VQ STATESMAN & CAPRICE [9396 BUILT]

HOLDEN DEVELOPED its HQ Statesman on the longer wagon wheelbase for a big back seat. It and its Caprice brother lasted until 1985 with the (HQ-based) WB. The development of the wider, longer VN series cars allowed Holden to once again produce a set of luxury big twins: The VQ series Statesman and Caprice. The VQ was noted for being the first volume-selling Aussie sedan to feature independent rear suspension (although VW and Austin/ Morris enthusiasts might disagree!). Powered at first only by the freshly fuel-injected Holden 5.0-litre V8, the VQ also featured automatic set-and-forget climate control and speed-sensitive power steering, two techs that (as well as the IRS) would trickle down to Commodore models in the VP series.