I had a thought about this after some comments about LX in this thread:

http://www.fastlane.com.au/Forum/postst32767_Do-LX-front-brake-hoses-have-washers.aspx

I actually don't have the answers, but thought I'd put it up there for discussion. I'd limit it to what people here are most interested in - the period from 48/215 through to WB and VK. And leave out anything that isn't Holden branded, so HDT stuff is out but GroupA's are in. Includes Torana, Gemini etc. But maybe forget about stuff most people here don't really know that well like Novas, Drovers etc.

Questions are complimentary:

1. Which Series had the least number of changes along its run?

2. Which Series had the most?

By changes I mean anything from added models (like HQ commercials being added later in 1971, and HQ V8 cab chassis added in 1973) through to colour and/or trim changes (like mentioned in the other thread, LH colours and trims changing with the HQ-HJ changeover), engine specification changes (like X2 being replaced with 186S in HR) or even front caliper changes like mentioned by Dr Terry in that other thread for LX. For the sake of the argument I'd call all those first cars FX, so the 48-215 are lumped in with 50-2016 etc, really just for consistency. And don't worry too much about alternative suppliers of bolts, electrics etc, or batch change variations especially for imported stuff like carby numbers changing format on 350ci engines for example, rather than the number changing as the carby actually changed.


I'll throw one in there to show what I mean. I'll nominate for starters, HT for question 1 although I doubt it is the answer. Changes that I can think of off the top of my head (although will probably be a fraction of the total). I picked HT as most of the models were released at the same time and not staggered like some other Series.

Revised upper control arm mounts around the release of GTS350.
Release of GTS350 later than the rest of HT (although done by necessity rather than by design).
Auto behind 253 made available later in 1969.
308 made available outside of Brougham later in 1969.
GTS350 mods initially done by dealers added to later production vehicles (maybe)? I'd include the wheel change in this.
GTS350M tailshaft specification changes.
Not sure if you'd include Trimatic in some later cars, as that may well only be trials for HG rather than an actual production change.

I'm sure there is a lot more than that for HT especially the minor stuff, but I guess you'd get the real little stuff in all Series.

Don't forget that HG continued into HQ as commercials, so got 6cyl engines changed to 173 and 202 (in both HC and LC), plus HG had a few ADR revisions along the way. According to the features manual the HG's with HQ engines also got HQ style Trimatics, however they retained the cable kickdown. It also looks like the GTS350 diff ratio changed from 3.36 to 3.08 in September 1970.

There was also a colour chart change during HG, plus a change in 350 manual engine (basically as per first and second type HK 327 engines). And the GTS350 was removed from the model lineup before the end of 1970. There was a lot of options and trims and even colours removed as HQ came closer as well.

I think there were some seatbelt changes too, and maybe a brake warning thing that was part of an ADR revision.

Not a huge amount though compared to other Series, may end being less than HT.

It could be FX, Dr Terry will have an idea. Ute was added as was a few different variants. I think there was a few changes along the way as well like door locks moving.

It won’t be HJ for most changes, but more likely HQ or WB.

For HT you would have to add that Monaro and Brougham were also released later than rest of renage.
HT 350 changed wheels, brake venting and air cleaner.
Some 350 also had different heads.

Hk had many changes also:
Removal of trim on dog leg for Kingswood
Utes released
Steering wheel
Radiator support changed
Air on V8 with disc
Console shift added
V8 Manual added
Monaro and Brougham added
New brake booster
New inner guard
Front door remote handle moved
glovebox and boot light added for GTS
Plus a few more, a bit late to think.

Warren

Warren, I forgot about the HT Brougham. I did mention the wheels and other mods. I don't think there were any different production heads on HT 350? They were all Tonawanda engines in HT, thus only 1 x fuelie (041) and 1 x large chamber version (441).

VL has a lot Mick, you missed the 2 x Group A's! I still think it would be less than HQ though. When you factor in all the changes that went along with AHQ-BHQ-CHQ-DHQ-EHQ there would be dozens. Plus all the package vehicles like XV2, XV4, XW8, XX7, XU7, the 2 x Vacationers plus more. Addition of retractables, changes to consoles, at least 4 x different colour charts plus HJ colours came early. Trim changes from 1x to 2x to 3x plus more. All the clean air engines around 8-9/73. 4 x different spec 350 engines. Change from Canadian to ROH N66 rims. Addition of 80160, 80170, 80180, 80270, 80280, 80380 and 80480 late in 1971 then addition of 80260 in 1973. These are all from memory, there will be countless more.

Forgot about the changes to VIN tag in late 1972 plus the alignment of the way body tags were stamped across the body plants. On top of that the variations between body and assembly plants where for example black firewall to painted firewall at Pagewood and Dandenong, and then I think back to black again at Dandenong. Pagewood starting building vans around 3/73 then stopping a year later. Coupe production and Statesman production shifted to Pagewood. Cessation of assembly at Mosman Park.

Panel Van lost the side gills/vents mid 1974.

Edited by user Thursday, 25 July 2019 8:01:26 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Good points Terry, HT was simply an example to set the scenario.

I agree on TA but it was an outright Series regardless of how many made.

Not so sold on HX, although the total changes may well still be small. Here are a few more that I can think of:

LE release.
Deluxe release.
Silver Anniversary Kingswood.
DL7 stripe option added for Sandman.
Change at some stage to standard buckets on Kingswood sedan and wagon.
M11 console shift made available on bucket seat commercials late in 1976.
AHX to BHX ADR’s (multiple changes like high beam indicator, intrusion bars, brake warning lamp etc).
RTS upper control arm mount change mid 1977.
Dandenong ceased building and assembling utes around 9/76.
Significant amount of standard rear axle changes, like 4.2 manual from 3.08 to 3.55 and 2.78 to 2.6 on Salisbury. And Premier changing from 3.08 std to 3.36.
Caliper change plus stub axle change.
Kingswood and Sandman rear headlining attachment revised.
Spare wheel hoist on commercials changed in early 1977.
Minor console cover changes for both manual and auto to allow for commonisation across local and export market transmissions. I think this only affects auto HX and manual changed at release.
I think there were some tyre options added too.
Sales feature packages A9D, A9E and A9F added, changed and then later deleted (mainly when buckets became std). These were for Kingswood sedan and wagon.
A9D was XS6 (buckets), D55 (seat separator), D33 (remote control mirror) and QRQ (185SR14 radial tubeless).
A9E was the same but D55 replaced by M11 (console shift).
A9F was A8R (front bench with centre armrest) and A8S (rear bench with centre armrest).
BT1 (Vic Police package) added.
C49 heated rear window added as mandatory option to some models.

Still a lot less changes than HJ or HZ though.

Edited by user Thursday, 25 July 2019 11:25:32 AM(UTC)  | Reason: More added

31/3/77 is when it is recognised in the Features Manual, but not sure if that means it happened in March or April or even before March. Often the Features manual change happens a few months after it is known to change, or sometimes before. You'd have to look at a heap of HX Kingswood passenger cars and see when they started to become all 5 seaters.

Unfortunately the 2/77 "People Trust Holden" range brochure (with a red LX Sunbird on the cover) doesn't mention seats on Kingswood sedan/wagon.

Available can mean "available to order" sometimes. Other times it can mean "available to buy". Makes it a pain sometimes as I'm sure you are very familiar with!

I agree with the TA only change was the colour range when HJ was released.

Most changes will be a Commodore, I would have even thought a VN had a fair few, but the list for the VL may be far greater, after all the vehicle packages have not been included, I think there were around 8 in total (I do not count the Group As as they are not Holden as such) . And you have also left off, V8 becoming available.

I wonder how many running changes there were in VE and VF? I am already noticing a lot of changes on my VE.

I think that the TA Torana wins the least changed Holden.

As for the HT Trimatic was that the last month of the 6 cyl or was it the Holden V8's that ran out of the 2sp auto's.
Maybe they sold more 253 autos than they thought they would and had to toss them in.

A HT Brougham with a Trimatic now that would be rare and better than a HG Brougham because they come with high backed bucket seats and rear as well and the HG go back to the HK type of rubbish.
So a HT Brougham with a 3sp auto factory now that would be the rarest of them all, if it's true.

Not to mention that the HK and HT 2sp auto were a slug with that 2.78 diff, a mate had a HK Brougham back in 1978 and confesses that's what he hated about it.