1970 HOLDEN HT BROUGHAM.
The Holden Brougham is a large, luxury automobile that was produced by Holden in Australia between July 1968 and 1971.
It was based on the mainstream Holden Premier of the same years, but with a lengthened rear body. The boot was simply extended by 8 inches (200 mm) rather than increasing the 111-inch (2,800 mm) wheelbase. The Premier's four-headlight grille was also kept. The model was a hasty response to Ford Australia's successful Fairlane.
The HK series Brougham was launched in July 1968 along with the new Monaro coupés, six months after the HK Series Holden Belmont/Kingswood/Premier models. The Brougham then followed the model cycles of these mainstream Holdens: the HT series was announced in July 1969 and the HG series in August 1970.
Because of its luxury positioning, the Brougham was only available with an automatic transmission, first a two-speed, then a three-speed after the HG's launch. The only engine available in the original HK Series Brougham was a Chevrolet 307 ci (5.0L) V8. The HT series was launched with the new Holden designed and built 308 ci V8, and was the first Holden to be powered by this engine (the rest of the HT range got the 307 until the 308 was made available across the HT range in September 1969). The 308 was carried over to the HG Series Brougham.
Throughout its production life the Ford Fairlane outsold it by a large margin. The Brougham was replaced by the long-wheelbase Statesman models in 1971, on the redesigned HQ platform.
South Africa
From 1969 to 1971 the Brougham was marketed in South Africa as the Chevrolet Constantia. In addition to the name change, the Constantia featured a unique grille and had trafficators on the leading edge of the front fenders (as did its little sister, the Chevrolet Kommando). It utilised a 250 ci (4,093cc) Chevrolet inline-six or, as an option, Chevrolet's 307 ci (5,025cc) small block V8. Either engine version came equipped with the two-speed "Powerglide" automatic transmission.
Australian manufactured 253 ci (4.2-litre) and 308 ci (5.0-litre) V8 engines were new, replacing the imported 307 ci (5.0-litre) V8s. Initially the 308 was only fitted to the Brougham, and existing stocks of the imported 307 were used in other models.
CC rating: 5,031cc 308 ci (5.0L) V8
NZ First Registration: 01-May-1970
