The Holden HK series is an automobile which was produced by Holden in Australia from 1968 to 1969. Introduced in January 1968, the HK range progressively replaced the
Holden HR
The Holden HR is an automobile that was produced by Holden in Australia from 1966 to 1968.
Introduction
The Holden HR range was released in April 1966, replacing the Holden HD series which had been in production since 1965. In addition to a re ...
series which had been in production since 1966. HK models were both larger and heavier than their predecessors and the range would ultimately include thirteen different models against the eight of the HR range. The Holden HK was marketed under Belmont, Kingswood, Premier, Brougham and Monaro model names.
Model range
The HK series was initially offered in three trim levels, each available in four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body styles. Sedans and wagons were marketed as sedans and station sedans respectively.
* Belmont sedan
* Belmont Station Sedan
* Kingswood sedan
* Kingswood station sedan
* Premier sedan
* Premier station sedan
The Belmont and Kingswood model names were new for the HK series, replacing the
Standard Standard may refer to:
Symbols
* Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs
* Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification
Norms, conventions or requirements
* Standard (metrology), an object th ...
and
Special
Special or specials may refer to:
Policing
* Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force
* Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer
Literature
* ''Specia ...
names which had been used by Holden since 1953. The Premier nameplate was retained for the top-of-the-line model, which now featured four headlights and a unique roofline to differentiate it further from its lesser siblings. 161-cubic-inch (2.6-litre) and 186-cubic-inch (3.0-litre) inline six-cylinder engines were carried over from the HR series; however, a 307-cubic-inch (5.0-litre) Chevrolet V8 was now offered as an option on all models, this being the first time that any Holden had been available with a
V8 engine
A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V8 engine was produced by the French Antoinette company in 1904, developed and u ...
.
In March 1968 the HK range was expanded with the release of two coupe utilities and a
panel van
A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van (United Kingdom) or sedan delivery (United States), is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. ...
variantHolden HK Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 16 April 2009 replacing the existing HR series commercial models.
* Belmont utility
* Belmont panel van
* Kingswood utility
Prior to the introduction of the HK models, Holden's commercial vehicles had been marketed simply as the Holden utility and the Holden panel van.
July 1968 saw the release of an additional HK sedan and three coupe models:Holden Heritage Part 2, page 59 Retrieved from media.gm.com on 16 April 2009
*
Brougham
Brougham may refer to:
Transport
* Brougham (carriage), a light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage
* Brougham (car body), an automobile with a similar style
Automobile models
* Cadillac Brougham, 1987–1992
* Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, c. 1 ...
* Monaro
* Monaro GTS
* Monaro GTS 327
The Brougham featured a greater level of luxury than the Premier, which had been the top of the range Holden since the introduction of the nameplate in 1962. The Brougham also featured an overall length greater than the other HK sedans, although this extra length was added to the body only, while the wheelbase remained unchanged at 111 inches. It was equipped with the 307 cubic inch V8 engine as standard. The Monaro models were 2-door coupes, the first such vehicles to be offered by Holden and the Monaro GTS 327 featured a Chevrolet V8 engine which was not available in any other Holden model but was available in the larger GMH assembled Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Parisienne.
File:1968 Holden Belmont (HK) (8789307897).jpg, Holden Belmont sedan
File:Holden Belmont stationwagon (14702020886).jpg, Holden Belmont station sedan
File:Holden Belmont stationwagon (14721823461).jpg, Holden Belmont station sedan
File:Holden Kingswood HK (15688686179).jpg, Holden Kingswood sedan
File:Holden Kingswood Station Sedan (HK).JPG, Holden Kingswood station sedan
File:Holden Premier HK Sedan.jpg, Holden Premier sedan
File:1968-69 HK Brougham.JPG, Holden Brougham
File:1968-1969 Holden HK Brougham sedan 01.jpg, Holden Brougham
File:Holden Monaro HK.jpg, Holden Monaro
File:1968 Holden Monaro (HK) coupe (20874083381).jpg, Holden Monaro
File:HK Bright Blue.JPG, Holden Monaro GTS 327
File:1968 Holden Belmont (HK) utility (16932717990).jpg, Holden Belmont utility
File:Holden Belmont HK Panel Van.jpg, Holden Belmont panel van
Production and replacement
The HK range was replaced by the
Holden HT
The Holden HT series is a range of automobiles which was produced by Holden in Australia between 1969 and 1970.
Introduction
Holden HT Belmont, Kingswood and Premier models were introduced in May 1969,Chevrolet Kommando and the HK utility was sold as the
Chevrolet El Camino
The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility vehicle that was produced by Chevrolet between 1959–60 and 1964–1987. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the El Camino was adapted from the standard two-door Chevrolet station wagon platform and integ ...
. They went on sale in May 1969 after two years' development and quickly became General Motors best seller in the country, along with the closely related Constantia. The biggest seller was the LS automatic sedan.