Metallic HQ Belmonts Do Exist.

[Robbo]

I was reading the thread where Mr Jones has his metallic HQ van for sale. In early 1973, a young carpenter I worked with bought a new HQ van. It was ordered with 308..4 speed and was a metallic blue with no window's, and was a belmont. He bought it through Muirs Motors Ryde in Sydney. I must add that I first saw it in early 73, so was probably ordered in 72.

[HK1837]

As on the other thread anything was possible, but it is against ordering procedure "rules" and colour chart rules. Was again probably an Acacia Ridge build (dodgy Queenslanders!)

[mr.jones]

@Robbo its not my van I thought it may be of interest to members

[mauser]

I guess we might hate to admit it but Acacia Ridge may of been onto something. Holden marketing may of picked up on these orders whether they be by dealers or private buyers. The dealers would of ordered stock they knew they could shift easily. This trend for optioned commercials may of started the marketing campaign.


Mauser

[HK1837]

I think it may have started before that, but the trend certainly would have helped with the business case.

[mauser]

....but they are Queenslanders.... they can't even spell beer!!!!

Mauser

[Taily]

I know from memory that Holden did have a "preferred buyer" scheme going in the mid 70's where those who frequently upgraded their vehicle (ie, every couple of years or whenever a new model was released) were able to order options that were not always widely available to the public on certain vehicles. Some of my relatives used to do as such, one of them ordering a '75 HJ Kingswood ute with just about "the works". The only thing it didn't have was GTS guards.

Maybe the original poster's carpenter mate was the son of or knew someone on the inside and qualified as a preferred buyer (or whatever they called it)?

Regards,

Dave

[HK1837]

I think they were called "Valued Customers" or something like that.