Thought's on this HQ Van

**HK1837** · 10-02-2013, 11:15 PM

For me it isn't so much the look (although the glovebox isn't that pretty), but more the practicality for an everyday driver. As a weekender HQ dash is fine. But HZ-WB U17 dash with intermittent wipers, combo switch, trip meter and better night lighting suits me better for daily use. Plus good dashpads are 1/10 of the cost of HQ ones! I must admit HQ vents with worn foam are fun once you get them spinning!

**Monman71** · 10-02-2013, 11:34 PM

I changed the dash in my hq Monaro to a hz woodgrain GTS dash, I reckon these are the most beautiful looking dash holden made, but this now has stopped any thought of bringing the car back to standard, everything else is bolt on

**Alien DNA** · 11-02-2013, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Glacier 73

Ok ok you got me there but they are still butt ugly only hq im a fan of is the ls 350 monaro thats only coz its the big brother of my lj gtr torana

Hang on a sec there matey....you call HQs ugly but think LJ/LCs good looking? We really do have a difference of opinion. Those torries, in my eyes, are freaking hideous....ugliest shape Holden has ever made. Never been a fan of those....they might be quick, but my eyes burn everytime I see one. Never will I own one....many Ford and Mopar products I'd buy before one of those. GMHs ultimate fail......but that's just me

Sorry for derailing your thread Ziggy....I'll shut up now

**HK1837** · 11-02-2013, 09:21 AM

LC/LJ standard aren't all that quick in some ways. I had a spin 2 weeks ago in my mate's totally dead stock, basically concours restored 1973 LJ XU-1 (one of the last 150 cars with its engine number on the service/warranty list). It goes OK but a bit underwhelming power wise. Fast around corners but in a straight line a dead stock early LX SLR5000 or 308 manual HJ GTS would be easily quicker to 100km/h. Once it gets up and going it is good, but through the gears it felt sluggish. This is the car he is thinking about putting a 308 into. Happens that I have a fully machined black block, offset ground crank, rods etc plus a set oy Yella Terra heads all ready to go, which may go into it very soon!

**Taily** · 11-02-2013, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Alien DNA

Hang on a sec there matey....you call HQs ugly but think LJ/LCs good looking? We really do have a difference of opinion. Those torries, in my eyes, are freaking hideous....ugliest shape Holden has ever made. Never been a fan of those....they might be quick, but my eyes burn everytime I see one. Never will I own one....many Ford and Mopar products I'd buy before one of those. GMHs ultimate fail......but that's just me

Sorry for derailing your thread Ziggy....I'll shut up now

They may well be hideous now but at the time there was no real denying that they were part of the family. The resemblance to its siblings is unmistakable!

There is no denying who the parents are even though each of the breed has traits that can be traced back to not "diluting the DNA" enough....

(admittedly the one tonner doesn't have the right bar on it...)

**Valencia** · 11-02-2013, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Alien DNA

Hang on a sec there matey....you call HQs ugly but think LJ/LCs good looking? We really do have a difference of opinion. Those torries, in my eyes, are freaking hideous....ugliest shape Holden has ever made. Never been a fan of those....they might be quick, but my eyes burn everytime I see one. Never will I own one....many Ford and Mopar products I'd buy before one of those. GMHs ultimate fail......but that's just me

Sorry for derailing your thread Ziggy....I'll shut up now

Mmm let me think what was that race that was won by that hideous lj xu1 in a country town in nsw oh thats right BATHURST and kicked many v8 for years how many did hqs win at bathurst zilch
Best looking shape holden ever made

**Taily** · 11-02-2013, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Glacier 73

Mmm let me think what was that race that was won by that hideous lj xu1 in a country town in nsw oh thats right BATHURST and kicked many v8 for years how many did hqs win at bathurst zilch
Best looking shape holden ever made

There might be one or two, but they were only racing amongst themselves in a series designed to whittle the numbers down a bit....

**HK1837** · 11-02-2013, 10:18 AM

GMH didn't design either shape! Yanks did the HQ and Pommies did the LC-LJ! Yes they were both tweaked here, but not designed. HK-HG and LH-UC were.

**Alien DNA** · 11-02-2013, 12:30 PM

You could slice a tomato on the body line of a HQ...nice and sharp....the LC/J on the other hand, you would squash a tomato on its rounded panel....clearly the curves on a Q are way sexier!!

Very obvious the pommie influence on the LJ/C...maybe that's why I'm not a fan of them. Some similarity with the front....but it's apples and pineapple comparison to me

**ambientgoat** · 11-02-2013, 12:54 PM

Getting back on topic,

As long as your aware you're going to be constantly fighting rust and a million other little issues (she is getting on in the years) I say go for it. For windowless (as long as they're not warped weld ins) and GTS options I'd say it's about right money wise.

I don't even see bad paint as a real problem for a daily, the paint on mine is shocking. This means I can park it on a building site / carpark by the surf / on the street outside the pub, then lock it and just walk away without having a crisis about the thing.