Following on from the HX was the last of the line
for the traditional large Holden sedans, the wonderful
HZ. There was plenty to celebrate with the new model,
and the new Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS) created a
revolution in Aussie big car design.
Until the HZ, Australian motorists had become used to
grappling with understeer on every country drive, but
the Radial Tuned Suspension system tamed the large Aussie
sedan, endowing it with precise and predictable handling.
The fact that all other local car manufacturers were
forced to rush handling modifications into their cars
proved just how right GMH got it. From the exterior, again there was little to identify
the car over the HJ/HX models.
Thicker body protection
strips ran the length of the car, and the handsome raised
boot design (previously reserved for Premier models)
was now fitted to all cars across the range. The "Kingswood" name would live on in the
HZ, but the "Belmont" was dropped, and a more
upmarket "Kingswood SL" introduced.
In standard
guise, the base Kingswood was still very much a utalitarian
vehicle, fitted with bench seats and without radio or
clock. The Kingswood SL offered a much higher luxury
level to previous Kingswood's, and GMH were able to
keep the price increase relatively modest.
Most purchasers now choose the "SL", which
offered reclining bucket seats, a centre console with
padded armrest, loop-pile carpet, push-button radio
and a tinted-band laminated windscreen.
The Premier
added the Tri-Matic auto, tinted side glass, pinstriping
and the now familiar quad-headlight configuration. The HZ Monaro GTS was standard with the 308 5 liter
V8, dual exhaust, four-speed manual transmission, tinted
glass, full instrumentation, front and rear spoilers
and four-wheel disc brakes.
While none carried the familar
"Monaro" badge, the did use a Premier nosecone,
complete with blacked out quad-headlights. In November 1977 the HZ Statesman was released, now
with Radial Tuned Suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.
Minor changes to the grille made it look more "up
market", and an SL/E edition was introduced in
1979.
Most interestingly, the HZ range would continue
to be sold alongside the new VB Commodore at its release
in
1978, and would continue to sell well.
