1973 Holden HQ Statesman DeVille 350ci V8 - Concours Covert Metallic

83 photos

New Mortdale, NSW, 2223

1973 Holden HQ Statesman DeVille 350ci V8 - Concours Covert Metallic

$219,000

Odometer 531 km

Body type Sedan

Fuel Petrol

Transmission M41 - Turbo 400 3Sp Auto

Vehicle Overview

1973 Holden Statesman DeVille.

The HQ Statesman DeVille represented the upper limit of Australian luxury motoring in the early 1970s, combining the formal presence of a long-wheelbase sedan with the effortless character of Chevrolet's 350-cubic-inch V8. This 1973 example is an especially rare specification, pairing the desirable DeVille body with the larger V8, a Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission and a restrained Covert Metallic finish.

Its appeal begins with the proportions. The extended Statesman body provides a substantial road presence while creating generous space for rear passengers, a defining advantage over the standard Holden sedan range. The factory Covert Metallic paint is complemented by a beige vinyl roof and Chestnut interior trim, including the ultra-rare NOS Chestnut trim specified for this car. Together, the colours give the car an authentic period character without compromising the visual impact expected of a flagship Holden.

The car has undergone a comprehensive bare-metal, chassis-off restoration completed in 2023. The solid body was refinished in factory Covert Metallic using a clear-over-base two-pack system, and the restoration work is documented with photographs and receipts. Attention has also been given to the mechanical specification, preserving the character of the original drivetrain rather than replacing it with a more modern interpretation.

Under the bonnet is the matching-numbers 350 V8, which has been blueprinted and balanced. The original date-code-correct Rochester carburettor has been rebuilt, while the Turbo 400 automatic transmission has also been rebuilt. Power is delivered through a 3.08-ratio limited-slip Salisbury differential, and a full stainless-steel exhaust system runs from the front to the rear. Factory power steering adds to the car's ease of use, making the large sedan more manageable in everyday manoeuvring and relaxed touring.

This Statesman was originally ordered through Motors Pty Ltd in Hobart, Tasmania. Unlike many DeVille examples, it was specified without air-conditioning or power windows, a combination associated with its original Tasmanian ordering context. The sought-after T-bar automatic shifter was selected, retaining an important element of the car's period luxury equipment and giving the cabin a distinctive driver-focused detail.

Only 600 350 V8-powered Statesman DeVilles were built, and the HQ version is regarded as one of the most desirable variants of the model. The combination of limited production, matching-numbers mechanicals, documented restoration work and the factory colour and trim specification gives this example considerable historical interest. It is a carefully restored expression of the era when a large Australian sedan could serve as both a status statement and a genuinely spacious long-distance car.

1973 Holden HQ Statesman DeVille
350-cubic-inch V8 with matching numbers
Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission
3.08-ratio limited-slip Salisbury differential
Covert Metallic exterior with beige vinyl roof
Chestnut interior trim
Factory power steering
Full stainless-steel exhaust system
Four doors and five-seat cabin
Holden Historical Services report and two sets of keys

Other highlights include Odometer: 531 km; Powertrain: Petrol; Transmission: M41 - Turbo 400 3sp Auto; Engine or motor: L30 - 350ci V8; Exterior colour: 567-15331 - Covert Metallic; Interior colour: 1864-39N - Chestnut.