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.[2] In addition to a revised grille, the HR featured a reworked roofline and larger rear window (on the sedans), revised rear lights (on sedans and wagons) and changes to almost all exterior body panels.[3]
Other changes included revised ball joint front suspension,[4] widened track, improved interior trim and woodgrain interior finish for the Premier models.[3] Six months after the launch of the HR, all models were given a safety upgrade with the addition of front safety belts, windscreen washers, reversing lights, padded sun visors and a shatterproof interior rearview mirror.[3]
Model range
The Holden HR passenger vehicle range offered four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body styles in three trim levels with the six models marketed as follows:
The two versions of the inline, six-cylinder Holden Red motor were carried across from the HD series, both with increased engine capacity and a higher compression ratio of 9.2:1.[3][6] The 114 bhp, 161 cu in (2.6 L) six was standard in all models except the Premiers.[5][7] A 126 bhp 186 cu in (3.0 L) six was standard on Premiers and optional on all other models.[5][7] The 145 bhp twin carburettor "X2" version of the "186" was initially available as an option on all models.[5][7] The "X2" was replaced by the 145 bhp "186S" in June 1967 after Holden exhausted the remaining X2 intake manifolds; the new version was fitted with a single, two-barrel carburettor.[3]
A lower compression (8.2:1) version of the 161 cu in (2.6 L) six was also available.[6]
The 194 cu in (3.2 L) and later 230 cu in (3.8 L) Chevrolet six-cylinder engine was fitted for the South African market.[1] This longer engine required the firewall to be scalloped out. This availability began partway through the HR's existence, with the 194 introduced for the 1967 model year.[8] This was coupled to a fully synchronized, column-shifted, three-speed manual transmission sourced from Opel in West Germany.[9] The Premier Automatic sold in South Africa retained the Australian engine, at least until 1969. The South African Holden Special had power disc brakes in front as standard from 1967.[10]
A three-speed manual gearbox with column change and synchronization on the top two gears was standard on the HR, with a two-speed "Powerglide" automatic transmission available as an option.[11] An Opel[11] four-speed manual gearbox was offered from June 1967.[12]
Production and replacement
A total of 252,352 vehicles were produced up to January 1968 when the HR was replaced by the Holden HK series.[13] The price at release was A$2286 for the 161 cu in (2.6 L) Special Sedan manual and A$2856 for the Premier Station Sedan manual.[6]
The HR was the first Holden to be assembled at General Motors New Zealands brand new plant in Trentham in 1967.
Body ID Plate Decoder
HR Holden Australian Body Plate example
BODY
HR225MR - 25434M
TRIM
510 - E44
PAINT
585 - 9562
INSERT
120
TOP
BODY
Expand for body code details
Body type
215
Standard Sedan
225
Special Sedan
235
Premier Sedan
219
Standard Station Sedan
229
Special Station Sedan
239
Premier Station Sedan
2106
Utility
2104
Panel Van
Trans
M
Manual
A
Automatic
Manufacturing Plant
Driver side
R
Right Hand Drive
A
Adelaide
B
Brisbane
Build #
25434
This is the 25,434th Car Produced from the Plant
M
Melbourne
Built @
M
Manufacturing Plant (M = Melbourne)
S
Sydney
PAINT
Expand for paint code details
PAINT
This is the base colour, on two tone cars it is the lower colour.
585
Solid Colour
587
Metallic Colour
9562
Paint Number (See below for codes)
TOP
TOP
This is the top colour on two tone cars.
Colour Code
Colour Name
Colour Code
Colour Name
Colour Code
Colour Name
178
Crocus Cream
6904
Spinner Grey
8592
Kurrewa Blue
104
Brigade Red
6905
Calais Blue
8688
Jervois Cream
240
Garrison Grey
6906
Valsand Fawn
8689
Glen Helen Green
583
Holden Engine Red
6914
Reynella Maroon
8692
Sea Mist Jade Met
1703
Savonnah Bronze Met
6946
Geneva Blue
8695
Oasis Green Met
1704
Silver Mink Met
6947
Arno Green
8696
Pyrenees Blue Met
3675
Satin Silver Met
6950
Arklow Aqua
8698
Tarana Turquoise
4706
Minerva Blue
6951
Emden Fawn
8699
Gascoyne Green
4951
Tully Blue
6952
Cardinal Grey
8702
Clinton Sand
5061
Potters Ivory
7111
Sceptre Blue Met
8703
Sandown Fawn
5084
Fowlers Ivory
7112
Diana Aqua Met
8754
Landale Gold Met
5091
Windorah Beige
7113
Caberet Green Met
8771
Mullato Bronze Met
5093
Winton Red
7114
Pitcairn Fawn Met
8773
Dante Red
5156
Sorrel Tan
7115
Gossamer Grey Met
8774
Dover Blue
5384
Royal Umber
7142
Contessa lue Met
8775
Dawson Aqua
6382
Off White
7143
Florentine Green Met
8776
Opera Green
6664
Corinth Blue
7144
Salient Grey Met
8777
Copra Fawn
6719
Merredin Green Met
7909
Tawny Grey Met
8778
Suva Tan
6812
Ardona Met Blue
8328
Alcazar Brown Met
8816
Pompadour Blue Met
6818
Egmont Maroon Met
8329
Chinook Fawn Met
8929
Holden Engine Red X2
6824
Kembla Grey
8330
Corral Tan Met
8954
Regal Maroon Met
6826
Lismore Grey
8331
Pablo Fawn Met
9562
Grecian White
6833
Narrogin Green
8332
Beaucaire Blue Met
9713
Marlin Turquoise
6847
Seaton Green
8333
Celeste Blue Met
9856
Welland Red
6875
Apollo Turquoise
8334
Etruscan Brown Met
9857
Woodsman Green
6893
Corroboree Red
8335
Cortez Red
9858
Coast Ivory
6894
Hannans Gold
8336
Casbah Red
10099
Burgundy Met
6895
Balmain Beige
8388
Cocos Fawn Met
10317
Cordovan
6898
Taralga Fawn
8566
Finisterre Green
10319
Champagne
6901
Bullfinch Green
8568
Pemberton Grey
10367
Holden Engine Grey
6902
Ballet Green
8569
Sultan Red
6903
Alaskan Aqua
8591
Lurline Blue
TRIM
Expand for Trim code details
510
Combination number - GMH Colour Code
E78
Interior trim combination number (See below for codes)
E43
Mephisto Red
E61
Dover and Calais Blue
E67
Bone
E44
Dover Blue
E62
Dawson and Alaskan Aqua
E68
Black
E45
Opera Green
E63
Opera and Ballet Green
E69
Astoria Red
E46
Copra dawn
E64
Copra and Vasland Fawn
E70
Samoan Tan
E49
Mephisto Red
E73
Mephisto Red
E71
Bone
E50
Dover Blue
E74
Dover Blue
E72
Black
E51
Opera Green
E75
Opera Green
E52
Copra Dawn
E76
Copra Fawn
F40
Goya Red
E55
Dante and Mephisto Red
E78
Mephisto Red
F41
Paloma Blue
E56
Dover and Calais Blue
E79
Dover Blue
F42
Honey Fawn
E57
Dawson and Alaskan Aqua
E80
Opera Green
F43
Goya Red
E58
Opera and Ballet Green
E81
Copra Fawn
F44
Paloma Blue
E59
Copra and Valsand Fawn
E65
Astoria Red
F45
Honey Fawn
E60
Dante and Mephisto Red
E66
Samoan Tan
INSERT
Expand for insert code details (Assembly configurations for HR's built in Melbourne only)
^ abcdefghiTurbo Smooth Holden, GMH sales brochure for Holden HR Sedans and Station Sedans, April 1966
^ abcdeBebbington, Terry; Malik, Michel A. (1994). 45 Years of Holden. The Australian Publishing and Printing Company. p. 37. ISBN0-947216-31-6.
^ abcdeNew Holden, the Turbo-smooth profit pair!, GMH sales brochure for Holden HR utility and panel van, April 1966
^Wright, Cedric, ed. (August 1968). "A car owners' report: Holden (1960-66)". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 12, no. 7. Cape Town, South Africa: Central News Agency Ltd. p. 28.