Gramps 1973 HQ reborn

[QAZYHQ]

Hey Peepz,
after a 6 month search for a decent HQ I managed to find this beauty through a guy at the local pub($2500)by chance because he heard me asking a friend standing next to him.Said it was old but in good nic.

Within 30 mins I was standing in front of a 137k orig on the clock...amazing condition with full 35 years of service/repair history at 2-3 month intervals. The owner was 60 when he purchased it and had it sitting in his shed for about 7 years due to not being able to drive at 94. He had given it to his son but he couldnt bring himself to drive it(the color) !It also came with all original documentation for warranty and almost 3 boxes of receipts for just about everything on the car from 1973.

The color was a tad girly but original paint all round with 2 50cent size rust holes in bottom of front guards only. You can imagine what my mouth did when I saw the shed door open. I promtly passed him 300 deposit and returned the next day to finalize it.

Any how it dont look like that any more! Now finally after 2 years its 99%ready...rego to go.


Fresh 350 chev with TH350 trans ...18"s or stock 14's ...fully GTS optioned when seats get back from trimmers. Twin system exhaust , HZ prem seats for now .
Drove it to vic roads today , all good on the transfers and new engine number(crate motor) Ive done all the stripping myself down to the last pink bits even the floorpan.
Felt tight and itching to launch but gotta b very careful these days as those blueboys will take it quicker than you can blink an eye...Built for cruizin and very happy with how its turned out.

[QAZYHQ]

Got the roadworthy today ....all good. Appointment set for next week at Vic Roads . Funny to see my mechanics face when he hasnt see the car for 2 years. Last RWC he did for it only the ball joints and clutch needed doing...
Suppose I went a lil overbard!
Many beers tonight.

[ari666]

i dunno. i would love to say "good on ya" but to be honest, i dont agree with the rims, i dont agree with the flutes, i dont agree with the chevy badge in the engine bay, i dont agree with the grille...

i kinda like the pics of the original car TBH. hey, im ready for you to flame, and its your car and im sure you love it.. but personally i prefer the peach version.

*flame suit engaged*

edit* after all that flame... can i have your number plates? $$$$$

[Morton]

I got all wet looking at those first two pics of the car with the pink paint job and MINT red interior. Gets me all hot and sweaty. That was a bargain pickup for the price

[QAZYHQ]

i dunno. i would love to say "good on ya" but to be honest, i dont agree with the rims, i dont agree with the flutes, i dont agree with the chevy badge in the engine bay, i dont agree with the grille...

i kinda like the pics of the original car TBH. hey, im ready for you to flame, and its your car and im sure you love it.. but personally i prefer the peach version.

*flame suit engaged*

edit* after all that flame... can i have your number plates? $$$$$

No harm , your opinion....I dont like the rims either(Got them dirt cheap and they fit) ...normally have the gts 14" rims on. 15" Convo pro's on order though.
Will be doing the sons HQ next but as a stocker....mustard yellow factory 253 72mdl 4 door. This time he helps.
Sry on number plates : Keepers!

[TrikkBen]

Is that ment to be "CrazyHQ"?

If so, Fail plates....

I agree with ari, It had style as a Factory car, now it looks like a generic over modified 4 door...

each to his own.... Have Fun

Ben

[acarmody]

Looks great IMO. I personally would have kept the red interior, but ditched the floor for some matching carpet. But red interior would still have matched black exterior. But all-in-all, love it.

[Calaber]

I like what you have done too. That original colour was called "Rose" or something similar, I think - I can remember when it was introduced in 1972 and one drove past. My first thought was "spew". I still think that way. Pink on a GTR - fine (well, Strike Me Pink, anyway) but a pink HQ?

Of course, it wasn't a very popular colour, and the rarity value of leaving the car original might have paid off in years to come, but I like everything except the wheels, and you've covered that point. Good work.

[50LTRv8]

Dam, some of you are harsh. The car looks bloody fantastic. I don't mind the wheels all that much either, as for the inside, you do know that that is vinyl, right? and I would much refer buckets over the bench seat anyway.

[Trevor 062]

yeah damm those critics, It looks good mate nice to see the old Holdens getting around.

[SyK3]

Awsome looking car, i like how much work you put into it.

Do you have any build up photos? some from when you started ?

I like the origanal but after scrolling down i think you have done a real nice job on making a car as you want it.

I hope it brings you many great trips and cruising out on the road

[old mate]

can't wait to see it rolling on some convo pros. did the gts seats have that houndstooth inserts?

looks nice

[vk.jonno]

veryyyyy nice
were did u get the gts parts from

[vk.jonno]

if u need a factory 250 i have a recod one u mite b interested in?

[ari666]

yeah i didnt really mention the fact that the rest of the car looks just awesome. i know how much work it is getting a car that flat and you have done really well.

also: convo pros on old girls like this make my pants all tingly.

edit* p.s. i meant to original plates on the peach photo. i have a set of black and whites but i dont think i can use them cos' dunno who the owner is.

[vk.jonno]

ari do u want to use them on the impala or the vk?

[old mate]

old girls make my pants all tingly.

quoted for truth.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

if u need a factory 250 i have a recod one u mite b interested in?

Why would he want to put a Ford 6 cylinder in it?

Anyway, very nice job mate. Only things i don't like are the wheels and the GTS flutes (for me, only acceptable on a genuine GTS) however, it sounds like you have the wheels sorted. I think it would look better with original Centrelines than Convos but thats personal taste...In the mean time i'd be sticking to the GTS rims over the wheels you have on it now.

Other than those couple of things, very tidy car mate.

Also, your sons HQ, is that Autumn Gold? Very rare colour that, i do like it though.....If it is that colour, please paint it the same again.

[QAZYHQ]

can't wait to see it rolling on some convo pros. did the gts seats have that houndstooth inserts?

looks nice

no ...all black GTS/4 option 30x 3 seams parallel for inserts. Convo's cheaper from states by 600 clams...that included shipping!
they hurt to buy here

[QAZYHQ]

yeah i didnt really mention the fact that the rest of the car looks just awesome. i know how much work it is getting a car that flat and you have done really well.

also: convo pros on old girls like this make my pants all tingly.

edit* p.s. i meant to original plates on the peach photo. i have a set of black and whites but i dont think i can use them cos' dunno who the owner is.

The original plates are the keepers.!

[QAZYHQ]

Do you have any build up photos? some from when you started ?

I like the origanal but after scrolling down i think you have done a real nice job on making a car as you want it.

I hope it brings you many great trips and cruising out on the road

Sure do ....too many ...Ill pop them up in sequence from time to time....or ill b here for 2 weeks uploading.



beggining stages ...red oxide over all bare metal ....nothing to repair...acrylic came off like butter being so old. panels all good except for bottom of rear quarter..small dint but popped out, light fill.
Oxide is to store it while panel shop awaits it...saved alot $$$ on the overall cost by stripping the pink myself. Floorpan was amazing.the ol fella put some ruskill stuff on them years ago and saved me the usual heartache of welding in new ones!

[Jo3_Blo]

Yeah gotta say I loved the originality of the vehicle in the first pics, and reckon its a real shame to change it so much and lose the originality. But on the other hand, it looks pretty sick now. I especially love the new interior. Looks real tough.

Good stuff mate.

[Ado]

Car looks great and well done on a good job.I would have loved to find one in such a rare colour and trim and would have looked great restored back to original but what you have done is just as good.Looks like a nice GTS 4 door replica.
PS HQ = Best car ever.

[woteva]

Awesome !! i just love the HQ series.