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Holden HK
Holden HK
	Holden HK Premier Sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Holden (General Motors)
Also called	Holden Belmont; Holden Kingswood; Holden Premier; Holden Brougham; Holden Monaro ; Chevrolet Kommando (South Africa); Chevrolet El Camino (South Africa)
Production	January 1968 – May 1969
Designer	John Schinella
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size
Body style	4-door sedan; 5-door station wagon; 2-door coupé; 2-door coupé utility; 2-door panel van
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	2.6L GMH '161' I6; 3.0L GMH '186' I6; 3.0L GMH '186S' I6; 5.0L 'Chevrolet 307' V8; 5.4L 'Chevrolet 327' V8;
Transmission	3-speed manual; 4-speed manual; 2-speed "Powerglide" automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111.0 inches (2819 mm)
Length	184.8 in (4,694 mm) (Sedan/Station); 192.1 in (4,880 mm) (Brougham);
Width	71.4 inches (1814 mm)
Height	Sedans: 55.6 inches (1412 mm)
Curb weight	Monaro GTS 186S: 2946 lb (1336 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Holden HR
Successor	Holden HT

The Holden HK series is an automobile which was produced by Holden in Australia from 1968 to 1969. Introduced in January 1968,^[2] the HK range progressively replaced the Holden HR 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.^[3]

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 and Special 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.

In March 1968 the HK range was expanded with the release of two coupe utilities and a panel van variant^[4] 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.^[5]

July 1968 saw the release of an additional HK sedan and three coupe models:^[6]

Brougham
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 200 millimetres (8 in) 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 327 cu in (5.4 L) 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.

Holden Belmont sedan
Holden Belmont station sedan
Holden Belmont station sedan
Holden Kingswood sedan
Holden Kingswood station sedan
Holden Premier sedan
Holden Brougham
Holden Brougham
Holden Monaro
Holden Monaro
Holden Monaro GTS 327
Holden Belmont utility
Holden Belmont panel van

Production and replacement

The HK range was replaced by the Holden HT series in May 1969, production having totaled 199,039 units.^[4]

South Africa

In South Africa, Holden HK sedan and wagon were marketed as under the name Chevrolet Kommando and the HK utility was sold as the Chevrolet El Camino.^[1] 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.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Holden abroad, Restored Cars #220, Sep-Oct 2013, pages 45 to 47
^ Holden HK Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 16 April 2009
^ Sales brochure G541 for HK series Holden, November 1967
^ ^a ^b Holden HK Technical Specifications Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 16 April 2009
^ Sales brochure for HR series Holden Utility and Panel Van, April 1966
^ Holden Heritage Part 2, page 59 Archived 26 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from media.gm.com on 16 April 2009
^ Emslie, Robin, ed. (September 1969). "Trends". Motoring Mirror. 7 (5). Cape Town, South Africa: Motorpress: 17.