HK/T/G panos

[HK1837]

Above is incorrect for the HQ VIN tag decoding. The MODEL coding off the BODY plate is the place to look for these cars, not the VIN plate as the letter eg M means a few different things in HQ-HX, whereas the MODEL code eg 80170 is always the same thing (in this case 6cyl Belmont panel van).

[buickzz]

80135 HK = 6cyl Belmont Station Sedan January 1968 - May 1969

Based on what I have just read Oct 1972 to Oct 1974 HQ Panel Vans were not Belmonts?
I must say the literature seems to contradict itself.

HQ Sandman vans (at least) all had Belmont badging?? I think Byron has it right again and as Innuendo states - the literature does appear contradictory.

[mauser]

If think we discussed this previously with HQ badging. All HQ Van/Ute commercials had the Belmont or Kingswood badging on the front guards and tailgate. The Sandman had the badging as well because the stickers were optional which would of left it naked in model terms. Other HQ's like the SS, which didnt have front guard badges, had stickers which were factory fitted so they could be deleted.

You can tell HQ GTS guards by the badge holes. SS no badge holes, Sandman had holes at the front for the model badge, GTS coupe had three holes under the flutes for the GTS badge, GTS/4 had the three under the flutes and the holes at the front for the Monaro badge.


Mauser

[HK1837]

Mauser pretty much has it nailed, except not all SS were decals for stripes and labels, they started to use paint at some stage as it was cheaper.