1976 Holden Kingswood HZ 253 V8

Summary:

Sold as a rock and sexy as!

Faults:

The thermostat housing unit on the engine block is somewhat rusted and cannot be replaced, so I found some 'steel putty' and mended it so now it no longer leaks from the thermo housing.

I am still in the process of restoring and fixing it, and have had to replace brakes, tyres, hoses, radiator, coil, panels etc. Other than that, it sounds gnarly and angry, just the way I like it!

General Comments:

Built like a brick out-house. I am a female and just love working on the old-school cars myself, and the best way to learn is with the early cars, then you get to drive the beast with great pride too, fun!

I also have a Datsun 200b as well as UC Torana as my other projects, so I'm a busy girl.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th January, 2016

1976 Holden Kingswood HX 202

Summary:

These cars suck up the petrol

Faults:

1st engine at 80,000km.

2nd at 140,000km.

3rd at 240,000km.

Transmission at 340,000km.

Head gasket at 140,000km.

Alternator at 150,000km.

Carburator at 200,000km.

General Comments:

A very bad car, probably the worst Holden ever built, but I've had good times in it, but also bad ones.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th January, 2001

16th May 2001, 10:14

I bought my HX from the original owner in 1998, everything was still original.

It was a bit rough (including some mechanicals), but at 250,000 km it still ran very well. I have since replaced the engine (and other parts) at 270,000 km and am yet to reach 300,000 km.

I guess you've either been very very unlucky or you treat your cars very very badly.

2nd Jun 2002, 23:04

I think you treat your car like crap you have a classic not a drag car enjoy your hx youre lucky to own one!

26th Aug 2002, 07:12

At least it's still going after 26 years, how many Hyundai's will still be on the Australian roads a quarter of a century later?

26th Sep 2005, 17:39

Make no mistake these cars are not classics. The only reason there are still some on the road today is because they made so many of them. So its stands to reason some were looked after some were not. The ones still on the road today were probably low mileage or have had plenty of money spent on them. There will still be plenty of hynudais on the road in 26 years.

1976 Holden Kingswood HX 202cui

Summary:

A reliable, go anywhere, cheap to run vehicle

Faults:

Timing gear shredded (fibre).

Rear universal joint.

General Comments:

Timing gear shredded during an 8000km trip around North Queensland, where I was driving on average 500km a day (was fixed overnight however due to the simplicity of the motor). Uni joint only went due to the fact that the car had done 350000km on what was an original uni joint and even then it did not break, only poped a cerclip ($40 to fix).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th March, 2000

13th Dec 2000, 20:50

I agree, it's a great car! I bought my HX Kinga almost 2 weeks ago and I love her! She's got a 202 red engine, auto, she came with Torana extractors, but we put a pair of genie ones last week, and she really is a cruiser!

Next year I'm moving up to Shepparton, (from Melbourne) and I have no doubt, she'll be fine.

Oh, and I had to find a cer clip for a window when I bought her, and thanks to a good friend, the window winder was replaced and a Bosch alternator was put in!

(magnetic_star@hotmail.com)

16th May 2001, 10:24

I bought my HX from the original owners in 1998 and it only had 250,000 km on the clock. It was a bit rough, but ran quite well. Since then I've taken it from Perth to Darwin (about 5000km), drove around up there for a year, replaced the motor at 270,000 km, and am now back in Perth (still yet to reach 300,000 km).

With exception of the motor, alternator, starter motor, uni joints and rear shocks, everything is still original (and it looks like it too), but after nearly 300,000 km I think I can forgive the old girl a few wrinkles.