Holden HD Holds Australian record for monthly sales

[buickman]

While browsing through a car museum I came across a restored HD Holden with one of the information pamphlets saying the HD in May 1965 sold 19,000 cars in 31 days a record that still stands today. I thought these were one of the least popular Holden’s and personally think the XP with 2 door offerings and 200cu 6Cyl and the Valiant AP6 with 273cu V8 were much nicer cars from that year.
Attachment 84252

[mik]

Yeah pretty basic the the hd holden , i had one of those, back in the day we used to joke the hd stood for hastily designed , i also had a ap6, it was a far better car imo , except for my own personal dislike for the torsion bar front end that from memory went from the first valiant to the the very last.

[Silver Ghia]

Nothing to boast about. These sales were only in the first month or so when it was first introduced and it was a bit wider than the previous model (EH). But then the sales petered out quickly so they had to rush the HR in.

Where does the HD feature in the list of top 10 Holden best sellers?

Holden cars all time best sellers

TOP TEN

Figures based on production run

(1) 1971 HQ (485,650) Price new $2,730

(2) 1998 VT (303,895) Price new $29,760

(3) 1995 VS (277,774) Price new $26,780

(4) 2004 VZ (261,238) Price new $33,160

(5) 1963 EH (256,959) Price new $2,102

(6) 1966 HR (252,352) Price new $2,167

(7) 2002 VY (241,909) Price new $30,880

(8) 1988 VN (215,180) Price new $20,014

(9) 2000 VX (207,339) Price new $28,900

(10) 1958 FC (191,724) Price new $2,220

(Prices quoted at the point of production)

Ref: http://www.classicholdencars.com/tag/holden-history/

[Nova 8]

A record is a record.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by Nova 8

A record is a record.

I've set a few records in my nearly 60 years as well, but nothing to brag about.

I think the HQ record is far more notable.

[Nova 8]

I agree 100% but the HD will always have the highest sales figures for a single month unless something shocking happens in the next couple years.

[Falcman0o7]

Hidious old POS

[chookaradley]

Just shows this countries love affair with anything Holden. They could dish up a dog carcass on a platter and people would buy it. And that is exactly what still happens with cars like Captiva, Cruze, Barina.

[buickman]

Originally Posted by Nova 8

I agree 100% but the HD will always have the highest sales figures for a single month unless something shocking happens in the next couple years.

The HQ ran for 4 years and was a neat looking car in fact I once owned a Ute with 253cu. But I was surprised to read about the HD holding a sales record as I never really liked them but sold 178,927 units in just over a year in production. Ford and Holden would love those sales now maybe I should keep the FG XR 50th as a family hair loom for my grand children as so few made.

[dennis]

I had a hd.Dose not matter what you dress a pig in its still a pig. Same with new Bombadoor.
dennis

[Pube Fury]

What kind of hairs would you use in your loom?

[FormulaFG]

VE ran for 7 years and still didn't make the top ten.

[stevepet]

And the HR holden was hastily redesigned

[BENT_8]

The HD only had a short run as the front end design was considered dangerous to pedestrians.
The guards extended past the headlights and sliced through what ever got in front.
The HR had the guards shortened and flattened out.

I always thought it ironic that in '71, when Moffat crossed the line in Australia's greatest production car at Bathurst, when production racing and the' win on Sunday sell on Monday' line was widely recognised, Holden's HQ began what is a Record for an Australian model and it wasn't the weapon of choice in the industry.
3 out of 4 years of HQ production the GT won Bathurst, yet the HQ won the showroom battle.

[Nikked]

"Kidney crusher"

Story is that GM wanted the car to "look longer" and therefore the front of the fenders were extended...

[deesun]

Originally Posted by stevepet

And the HR holden was hastily redesigned

My dad called them HD Holdens Demise and HR Holdens Revival. But the two Hastilys sound better to me.

[buickman]

Originally Posted by Pube Fury

What kind of hairs would you use in your loom?

Good pick up I mean Heirloom

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

The HD only had a short run as the front end design was considered dangerous to pedestrians.
The guards extended past the headlights and sliced through what ever got in front.
The HR had the guards shortened and flattened out.

Pedestrian cutters.....

[minheim]

In my day (mid 70s) HD stood for Highly Dangerous. For some reason, they also seemed to be more rust prone than the HR. The HR of course was very popular because it had the 186. a great engine. My first car was a HR premier in metallic blue with a white roof and cream interior. A great car but like many first cars it was written off.

[66 STANG]

I was told once that HD stood for "Horribly Designed", and that HR stood for "Hurridly Rectified"....................sounded fair to me......!!

[castellan]

Originally Posted by buickman

While browsing through a car museum I came across a restored HD Holden with one of the information pamphlets saying the HD in May 1965 sold 19,000 cars in 31 days a record that still stands today. I thought these were one of the least popular Holden’s and personally think the XP with 2 door offerings and 200cu 6Cyl and the Valiant AP6 with 273cu V8 were much nicer cars from that year.
Attachment 84252

Yep and sold more HD Holdens for each month in it's production I do believe.

I like the XM XP hardtops better but the fully imported 200ci only had the 2 sp auto until 1966 when you could get a 3sp auto option and the 170 could not match the 179 for power at the time.

The AP5-6 had the best 3 sp auto by far and the most power with the big 225ci slant 6.

AP6 looks the best in sedan and wagon and ute.

My mum had a HD wagon 149 manual and a HR special 186 auto from new and my dad had a HD p van 179 manual from new.
I don't like the looks of the HD on the out side but in side is better than the XM-P or AP5-6 the HR look much better than the HD.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

The HD only had a short run as the front end design was considered dangerous to pedestrians.
The guards extended past the headlights and sliced through what ever got in front.
The HR had the guards shortened and flattened out.

I always thought it ironic that in '71, when Moffat crossed the line in Australia's greatest production car at Bathurst, when production racing and the' win on Sunday sell on Monday' line was widely recognised, Holden's HQ began what is a Record for an Australian model and it wasn't the weapon of choice in the industry.
3 out of 4 years of HQ production the GT won Bathurst, yet the HQ won the showroom battle.

XF was the best selling car when Holden was dominating at the mountain also.

[Falcman0o7]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

Just shows this countries love affair with anything Holden. They could dish up a dog carcass on a platter and people would buy it. And that is exactly what still happens with cars like Captiva, Cruze, Barina.

Got that right! Gives me the *****. But hey it keeps them away from us.

[blackf6]

Ford Falcon is the best selling Australian made car, having sold over 3,000,000 in seven generations to 2003, almost exclusively in Australia and New Zealand but also South Africa.

[ZGM86]

Originally Posted by deesun

My dad called them HD Holdens Demise and HR Holdens Revival. But the two Hastilys sound better to me.

Originally Posted by minheim

In my day (mid 70s) HD stood for Highly Dangerous

Originally Posted by 66 STANG

I was told once that HD stood for "Horribly Designed", and that HR stood for "Hurridly Rectified"....................sounded fair to me......!!

I've also heard them referred to as the Holden Disaster.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by teak81

Ford Falcon is the best selling Australian made car, having sold over 3,000,000 in seven generations to 2003, almost exclusively in Australia and New Zealand but also South Africa.

Some falcons to the UK as well you know.

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by castellan

Some falcons to the UK as well you know.

Payback for all the crap they sent our way .

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by teak81

Ford Falcon is the best selling Australian made car, having sold over 3,000,000 in seven generations to 2003, almost exclusively in Australia and New Zealand but also South Africa.

Quoting from the same website , they say 2.5 million sales UP to 2008 in 4 generations of commodores . Never let the facts distort the story though !

[castellan]

Originally Posted by GREGL

Payback for all the crap they sent our way .

They were good cars V8's Fairmont and GT you know from XR to XB that I know of.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

The HD only had a short run as the front end design was considered dangerous to pedestrians.
The guards extended past the headlights and sliced through what ever got in front.
The HR had the guards shortened and flattened out.

I always thought it ironic that in '71, when Moffat crossed the line in Australia's greatest production car at Bathurst, when production racing and the' win on Sunday sell on Monday' line was widely recognised, Holden's HQ began what is a Record for an Australian model and it wasn't the weapon of choice in the industry.
3 out of 4 years of HQ production the GT won Bathurst, yet the HQ won the showroom battle.

I think both sides of the Ford/Holden fence have their tribal buyers. The sort who will buy anything from that brand and always find fault in the other side. I do think however Holden has always had many more of these type of buyers.

Far more Falcons were sold to people who genuinely thought it was the better car and purchased it for that reason alone. Unfortunately when more choice came on the market and Ford didn't keep the quality and customer service up, they were also the first to leave. That's always been my explanation as to why Ford lost sales earlier then Holden and has always been on the back foot ever since.