Best thing you can buy on four wheels
Bad battery. speedo never worked, couldn't find matching gear for speedo cable. Had to adjust rockers.
Wicked ute, I've got a brand new car now and I'd still choose the old girl over anything. Reliable as anything, even with bad wheel bearings and a bad knock. Miss it dearly, wish I didn't give it up.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 16th December, 2006
Great old car that just keeps on going!!
The fuel gauge and temp gauge are very unreliable. The carby needs replacing.
Very good condition for its age. Vinyl seats get very hot in the sun (OUCH!)
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th February, 2006
My pride and Joy, true Australian classic
Front wheel bearings needed replacing.
All four Tyres replaced.
Small leak in front grille.
Transmission fluid leaked out whilst on Car transporter.
Carby needed rebuilding.
No major problems in 17,000 miles, mainly due to regular preventative maintenance.
Large problems prevented by nipping small ones in the bud.
Bench seat gets uncomfortable on long rides.
Great vision from Cabin.
Timeless style and flair, any HQ will always turn heads.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th April, 2004
Simple, powerful and tough cruise machine
Timing cog, easy enough to fix at home.
Starter motor, easily replaced.
Neutral safety switch.
Electrics beginning to corrode and generally wear.
Rust in front guards, but has not grown in size since I brought it.
Muffler gasket blown a few times.
Idler Arm is a CONSTANT source of wear and failed warrants.
New ball joint.
Rust repair to rear.
Heater core corroded.
Rough idling on frosty mornings, mitigated with Lubricant spray and Methylated spirits in fuel tank.
Always starts first time.
Never really warm in winter even with reconditioned heater.
Hot in summer.
Fantastic to drive, especially long distance.
Keeps going despite low maintenance and repair list.
A real timeless beast that always gets noticed.
VERY easy to fix.
Not terribly economical.
I love my car, only cost me $700 six years ago, now worth less $$ but more sentimental.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st July, 2003
A Bute Ute and unbeatable character
Rust before the rear wheel guards.
That was all!
I couldn't get up a hill in a snow blizzard once because the back was too light and the car had too much grunt so the wheels spun, but the old Ute wouldn't budge. A U-turn sorted that out though.
Wherever you can take a 4x4 an HQ will go as well, tough as old boots they are and they don't quit on you.
Make sure you hold on to that steering wheel though when cornering to the right fast as you may find yourself sliding to the left across the vinyl bench-seat!I seriously loved those cars and miss them.
If I ever make it home to New Zealand I'm buying another!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th May, 2003
A cheap good street machine
Replaced front lower suspension bushes.
Front shocks wore out.
Replaced ball joints.
Hot 327 Chev, a lot of power, feels more so powered behind a T10 4 Speed top loader.
Handles like a dream, I've had heavy duty suspension all round.
Sounds like a dream, twin 2 and a half inch pipes coming out behind the back tires with chrome tips and flows.
It's a wagon so it has to have a loud stereo. So the 2 subs fit nicely behind the back seat.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th December, 2002
They don't make 'em like they use too
In need of consistent tuning.
Motor rebuilt - it was getting a bit sluggish.
Could be hard to start some times.
Rear tires keep evapourating.
Bit of rust in all the usual places.
Cold drafts in cabin especially by feet.
Heater never worked properly - replace heater core numerous times.
Clutch bands in trimatic (traumatic) auto replaced.
Some over heating issue's when first purchased remedied by fitting a fan shroud - I don't know why they were sold in New Zealand with out them.
Head lights were shocking.
This car was cheap and surprisingly powerful and quick considering its size and engine.
4 years after the engine was rebuilt this car recorded 109 hp at the rear wheels on the rolling road. Not to shabby for a 253 V8.
This car was in original condition, and had only 2 owners for the first 25 years of its life.
Ain't nothing like a bench seat for cornering at high speed.
If I could find another factory V8 HQ one in this car's condition I would buy it with out hesitating.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th September, 2002
I have a 2 owner 160000km 308 Trimatic HQ Kingswood with factory GTS dash. Real tidy and original. $4500. wiser77@hotmail.com. Garn mate, put your money where your mouth is!
Hey I own a HQ Holden ute it's a beast of a car. Havn't had any problems with it besides the fact that it is to low got to love the Holdens.
No they don't build them like they used to, they build them a whole lot better.
Ha, you sure they build them better these days? See where all these new cars are when they are the same age as the Kingswood... cars used to be built to last, average modern car is designed to last 10 years with regular use cos they worked out that way they sell more cars.
24th Mar 2004, 09:12
I have a 1973 Holden HQ. I have found it to be a very reliable motor car. I have owned my car for 5 years and in this time I have not spent a great deal of money apart from a re-spray and a new front bench seat. It is a real good reliable bus. 6 seater enables me to commute with my family all in the same car.