Holden WB

The Holden WB series is an automobile which was produced by Holden in Australia from 1980 to 1984. It is a facelifted version of the Holden HZ series, which it replaced. Unlike the HZ and every other full size Holden series before it, the Holden WB was only offered in commercial vehicle bodystyles with no sedan or wagon passenger car variants. The long-wheelbase WB series models were marketed under the separate Statesman marque, absent of all Holden branding.

Holden WB
Overview
ManufacturerHolden (General Motors)
ProductionApril 1980–1984
AssemblyAustralia
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size
Body style2-door cab chassis
2-door coupe utility
2-door panel van
RelatedStatesman WB
Powertrain
Engine3.3 L I6
4.2 L V8
Transmission3-speed manual
4-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
WheelbaseCab chassis: 3,058 mm (120.4 in)
Utility/van: 2,895 mm (114.0 in)
LengthCab chassis: 4,990 mm (196.5 in)
Utility/van: 4,940 mm (194.5 in)
Width1,887 mm (74.3 in)
HeightCab chassis: 1,420 mm (55.9 in)
Utility: 1,395 mm (54.9 in)
Van: 1,603 mm (63.1 in)
Chronology
PredecessorHolden HZ

Model range

The Holden WB series was released in April 1980, the range consisting of two coupe utility models, a panel van and a cab chassis truck.[1] The Kingswood panel van, Sandman utility and Sandman panel van models were not carried over from the HZ commercial range. The WB range therefore consisted of:

  • Holden (utility and van)
  • Holden Kingswood (utility)
  • Holden One Tonner (cab chassis)

The Kingswood utility featured a black grate style grille and rectangular headlights, unlike the more basic models which shared a divided grille with circular headlights.[2] In August 1980, the base models received an update which gave them the same frontal treatment as the Kingswood utility.[1]

Plans to produce sedan and wagon versions of the Holden WB reached an advanced stage but ultimately were not pursued.[3] These variants would have supplemented the new Holden Commodore models in the family car market.[3]

Statesman
Main article: Statesman (automobile)

The Statesman WB range of long-wheelbase luxury sedans, developed by General Motors-Holden’s in parallel with the Holden WB series, was released in May 1980.[1] Like their Statesman HZ predecessors, the two models in the Statesman WB range, the de Ville and the Caprice, were marketed as "Statesman" rather than as "Holden".[4]

  • Holden WB utility
  • Holden One Tonner (WB), early with circular headlights
  • Holden WB panel van
  • 1979 Holden Kingswood (WB) sedan (prototype)

Powertrain

A 3.3-litre inline six cylinder engine was standard equipment and a 4.2-litre V8 was offered as an option.[1] The 5.0-litre V8 option was not carried over from the HZ range, yet was available by special request.

Production

The WB series was discontinued in late 1984. Production of the Holden WB and related Statesman WB models totalled 60,231 vehicles.[1] No replacement for the Holden WB was offered initially,[5] bringing to an end a continuous 34-year run of light commercial models based on Holden passenger cars. This market segment would however be contested by Holden again from 1990 when the VN Commodore-based VG Utility was released.[5]

References
  1. Terry Bebbington & Michel A Malik, 45 Years of Holden, 1994, pages 72-74
  2. "Holden WB Technical Specifications". www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  3. Tony Davis, Ewan Kennedy & Alisator Kennedy, The Holden Heritage, Eighth Edition, 1998, page 59
  4. Tony Davis and John Wright, Spotlight on Holden Commodore 1978-1988, (Including HSV and Statesman WB), 1994, page 9
  5. Terry Bebbington & Michel A Malik, 45 Years of Holden, 1994, page 140
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