1966 Holden HR Special review from Australia and New Zealand

Rust in bottom of doors & front guards - replaced with lead strips.

Rear bearing seal blew out at 120,000 - reconditioned same engine (more cost effective at the time).

Alternator disssolved at 160,000.

Stalling on cold mornings - fixed by fitting hoses to the manifold & carb as standard configuration had. Some wally had removed them.

A great reliable hardwearing car, only ever failed me twice in all the years I had it and even then it was such a minor fault (points wire broke internally) both times.

My parents used to call it the farm truck because it went practically anywhere (who needed a 4wd) and carried or towed all sorts of stuff.

It was a very comfortable car that only needed basic maintenance and always had a strong heart. I wish I'd never sold it.

One of my current cars is an A31 Cefiro and I call this my Japanese Holden as it feels very much like the ride and handling I got from the HR (with a few updates of course) similar size and comfort just with the mod cons. I guess the biggie is that in both these cars you feel like a part of the car and not perched on it like with the HQ Kingswood.