The 1970s was probably the golden era in Australian vehicle manufacturing. Toyota and Datsun were making sales inroads with locally produced vehicles, but Ford, Chrysler, and Holden models dominated the market. Holden’s range covered virtually every segment, but the Kingswood was the popular choice for a family sedan. Those with extra cash in their pocket could order a Premier, which was the most luxurious trim package in the Kingswood range. Our feature car, a 1975 Holden HJ, is one of those vehicles. However, it is genuinely special, because the first owner ordered it with a selection of desirable and quite rare factory options. It recently emerged from hiding as a genuine barn find and is set to find a new home with someone who can revive it and return the Premier to active duty. It is listed here at Slattery Auctions in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The bidding will open in a few days at A$1,000 with plenty of time for enthusiasts to stake their claim.

Holden released its Second Generation Kingswood, the HQ, in 1971 and had an immediate hit on its hand. It was the company’s first ground-up redesign since the brand’s launch in 1948, although many mechanical components were carried over from its predecessor. It underwent its first update in 1974 as the company unveiled the HJ, with our feature car rolling off the line in 1975. The Premier, which was a trim package introduced to the Holden range in 1962, was the most luxurious version and was chosen by this car’s first owner. The seller confirms that it has spent decades in storage, and the dust hasn’t been washed away since it emerged from hiding. It cloaks Absinth Yellow paint that looks surprisingly good. Only a thorough cleaning will reveal whether it is suitable for preservation, or if a cosmetic restoration is justified. The biggest issue for those considering preservation is the significant collection of bird droppings, which may have damaged the finish. Rust is a common problem with these classics, but the lower extremities and the prone area around the back window look sound. It would be worth climbing under this classic to check the floors, but the lack of significant corrosion in areas like the engine bay is encouraging. One genuinely interesting feature that helps this Premier stand apart from its siblings is the Code CO3 “Sunshine” roof. This was an extremely rare and quite expensive (A$310) factory option that will undoubtedly draw comments from Holden enthusiasts. The panels are straight, and the trim is in good condition. The wheels are period-correct aftermarket additions that I find interesting. The seller describes them as Cragars, but they look like locally-produced Dragways to me. If that proves the case, the wheels alone would be worth more than the opening bid figure.

Buyers could order an HJ Premier with a  six under the hood, and the company also offered two V8 options. The most desirable was the 308ci powerplant, which was chosen by this car’s first owner. They teamed the 308 with a three-speed Turbo 400 automatic transmission and power assistance for the steering and brakes. Australia was yet to be struck by meaningful emission regulations in 1975, meaning that the unique-to-Australia 308 generated 240hp and 315 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. That doesn’t give the vehicle muscle car performance, but considering the target demographic was families, this sedan that comfortably seats five provided above-average performance for the period. The seller doesn’t indicate whether the Premier is numbers-matching, although their emphasis on originality suggests that it is. It hasn’t fired a shot since around 2000, so will need some work before that beautiful V8 purrs into life.

Ticking the box for the Premier option brought notable upgrades to the basic Kingswood interior. Buyers received bucket seats, a console with a lidded bin, and splashes of faux woodgrain. The first owner pushed out the boat with this car, adding air conditioning, power windows, a GTS gauge cluster with a tachometer, and a GTS sports wheel. The interior is trimmed in Chamois vinyl and, considering the car’s age and the fact that it had covered 269,000 kilometers (167,000 miles), the condition is surprisingly good. The front seats are hidden beneath slipcovers, but the remaining vinyl looks free from rips. It is begging for a deep clean, and I believe that a few days of hard work could return it to a very presentable state for a survivor-grade classic. Someone has fitted an aftermarket radio/cassette player, graphic equalizer, and power antenna. However, reversing the changes should be straightforward and inexpensive.

This 1975 Holden HJ Premier could be a once-in-a-lifetime find. With 176,202 vehicles sold across the HJ range between 1974 and 1976, these cars weren’t particularly rare when new. However, many disappeared from our roads years ago, and the fact that the first owner ordered this one with such an array of rare and desirable options increases its allure. It deserves to return to active duty, and with the Holden brand now little more than a distant memory, I believe it will happen. It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback and to discover whether we have any readers Down Under who would consider grabbing this Premier and treating it to the TLC it deserves.