Panelvan EJ-HG option? -

[timmyj23]

If you had the option available to you of buying any windowless panelvan from models EJ-HG (EJ, EH, HD, HR, HK, HT and HG ('62-'71)) for daily street use, running a 253 or 308, which would you choose?

(Not taking into account colour or transmission, but opinions welcome)

[Swordie]

For daily use I would be looking for something where somebody has already spent the money on updating the vehicle. For example brakes, suspension ECT. Stock they would be not the greatest things to drive around. Also check the vehicles for rust. It probably comes down to best you can buy for the money.

I would suggest visiting this Forum

http://oldholden.com/?q=node/13233

[theVman]

i would say ej/eh . . but not a huge fan of the high roofs on them . . but i am a huge fan of eh's (want to do a eh wagon panel van hybrid that gets rid of the hight roof - basically a wagon converted to two door and sheeted in on the sides)

Id prob say a hr . . they are nicely proportioned but hard to come by . . especially in reasonble condition if you want to use as an every day driver.

HG/HT would prob be the most drivable . . but also very bulky.

Depends on how much you want to spend . . a hr with a nice engine and brake package could be quite nice to dirve . . you would certianly get some nice looks.

[IIV8II]

HK-HG is the only one with factory V8

Better front end, brakes and larger 'driving room' for daily driving :teach:

And one of my fave models... :thumbsup:

[Carby650]

HK-HG is the only one with factory V8

Better front end, brakes and larger 'driving room' for daily driving :teach:

And one of my fave models... :thumbsup:

totally agree with the above.. But I'm biased.

[grpawalky]

Castle Auto Electrics have a bitchin red HK,T or G with late model 5.7ltr etc. It looks the biz..............:dance:

[pah]

Hi Timmy J,

Go for the latest possible model if only to get the best safety options. The HK was the first Holden with a collapsible steering column. Does that matter? Only if you object to to the possibility of being impaled on the steering column in the event of an accident! The escalating list of safety options withj each model is significant. I think that split system brakes were introduced somehwere around the HK / HT series. I think it was somewhere around HG / HQ that Holden introduced progressive crumple rates too. ALL of these little bits and pieces add up to a big deal on the safety front.

The HQ was the first Holden with high-back seats. It might be worthwhile snaffling a nice pair of Commode buckets from a wrecker for the sake of the clotch but most importantly for the high-back seats.

As the V8 is a factory option, you should be able to buy a V8 van and that's frequently cheaper than doing the mods yourself. I guess we've all seen the "Spent $30k - asking $10k adverts? You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that it's often cheaper to buy a nice van that somebody else has done their dough on.

A V8 van with a carby might be a bit expensive to run these days but there's a crowd called Gas Research in Melbourne that maximises performance for dedicated gas vehicles.




PAH

[lxhatch]

I'd be going for a HG with factory fitted 308 Timmy. If you can sniff one out... good luck.