Holden Kingswood History

Full-size car · 1968–1980

Sample hero image — replace with real model photography.

History

The Kingswood name first appeared on the HK series in 1968 as the mid-range trim of Holden's full-size family car, sitting above the Belmont and below the Premier. It quickly became the bread-and-butter Holden — the family car that defined suburban Australian motoring through the 1970s.

The HQ series of 1971 was the most successful of all, selling 485,650 units — a Holden sales record never subsequently surpassed by a single series. Subsequent HJ (1974), HX (1976), and HZ (1977–1980) updates maintained the formula. Kingswood passenger cars ceased production with the HZ in 1980, succeeded by the smaller, European-influenced Commodore that had launched two years earlier.

Generations

HK / HT / HG series · HK–HG (1968–1971)

The first Kingswood-badged cars — introduced the name and a V8 option.
- 1970
  Photo: “1970 Holden Kingswood (16049366102).jpg” by GPS 56 from New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
HQ series · HQ (1971–1974)

Holden's all-time best-selling series at 485,650 units; a watershed redesign.
HJ / HX / HZ series · HJ–HZ (1974–1980)

Later updates of the HQ platform; Kingswood passenger cars ended with the HZ.
- 1975
  Photo: “1975 Holden Kingswood Station Wagon (15430436923).jpg” by GPS 56 from New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.