of the HQ, HJ, HX, HZ
through to the WB. A third generation was
proposed but by then the World Oil crises
had hit bringing about halt to production
over fears of profit loss from its Corporate
headquarters GM. Production was bought
to an end with the rise of the Commodore
with the last Kingswood badged product
being manufactured in 1980. Of note – the
Kingswood and its various model actually
made it around the world with the Kingswood
being assembled for sale in countries like
South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago!
5 – Holden Monaro
America have the Mustang and Chevy.
Europe - Ferraris and Bugattis, UK -
Aston Martin, Asia - Skyline and Supra. In
Australasia we had the Holden Monaro. Built
as a flat out muscle cars, the Monaro were
one of kind vehicles to grace our landscapes.
The Frist Monaro was a HK released in 1968.
Followed by the HT & HG. With the second
generation released in 1971 with the HQ.
Then the release of the V2 and VZ in 2001
& 2004 which bought it back into the lime
light again. Known for their saloon two door
style, The Monaro was very stylish rear wheel
drive car coupe. The Monaro body itself was
used by several different brands around the
world. And housed the first ever Australian
developed V8 motor. Famously rebranded
around the world as Pontiac GTO in the US
and as a Vauxhall Monaro in the UK, NBA
player Andrew Bogut purchased a Pontiac
GTO shortly after signing with the Milwaukee
Bucks as a tribute to his Australian roots!