The Holden Statesman is a full-size luxury automobile built by Holden of Australia dating from 1971. It was not available between 1984 and 1989. As of 2005, it is the largest rear-wheel-drive sedan offered by General Motors and sold as a Holden, Chevrolet and Buick in different markets.

1970s

Replacing the Holden Brougham, the Statesman was originally based on a long-wheelbase version of the Holden Kingswood HQ series. It was cancelled after 1984, replaced by the Holden Calais.

Traditionally, there were two models. At the beginning, with the HQ series, there were the Statesman Custom and Statesman de Ville. Engines available in the range were either a 202 in³ unit (3·3 L) or a 308 in³ (5·0 L) respectively. Initially, a 350 in³ Chevrolet engine was also offered, this model having been exported to New Zealand and South Africa as a Chevrolet 350.

From 1974 (HJ series), the two models were the Statesman de Ville and the Statesman Caprice, and the six-cylinder option was deleted. The Caprice was the most luxurious car offered by Holden at that point, with a push-button AM radio, pile carpet, leather seats, electric locking, power windows and no fewer than 13 interior lamps.[1]

A more formal grille was adopted in 1976 with the HX series. Emissions' regulations saw a re-tuned 5·0 L V8.

In 1977, Holden introduced its Radial Tuned Suspension to its entire range, giving the Statesman better handling. Previously, Holden's early 1970s' boss Leo Pruneau had insisted that the Statesman ride like a Cadillac, which was not to everyone's taste. The HZ Statesman had a minor facelift.

In 1979, an intermediate SL/E model was launched with a different egg-crate grille and a more sporty positioning.

The final Statesman of this era was the WB of 1980. The WB had a six-light body, with a longer, squared-off roofline. Mid-term 'Series II' revisions came in 1983 before production ceased in 1984. At the time, it was thought that the Statesman would be the last all-Australian car from Holden and well kept used models were changing hands in the mid-1980s for more than their final list price. In essence, it was the last Holden that did not have some Opel R&D influences.

There could have been a WB Kingswood sedan that resembled the HZ Statesman. Mercifully, this did not proceed: it would have been foolhardy to have sold an obsolete HZ lookalike as a new car in 1980.

Commodore-based revival

In 1990, demand for a full-size luxury sedan in Australia saw Holden resurrect the name on a long-wheelbase version of its Holden Commodore, which in turn was a heavily revised and enlarged Opel Omega B.

The VQ series Statesman of 1990–4 featured a 5·0 L engine. Holden made many efforts to distinguish the Statesman from the Commodore, with a formal grille, a very different glasshouse reminiscent of contemporary GM products such as the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, all while incorporating the doors from the lower models. Both Statesman and Caprice (not Statesman Caprice) models were offered. The de Ville name was not resurrected.

VR and VS series followed in 1994 and 1995 respectively, following the model changes of the standard Commodore and incorporating their engineering improvements. The VS saw the introduction of a supercharged V6 engine. Revisions ('Series II' and 'Series III') came in September 1996 and June 1998. A limited-edition Statesman International was briefly offered.

A new model and left-hand drive exports

The next Statesman followed two years after the launch of the all-new VT Commodore in 1997, with the WH series of 1999. Models followed much the same pattern: a standard Statesman, a limited-edition Statesman International, and the Caprice. Engines were a 3·8 L ECOTEC unit (based on a Buick design), a supercharged version of the same, and the 5·7 L LS1 V8. The doors (and front windscreen) were again shared with the lesser Commodore.

Since the WH, which was engineered for right- and left-hand drive , the Statesman has been exported to the Middle East as the Chevrolet Caprice.

A revised WK model was launched in 2003, with a facelift. The rear lights were now separated by sheetmetal, with a single badge in the centre, rather than visually joined with a horizontal strip of plastic. The front end was more squared off. The Middle East followed the same model change with its Chevrolet Caprice.

From 2005, the People's Republic of China will receive the Statesman as the Buick Royaum, initially with a new Alloytec 3·6 L V6 Alloytec engine, with the 2·8 L to follow. South Korean exports begin in 2005, with the same engines, sold through the GM Daewoo network. The V8 is still offered in Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, and on limited exports to the UK under the HSV brand.

External link

• Hot Holdens' pages on the Statesman and Caprice