1978 Holden HZ Kingswood from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Comments: 1-15, 16-20

22nd Mar 2001, 17:04

"Strong as a rock Aussie v8. Riceburner killer"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing really has gone wrong with the car.

These Kingswoods are built as strong as a rock.

Only have had a few problems with the car running on gas.

General comments?

The 4.2 V8 is a bit slugish, but it still does OK burnouts and it's a V8 so it has endless torque and power.

I blow away crappy Japanese 4 cylinders all day long in it and I laugh at em and wonder why they even bother ahahaha.


10th Oct 2001, 05:40

The greatest car ever built.

HZ Kingswood 253 auto.

Owned it for 14 years over 1 million km

One rebuilt motor two gearboxes and thousands of tyres from winning burn out comps.

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3rd Oct 2002, 09:28

Naa it couldn't be a Datsun 180b they would still put up a match, most likely a dodge sigma or something that waesn't trying. Don't knock the Datsun 180.

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11th Feb 2003, 06:50

I am also a HZ 1977 owner even though the 253 is a bit of a egg beater. I found that without spending no more than $100 bucks I acquired a Rockchester spread bore quadrajet, and with just an Aussie 4 speed behind it I reguraly blow away many jap crap 4"s VL"s VK"s and last week I took a XR8 to 160 before he finally got the better of me. Its not a complete hang on machine, but I do have a lot of fun.

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19th Oct 2003, 03:51

I have just turned 18 and bought a spotless 1979 HZ vacationer. Its got a 253' V8 which has just been rebuilt and its very reliable and goes pretty well, but its just a little more sluggish than I would like!

Does anybody have any any information regarding a quick (cheap) performance step up?

I am looking forward to shooting past some Jap 4 cylinders!

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27th May 2004, 18:28

As a matter of fact, there is nothing wrong with the four c. my mum owns a little rice burner Honda civic and it has the best acceleration I have ever seen in a stock 4 C car.

Anyway I am buying a HZ 4.2 v8 for my first car and I'm only paying $2000 for it off a mate. But id have to say that the difference between a HZ and a 1997 Honda civic is only the acceleration and a small $2000 - $30,000 price difference.

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8th Jun 2004, 20:44

A hz 253 would blow away most 4 cyclinders due to the fact the holden 253 is a very well balanced engine.

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5th Jun 2005, 02:14

I just brought a Hz wagon with a 253 v8. I was just wondering how I can give it a bit more power without spending to much money on it and any other information.

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4th Apr 2006, 22:53

I used to own a completely stock 253 it was as slow as hell I'm talking 160 max in an auto and v8 diff until I put a 600 holley carb 308 manifold & hot cams I couldnt beat a toyota camry, but know I can beat any 4cylinder japanese car aslong as its non turbo so pretty much 253s are a waste of time I mean you can get a 6cylinder hemi 265ci bigger so my advice keep away from them.

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4th May 2006, 02:48

It's fair enough to be keen about your car, but please don't write posts about dragging off 4 cylinder cars in a 253 Holden. I have owned and driven many 253 Holdens, and they just weren't built for racing. As for dragging off a VL six or V8, well dream on, and don't try to tell us that you did, because you didn't OK. If you're going to talk about your car, be realistic.

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15th Jul 2006, 08:34

I'm not really into kingswood as I not to keen on that kind of model, no offence everyone, but I think those kind of cars are gutless trash heeps. and ille rather stick to commodores.

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18th Jul 2006, 06:04

I have owned a 1979 HZ for over 12 years, and had a mildly worked 253 in it for 7 years with a M21 gearbox. Shifting through the gears does not give that much acceleration, but when in top gear from 100 to 160km/h, it goes like a rocket overtaking trucks, B doubles or roadtrains. From my experience, they are at their best in top gear.

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22nd Sep 2006, 00:44

Listen to you all just get a 350 and stop playing around with go cart engines.

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20th Oct 2006, 06:13

253's are sluggish because they're made for cruising not racing. My dad's 253 HZ SL Trimatic auto pretty much idles at 80km in top gear and it doesn't miss a beat even though it hasn't been tuned in close to ten years.

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17th Nov 2006, 18:40

I suggest you get out of the dark ages and drive a car built after 1995.thatll bring toy into reality.

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21st Nov 2006, 03:22

Umm a 253 with trimatic WILL make over 200km/h stock in a HZ sedan, I was in the car when it hit 200, and further on 220.

If you guys are only making 160 then I dunno what you are doing

Don't let it shift for you, if it's auto use it like a manual 1 - 2 - D or in the Kingswoods case L - S - D, shifting at 5500rpm each time.

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