Holden Belmont Kingswood First Generation (HK)

Manufacturer	Holden (General Motors)
Production	1968 to 1969
Class	Motor Car
Body style	2-door coupe utility 3-door panel van 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Wheel base	111 in, 2,819 mm
Length	184.80 in, 4,694 mm
Width	71.40 in, 1,814 mm
Height	55.60 in, 1,412 mm
Ground clearance	7.20 in, mm
dry weight	2,521 1b, 1,144 kg V8 2,658 1b, 1,206 kg

The 1960s Holden Belmont and Kingswood HK first Generation was built in the model years from 1968 to 1969.

History

The Holden Belmont and Kingswood were built from 1968 to 1977 by Holden in Australia as a successor to the standard. In parallel, the Holden Kingswood replaced the special the full-size Holden range of family cars comprised the Holden Standard, the Holden Special, and Holden Premier models. This was still manufactured until 1979 as Kingswood and Kingswood SL. The Kingswood Utility was manufactured until 1985. Manufactured in a choice of sedan and station wagon with Commercial utility coupé, panel van, on more basic variants were offered.

In January 1968, the  Holden were introduced under a new name. The HR replacing the standard was the Holden Belmont this became the Belmont HK, the HR Special the Kingswood HK. Only the luxury Premier retained its name. The cars increased in wheelbase and length by 5 "and were given a new, contoured front, with the centre of the radiator grille and the vehicle corners with the headlights going forward. The new grille was horizontally and vertically divided by a chrome strip. Over the rear wheel arches there was a fashionable hip kink and there were wide taillights. In addition to Belmont, Kingswood and Premier in this series were also the sports coupe Monaro and the luxury sedan Brougham manufactured, Belmont panel van with payload of 13.5cwt. and cargo space of over 90 cubic feet, tailgate width of 49.2 ins and cargo height 40 ins also the pickup ute was available as Belmont and Kingswood with options for bucket seats and fitted with toughened underbody with protective steel skids, for extra strength and heaver shock absobers along with a special Taxi version.

Engines

• 2.6L GMH '161' I6
• 3.0L GMH '186' I6
• 3.0L GMH '186S' I6
• 5.0L 'Chevrolet 307' V8
• 5.4L 'Chevrolet 327' V8

In addition to the well-known six-cylinder engines with 2.6 l and 3.05 l displacement and 108-145 bhp (79-107 kW), there were for the first time at Holden V8 engines. Chevrolet contributed a 5031 cc and 210 bhp (154 kW) engine, and the other GM brands the 2-door coupe Monaro GTS came with a 5359 cc V8 and 250 bhp (184 kW) V8s. Transmission 3 or 4 speed manual and 2-speed "Powerglide" automatic option.

PERFORMANCE

• 161 cu in
  Engine capacity: 161 cu in
  Fuel consumption: 27.4 m/imp gal, 22.8 m/US gal, 10.3 x 100 km
  Max speed: 92 mph, 148 km/h
  max power (SAE): 114 hp at 4,400 rpm
  max torque (SAE): 157 1b ft, 21.7 kg m at 2,000 rpm
  max engine rpm: 5,200
  specific power: 43.2 hp/l
  power-weight ratio: 22 lb/hp, 10 kg/hp
  acceleration: standing 1/4-mile 20.6 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 11.4 sec
• 186 cu in
  3,047.98 cu cm
  126 hp (max speed 96 mph, 154.6 km/h) and 145 hp (max speed 106 mph, 170.7 km/h)
• 307 cu in
  V8 engine capacity 307 cu in
  max power (SAE) 210 hp at 4,600 rpm, max torque (SAE) 300 1b ft, 41.4 kg m at 2,400 rpm, max speed 113 mph, 181.9 km/h

The HK range produced just under 200,000 and was replaced by the Holden HT series in May 1969.