Between 1971 and 1984 Holden built close to a million HQ, HJ, HX, HZ and WB cars, utes, panel vans and One Tonners. They all share the same basic body, so a lot of cars for sale are listed as the wrong model, and plenty of them have had fronts swapped over the years. Knowing which series you have matters when you buy parts, because trim, dash and electrical parts often changed between series even when the panels didn't.
Here is a quick guide to each series and the easiest ways to tell them apart.
HQ Holden (1971–1974)
- Built: July 1971 to October 1974
- Production: about 485,650 – the most of any Holden series
- Body styles: sedan, wagon, Monaro coupe, ute, panel van, One Tonner cab chassis and the long-wheelbase Statesman
How to spot one: the HQ has the cleanest front of the family. The grille sits back between the headlights rather than standing proud of them. If the grille is flat and recessed and the front looks plain compared with the cars below, it is most likely an HQ.
HJ Holden (1974–1976)
- Built: October 1974 to mid-1976 (utes, vans and One Tonners from 30 October 1974)
- Production: 176,202
How to spot one: the HJ brought in a bigger, chromier front. The grille is raised so it stands out from the front panel, and the front indicators wrap around the corners above the bumper. Premier and Statesman models run twin headlights in surrounds that span the grille and indicators. From the side an HJ is almost identical to an HQ, so always look at the front.
The HJ is also when the factory Sandman option arrived on the ute and panel van – see our Sandman history and restoration guide.
HX Holden (1976–1977)
- Built: July 1976 to October 1977
- Production: 110,669 – the shortest run of the five
How to spot one: the HX looks very similar to the HJ. The changes are mainly the grille insert and badges, and Premier models gained a four-headlight front. The big change was under the bonnet: engines were modified to meet the new ADR27A emissions rules, which cost power, and the 2.8-litre six was dropped. The run-out Monaro LE (580 cars) is an HX.
HZ Holden (1977–1980)
- Built: October 1977 to 1980 (utes and One Tonners from November 1977)
- Production: 154,155
How to spot one: look for the egg-crate grille with the Holden lion emblem centred at the top. The HZ introduced Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS), which made a big difference to handling. The two-door coupe was dropped, so the HZ GTS is a four-door sedan.
WB Holden (1980–1984)
- Built: April 1980 (commercials) to 1984
- Production: 60,231
- Body styles: ute, panel van, One Tonner and Statesman only – no WB sedan or wagon
How to spot one: if it is a ute, panel van or One Tonner with a different, more modern front clip from the WB Statesman, it is a WB. The WB also replaced the long-running Red six with the Blue engine. When WB production finished in 1984, Holden stopped making a ute for several years.
Quick reference
| Series | Years | Built | Easiest tell |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ | 1971–74 | ~485,650 | Plain, recessed grille |
| HJ | 1974–76 | 176,202 | Raised chrome grille, wrap-around front indicators |
| HX | 1976–77 | 110,669 | HJ look, new grille insert and badges, emissions engines |
| HZ | 1977–80 | 154,155 | Egg-crate grille, lion emblem centre top, RTS |
| WB | 1980–84 | 60,231 | Commercials and Statesman only, WB Statesman front |
Fronts get swapped – check the ID plate
Because the panels bolt across, many HQ and HJ utes and vans now wear an HZ or WB front, or the other way round. Don't rely on the grille alone. Check the identification and body plates in the engine bay and compare them with a Holden club or registry decoder. This matters most when you are buying a car or ordering parts that changed between series, such as dash fascias and wiring.
Parts that suit HQ to WB
- HQ–WB side vents – GTS, Sandman, plain and custom-text styles, designed and 3D printed in Australia
- HJ–WB GTS dash pilot light cluster – indicator, high beam and warning lights for aftermarket gauges
- SAAS boss kit and horn contact for HQ–WB
- Black alloy washer bottle
Not sure which series you have, or whether a part will fit? Send us a photo of the front of the car and the ID plate and we'll help you work it out.