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Rough Start: Hunting For A Holden One Tonner Via Gumtree


Rough Start: Hunting For A Holden One Tonner Via Gumtree

Another day, another shift in the ever-fluid saga of the story titled, “What do I want to drive today?” What can I say, I’m like an addict…not only do I need another fix, I crave change at every turn. I want something new, something exotic, something I just don’t see on a daily basis. Nothing against a good G-body or a tasty Cordoba that has been kept minty fresh for decades, but neither were going to cut it for today’s cheap car hunt, so off to Gumtree I go. Australia’s version of Craigslist isn’t the easiest thing to navigate around, but if you’re inclined to hunt down some iron from Down Under without having to find someone in the business, that’s your best bet. As usual when I make my digital trips to the Southern Hemisphere, the rules for the Rough Start game get twisted up a bit. The purchase price is more of a ballpark figure than an actual $5,000 car, we aren’t taking shipping, Customs charges, inspections or any other transport into consideration (if you’re importing a car, you should already have that bit of coin figured out) and we are sticking with the current U.S. rules, which means 25 years old or older for legality’s sake. 

Today’s find scratches two itches, actually: the classic Aussie muscle-era shape and a truck. It’s a 1973 Holden One Tonner from the HQ era. It might not have the Monaro’s much more recognizable face with the deep grille (in fact, I have no idea if that is a 1973 nose or if it’s from a later model) but no matter…it’s got the basics down pat: 308ci V8, floor-shift auto, just enough bits that need attention to make it work, but it’s together enough that it should be ready to roll on the spot. It’s the perfect alternative to an El Camino, plenty useful, and you can find tons of built versions for inspiration, and there is no need to worry about the HQ’s usefulness as a cargo vehicle. Priced at $6,500 AUD, (about $4,600 USD), that meets the budgetary requirements for the car itself. Now, getting it to port and to your house…that’s on you, buddy.

Gumtree.com.au link: 1973 Holden One Tonner (HQ)


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2 thoughts on “Rough Start: Hunting For A Holden One Tonner Via Gumtree

  1. Brash

    Yeah that’s a HJ nose, so 75-76 if memory serves.

    I love how the ads for these all say ‘rust in all the usual spots’

  2. john T

    and if you dont like that cab, they’re one of the few later model aussie cars with a full chassis. Plenty of them end up losing the cab and gaining a much older body – reasonably good suspension, brakes, steering, running gear, and an LS will fall into that engine bay .. I missed out on a rolling chassis a little while ago, still rego’d too, 253 V8 / 4 speed , everything worked, guy wanted $500 for it. How can you go wrong?

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