1969 Holden Kingswood HT review from Australia and New Zealand
"An Aussie Brick with Wheels - A Solid and Reliable Car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When I first got this great Australian car I immediately noticed two problems; the brake pedal (all four drum brakes) was hard to push down and, as a result, the brakes didn't really stop the car well - I never got this fixed, however, so the problem was not that major. The second problem was with the transmission, a unique/rare two speed automatic, which needed to warm-up before actually being able to change to second gear. In the morning I would have to drive the car about three kilometers before the second gear would engage - top speed in first was around 50 km/h. Again, I never got this fixed as it didn't bother me that much.
Apart from these problems, all others were basic maintenance issues: reco-carburetor $60, new battery, new radiator hose, plugs and points (I serviced it myself - 186 engine is very easy to work on)...etc.
General comments?
This was a great car and I would highly recommend it to anyone on a budget - fuel and purchase costs. Given their age now I would go for one that's been restored or very well looked after. The 186 engine is all you need for basic driving, excellent mileage and reliability.
The one feature I most admired, and indulged in, was the bucket seat... great for drive-in movies!
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1969 |
| First year of ownership | 1990 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1996 |
| Engine and transmission | 186 (2 speed Powerglide) Automatic |
| Performance marks | 3/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 300000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 450000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Ford Falcon |
| Date of Entry | 13th December, 2005 |