Further to the Isuzu Statesman, here are some other weird, mis-placed Holdens.

Actually, first off here is the Australia-spec Holden Statesman, just for comparison for those abroad.



In Thailand the cars seemed to get sold as Holdens, but some of the specs are different:

Here's a base-model Belmont:


Here's the up-spec Premier:


This one is a strange one. It says "Monaro LS" on the front quarter panel, however the Monaro range was solely 2-doors in base-model and Monaro LS-form (which mirrored a Premier in spec level). Only the Monaro GTS was available in a 4-door. The main reason was that a Monaro LS 4-door would just be a Premier!

The Premier and Monaro LS featured the twin headlight front (shared with the Statesman, although without the split grille), something that is missing from this Thai-spec Monaro LS 4-door!


Interestingly, in Thailand they also got the Holden Statesman, however rather than badging it a Holden like the rest of the range, or an Isuzu like they did in Japan, the Statesman was badged the Chevrolet de Ville, which on the Aussie Statesman was the top luxury spec level (Custom and de Ville) rather than a model itself (note the de Ville became the base-model Statesman on future models after the HQ, where the top-spec model became the Holden Statesman Caprice).

As you can see up the top, "The measure of the man" was the slogan for the Aussie-spec Statesman as well!


In South Africa, the pre-HQ model Holden Kingswood/Monaro range were initially sold as as the Chevrolet Kommando and Chevrolet SS with a front, grille and quarter panels that were unique to the South African car. The Chevrolet SS was eventually replaced by the Holden Monaro similar in spec to the Australian model, with the familiar Holden frontal treatment.

However, when the earlier shape was replaced by the all-new HQ model, the name seemed to revert back to Chevrolet, plus the HQ got a radiator grille that was unique to South Africa again. Ignore the file name; it's apparent the Chevrolet Constantia is a Statesman spec vehicle, not a Premier.

Although it's hard to see, it has the extended Statesman wheelbase, plus the twin headlight front normally seen on the Premier and the Statesman. The Kommando would have been a Kingswood-spec vehicle and must have also featured in this brochure.

Not the ill-fitting South African-spec white reflectors on the front under the headlights!




The Kingswood ute was also sold as a Chevrolet, this time reviving the mighty El Camino name. More white reflectors on the front!


The South African market also got the ultra-strong Holden 1-Tonner cab-chassis pick up. These featured a separate chassis, heavy duty painted bumpers and a heavy duty chunky grille. The South African version appears to differ little to the Aussie-spec version, although we never got the weird style-side option, that even continues the crease-line down the side. Unlike Australia, where the 1-tonner didn't really have a name beyond it's description, and was not sold as a Kingswood or whatever, in South Africa it was called 'El Toro'! Arriba!!

As discussed above, the earlier generation Kingswood range was also sold in South Africa as a Chevrolet.

The Kommando sedan is almost unrecognisable from the front, especially with the distorted view this brochure gives, but that profile is unmistakable as the first Kingswood, the HK model.


Here's the wagon.


The El Camino ute brochure shows more accurate proportions.


The Holden Statesman, which featured a longer wheelbase than the rest of the Kingswood sedan range, shared it's extended wheelbase with utility and panelvan commercial range, as well as the Belmont/Kingswood/Premier wagon range. However, the extended wheelbases were only introduced with HQ model. Prior to that, all versions had the same wheelbase and Holden's top-of-the-range was the Holden Brougham, featuring an exceptionally long boot to give the car more size, when the reality was that interior room was the same as a base-model sedan!

The South Africans also got the Brougham, this time as the Chevrolet Constantia.



The sporty Monaro-based Chevrolet SS coupe looked pretty swish, although the wheelcovers are out of control!






The HK Kingswood range was replaced by the HT range in 1969 and with it, the Chevrolet SS, with its unique panels and specs, was replaced by the Holden Monaro GTS. While the vinyl roof was an uncommon option in Australia, it was the only roof treatment available on South African-spec cars!


Interesting stuff!

Finally, this one will really blow your mind!

Below looks, to our Australian and New Zealand residents, for all the world like Holden's popular mid-size car of the 1970s, the LJ-model Holden Torana.

The Daewoo-built Chevrolet 1700 was introduced to Korea in 1972 and ran until 1978, well after it has been replaced by the LH Torana in Australia in 1974. Presumably the Chevrolet 1700 was fitted with a 1.7 litre motor; not a motor that was fitted to our versions! Furthermore, 4 cylinder versions of the Torana had 12" wheels, a shorter wheelbase, a flat front and HB Torana/Viva front panels, while the Chevrolet 1700 featured the longer, more attractive nose of the 6-cylinder versions.



Perhaps the strangest part of the situation with the Daewoo-built Chevrolet 1700 was that they created a wagon version! Without changing the shape of the rear doors, the Torana did not lend itself well to a wagon version. However, this didn't stop Daewoo from going ahead!


I can't remember where the Camina came from; I thought it was an update of the Chevrolet 1700, but who knows?

keep them coming its great reading it was part of us who were old enoughs history didnt know these cars went to some of these places ....thanks again dave ..qld

Torana stationwagons, Daewoo Chevies, and SS Chev coupes. Extrooordinary !!! Interesting, the "raany" Caminas front guard mirror mounting smacks of oriental styling of the era al'a Bellett (and others), but it's all gone square and retro.

Most amazing, ta Dave.

B.

I just have to say... go the LJ station wagon. That would be great to get one and go to shows with that.

Not a single person would believe that it is actually a factory build!

Keep 'em coming Dave, if this collection is gathered here no one in Oz would know about them

Cheers,
R