Holden HQ SS

[W427GOT1]

THE 'Q"

well...
thinking back now of how long ive had this car...and people still ask me if i still have it..and i amaze my self and say yeps...still got it and drive it...

To think before leaving school looking at a wanting HSV Walkinshaw... wanting a limited build car...brought a limited build car as my first car.

left school and got a job at a wreckers...wanted to be a mechanic...but couldnt offer me that at the time...
i think it was 3 months test drive a XJS jag...and a few VL commodores...
1 day my boss asked what car do what to have...
"a HQ primer (like the dual headlamps)..6 cylinder...V8s worry a bit as ive seen what my mates get up to, frightens me a bit"
my boss says what about a monaro?
i answered maybe...and now where am i gunna get 1 of them?
we own 1 ...
i answered 'sure!'..'where?? been ere 3 months not seen it?'
was its getting repaired at the panel beaters ready for sale..
so i head down for a look that lunch time...still remember it well...
was in a bad shape..rust here and ther covered in paint dust..no doors...
look good in red with black stripes...never seen this type before..????

i had a mate worked in a Holden dealership...gave him the numbers and said has this "SS" stickers on it...thinking it was a made up thing..

a few days later he rings me...
'hey that car checks out as a Holden HQ SS..only Built 2800 of them'
mm..so got me thinking..researched the car bucket loads and to who owned the car last etc...
it was indeed an SS
although a 'V8' i brought the car before my bosses have finished it, so got a few things done to finish it off...new windsrceen better tyres etc..
paid $5 500.00 for it..in 1989...

was painted all the same as factory..had all the genuine running gear in it still...
rebuilt the engine and 4bl carb new exhaust system...
used it as an every day car for about 10 years...
Left the wreckers a few years after and become a plant mechainc at the local shire..
played with it heaps tuning as boys do.
after 10 years the first panel job was a little rough and the bog dropped out and got very shabby..

so i stripped it bare......was so bad with rust no 1 would take on the job..looked too hard..

i left it in bits for over 12months not sure can i ever put it back to together..
finished my time and we got a new apprentice at work and he saw the photos of what it looked like..
"lets bulid it"
and so....about 18 months and many hours late nightsi was driving it agian...
all bright and shiny..
did some head work, and a few other small stuff.....got about 170 hp at the rear wheels..not bad for a 253..
last 10 years....driven rarely.....i think maybe 3 000kms year..
locked away in my olds shed..
moved the car to the museum dec 2007, always wanted it in a museum..
worked out well cos 1 can drive it every now and then to keep it moving, i also can see it every now and then...

yeah so thats my first ride...and very lucky to come across it...
Is a 1972 Dec Build (second batch)..
photos soon..as i cant post up pics..ill get some 1 to post them up for me..

SmileS...
PS
any other HQ SS owners...send me a msg...glad to say ello to ya.. :)

[bwhinnen]

Can't wait to see photos of it!

[Tecca]

wow sounds sweet mate! sounds like you have the best of both worlds! Old school and new school muscle :). Can't wait to see the pics mate:goodjob:

[W427GOT1]

...sorry should have noted it down before...
look in the thread
W427GOT1....took 20years but got 1

there is pics on that thread....
ill try get them posted on this thread later...

smiles...

and...yeah..spose i do have the best of both worlds
but a big contrast of the two cars..
1 loud in looks and hits ya in the face turns heads...but not all that powerful
the other...low key...sorta a stelth sleeper but huge amounts of grunt..

either 1 is great to drive and enjoy...

[Wonky]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/VYSHSV8/completedssR.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/VYSHSV8/K20D1090R.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/VYSHSV8/IMG0008R.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/VYSHSV8/IMG0004R.jpg

[huggies]

very nice hq you have there mate :)
currently in the process of restoring the old mans hq gts coupe with him atm
its a 308/4spd manual and are good easy cars to work on and drive pretty nicely too

[W427GOT1]

Cheers to Wonky....!!!!!!

doin some magic for me.....on ya:goodjob:

if ya about and you see the car try say ello...
and remember these things take time...but worth the effort in the end..
cheers to all ya comments..good or bad...

smiles..

[iloveholden]

Very nice mate :goodjob: on the rebuild

[Spider]

Thats nice. love the Q's.

I owned a HQ Wagon that was show car standard and sold it last year.

Just one thing..I noticed in the other thread you have the stocko rims for it,Put them back on and get rid of those Indy's ,They're an ugly rim :spew:


:goodjob:

[hello there]

man thats a real cool story behind the car an a real nice machine you got there dude i love the old cars man i igot a hg kinga an at the begining of a long project ha ha ha. it's always good to have some inspiration like yours looks sweet man :goodjob:

[W427GOT1]

Thats nice. love the Q's.

I owned a HQ Wagon that was show car standard and sold it last year.

Just one thing..I noticed in the other thread you have the stocko rims for it,Put them back on and get rid of those Indy's ,They're an ugly rim :spew:


:goodjob:

yeps i have the original rims still...gotta get them re-banded as they need resetting and want to convert them to 15 inch...so they look better, fill the gaurds when low profile tyres are fitted...makes it handle sooo much better...
but before doing that ill find another set of monaro rims and keep them std 14 inch.....any 1 got a set to sell???? msg me.(note im in WA)
the indys are cool....i like em...but cant please every 1.....
cheers....
all comments welcome.....

[fx160]

a mate of mine had an hq ss green with the black strips
paid $2,000 for it back in 82 was in pretty good nic back then
was always fun to drive
i had a hq premier wagon at the time 253 factory 4 speed 74 model
i had thought that all the ss's were built in the same month as a test for the 4 door monaro . October i think
and after that they were all gts monaro
very surprised to see you write that it was part of the second run built in December
you learn something new every day

fantastic looking ss by the way

kev

[heavyduty1340]

So if we had the HQ at last years Busselton Motorfest, does that mean you will bring the W427 down for us this year ??:goodjob:

[SSBarney]

I love the HQ body lines:)

Seeing that HQ makes me :bawl::bawl: over selling my 2door for $1500:bawl:

[W427GOT1]

So if we had the HQ at last years Busselton Motorfest, does that mean you will bring the W427 down for us this year ??:goodjob:

just to correct you but it was the 2007 Motorfest...

and was low key but had it as the Busselton markets on display last april just gone...was a sunday 19th i think..

but yeah.....i can bring it down...but mite be a late withdrawal if i have to work at rotto....as im on call season opens at that time... also depends on whats on at that time..
can you give me the dates i can plan for it..

last time i was there took a lot of effort for me to get there organization to get there and clean the car and make it back to rotto for work monday....
not to make excusses...but love to be there...if i was in busso id help you guys run the show....
ill try the best i can to get there...and if the museum is ok with it away for a few days...
smiles.....

[VYSHSV8]

I will take it down for you Brad if you are busy...:):)

[heavyduty1340]

We are waiting for the shire to confirm, but the 29th of Nov is the requested date

It ensures that the show doesnt conflict with the Iron Man Comp

If you would like a spot allocated, pm me and Ill sort something out:goodjob:

[VYSHSV8]

We are waiting for the shire to confirm, but the 29th of Nov is the requested date

It ensures that the show doesnt conflict with the Iron Man Comp

If you would like a spot allocated, pm me and Ill sort something out:goodjob:
Woohoo 2 days after my 40th, party down south me thinks hey Faedy:):),

[W427GOT1]

kk....
will try...but is so very close to dec......the summer season winds up and is in swing then...


smiles

[Clubb'N]

I used to own a '78 gts ... 308, t400, electrics etc warm motor dumped at the diff ...
damn that thing was awesome, couldn't kill that motor sounded absolutely amazing ...
Turned heads everywhere it went ...
If not for the noise/menacing note it had for the muscle ... oh i miss it

[Wonky]

Gotta love a lovingly done HQ! :drool: :bow:

Interesting rear bar! :)

[HQ SS]

Hi I am another HQ SS owner and I am part of a HQ SS owners and enthusiasts group.
I thought you or anyone else that is interested in HQ SS's may like to have a look at these places we have put together for HQ SS's.
Main SS web address
http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/HQSS1972/
This now has around 1000 images of SS's, including group members cars, road tests from the 70's and all other SS related things that we can find.

Old SS web site
http://www.freewebs.com/hqss/index.htm

My SS is here
http://gallery.oldholden.com/HQ_SS/ss_001/

We are trying to track down any information we can find on any SS's past or present that people have been associated with, so I would be really interested in any other information or pictures you may have of this SS.

If you or anyone else would like to talk to me about SS's feel free to use this email address.
My email address
HQSS@oldholden.com
Cheers Paul.

[W427GOT1]

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww314/W427GOT1/Photo-0034.jpg

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww314/W427GOT1/Photo-0035.jpg

Original (modified band) wheels fitted...

[andrewk]

this is a nice car looks really nice in the pic above with the gts wheels i would love to build one of these one day but are getting hard to find decent ones at resonable prices

[W427GOT1]

If you have an HQ SS, have ever owned one, know someone who has one, or just like to look at them..... Then this is a weekend for you!
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August 2012 in Avoca Victoria.

http://www.avoca.vic.au/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=149&Itemid=99999999

A huge weekend of activities has been planned, including show 'n' shine, cruise, event dinner with guest speakers, amazing displays of memorabilia, and much more!

All Holdens are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more information please contact pilgrims@activ8.net.au or andylawn253@hotmail.com

We look forward to seeing you there......

[PESSV]

Currently building a HZ Monaro clone (2.5 years to date). Premier front end, GTS guards and done in Valencia Orange. Recently bought a 308 to go in it which has some work done but not exactly sure what yet. Will bolt up to the truamatic. It is sitting on lowered suspension and 17" show wheels streeters. It will turn heads when it finally gets on the road.

Not a HQ SS I know but they are great cars to work on. Very un-complicated.

[W427GOT1]

Agree...i used to Wreck cars for a living for 3 years before getting a 'real' job....i how you mean...heaps of room and basic looking at what we drive now...

best of luck, all components in these cars are repairable....
smiles

[W427GOT1]

An up date to this story, read on......or the Follow up Chapter....

THE 'Q"

Well...
Thinking back now of how long I've had this car...and people still ask me if i still have it..and I'm amazed my self and say yeps...still got it and drive it...

To think before leaving school looking at a wanting HSV Walkinshaw... wanting a limited build car...brought a limited build car as my first car.

I left school and got a job at a wreckers...wanted to be a mechanic...but couldn't offer me that at the time...
I think it was 3 months, a test drive a XJS jag...and a few VL commodores...
1 day my boss asked what car do what to have...
"a HQ primer (like the dual headlamps)..6 cylinder...V8s worry me a bit as I've seen what my mates get up to, frightens me a bit"
my boss says what about a Monaro?
I answered 'maybe'...'and now where am I gunna get 1 of them?'
we own 1 ...
I answered 'sure!'..'where?? Been ere 3 months not seen it?'
They explained it was its getting repaired at the panel beaters ready for sale..
so I head down for a look that lunch time...still remember it well...
It was in a bad shape..rust here and there covered in paint dust..no doors...
look good in red with black stripes...never seen this type before..????

I had a mate worked in a Holden dealership...gave him the numbers and said has this "SS" stickers on it...thinking it was a made up thing..

a few days later he rings me...
'hey that car checks out as a Holden HQ SS..only Built 2800 of them'
mm..so got me thinking.... so I researched the car bucket loads and to who owned the car last etc...
it was indeed an SS
although a 'V8' I brought the car before my bosses had finished it, so got a few things done to finish it off...new windscreen better tyres etc..
paid $5 500.00 for it..in 1989 on the 4th of September

It was painted all the same as factory, had all the genuine running gear in it still...
soon after I rebuilt the engine, 4bl carb new exhaust system...Put on a set of private plates to give it an identity. I left the wreckers a few years after and become a plant mechanic at the local shire..
Played with it heaps tuning it as boys do.I used it as an every day car for about 10 years...
After 10 years the first panel job was a little rough and the bog dropped out and got very shabby..

So I stripped it bare......was so bad with rust no one would take on the job..it just looked too hard..

I left it in bits for over 12months not sure, can I ever put it back to together again?
finished my time and we got a new apprentice at work and he saw the photos of what it looked like..
"lets build it"
and so....about 18 months and many hours late nights I was driving it again...
Dec1999 all bright and shiny..
Carried out some head work on the engine, and a few other small stuff.....got about 170 hp at the rear wheels..not bad for a 253..
Played with a it little more as I learnt more about carbs and engine induction and got almost 200hp at the rear wheels.
So over the last 10 years....driven rarely.....I think maybe 3 000kms year..
locked away in my olds shed..
Moved the car to the Auto Museum in Whitman Park Dec 2007, always wanted it in a museum..this worked out well cos I can drive it every now and then and l can see it every now and then because I'm now living close to Perth

yeah so that's my first ride...and very lucky to come across it...
It's a 1972 Dec Build (second batch)..
Photos soon..and ill add to this album now and then..

SmileS...
PS
any other HQ SS owners...send me a msg...glad to say ello to ya..

Follow up Chapter

November 2013 drove the car back to Busselton to Mum and Dads house as the Auto Museum had to make room for their own cars. The staff was sad to see it go as it was often spoken about and many questions and general interest.

..................
I never thought I'd write this,
Its my closing chapter to the Holden HQ SS. My car everyone called "The Q"

Thursday 5th of September 2014 I sold the car to a new owner. A reluctant sale, due to safe storage needed and my health. Selling 'The Q' was the only way, it could be looked after. I couldn't continue to look after it the way I wanted. so I had to sell it so it could be kept the way it should be.

And so....sigh......Many, many memories and photos with the family, friends and events in my life, in the back ground so to speak. Having a car for so long, most of my life its part of who I am and become part of the family. Its been 25 years, over this time so many old and new friends have known the 'The Q' as it was never too far away.

It was never too far away because 'The Q' has 'a presence'. To see it on the road truly is something to see and hear, and such a great feeling to drive. And when its sitting quietly parked up it draws you in. Draws you in to get closer. Its this presence that has marked me and I'm glad for it.

I was often asked in town 'still got the Q, the Monaro?' as a friendly hello and proud to reply 'yeah I sure do", from that often a friendly conversion would follow. But I know ill still get asked about 'The Q' for many years to come, just add in the knowledge its gone to a good home, but not too far away.

It is very sad to see it drive away for the last time, a lasting image of the 3 taillight bumper and the blue plates as it turned the corner then the fading sound of the exhaust note. The realization 'The Q' is no longer here, no longer in the background.
It brought tears, the tears that only a few people will understand what they mean. The drives, car shows, events, a complete restoration, hours tinkering, its history of how it come to be and 'The Q's' own history, that has lead to this day.

Thursday 5th of September 2014..........
So I've passed it on to the 5th owner. I will miss 'The Q' the car I built and put so much time into. Glad I kept it 'alive', which it had drawn a lot of my effort and time. There are not many off these classic cars left now.

I say good bye to 'The Q' 'The Holden HQ SS', 'The Monaro', its known by a few names. In my final words I will miss this car, this car I always personally called
"Bluely"

[jaykay]

My Dad had an original purple one from new. About 15 years ago I wanted to try and buy it to restore as I new it was stored for many years but found out it had been stolen and never found:bawl:.

I am always looking for one....,

[lumina ss]

Ive got a purple little old lady one owner LS 253 trimatic with 73k original miles. Fell into my garage 10 years a go for 3500. Who hoo its in the process of having everything showing any ware replaced with NOS. Its got purple seat belts from the factory and ive never seen another set. My best mate has a purple manual. They make a good pair

[mickeyVX350]

I know where there is an original one rotting... Green... behind the wheelie bins in a carport. My mate walked up to the door, before he got there the old lady threw the door open and said "No, it's not for sale, piss off"

Guessing she gets asked a bit!