DESCRIPTION
When Holden introduced the downsized Commodore in the late 1970s there was sufficient demand from Australian luxury car buyers to keep the full-size Statesman in production and a heavily revised model, badged the WB, was unveiled in April 1980. Under the direction of Holden designer Leo Pruneu, the latest Statesman had come a long way from the original HQ of 1971, with the sheet metal cleverly reworked to create harmonious, attractive design for a new decade. Only the front quarter panels, doors, windscreen and bonnet were shared with the outgoing HZ and the extended roofline, with its distinctive five-window side treatment, resulted in more head and legroom for rear seat passengers. Holden’s latest Statesman DeVille and Caprice models were imposing cars and a credible alternative to the more expensive European models of the day, offering plenty of luxury and exclusivity at a reasonable price. The Statesman’s cabin was entirely new, featuring a revamped dash fascia and instruments, Commodore-sourced seats covered in soft cord upholstery (with vinyl optional) and a long list of standard features, including an AM/FM radio cassette player, electric aerial, power windows and air conditioning. The Caprice added a new digital radio/cassette, electric mirrors, optional leather upholstery and a dash-mounted trip computer. Under the bonnet, Holden’s 5.0-litre V8 engine was mated to a T-bar automatic transmission (the Trimatic three-speed was used from 1981 onwards), with smooth delivery and plenty of low down torque. GMH’s engineers revised the suspension settings, with variable rate rear springs and thicker anti-roll bars fitted at the rear for a more supple ride and tauter handling. Disc brakes were employed all round and the steering had power assistance. From August 1983 the Series II model came with better equipment levels, new soft tweed cloth trim on the DeVille and a satin silver finished instrument fascia. Proving a worthy competitor for Ford’s Fairlane/LTD at last, the final WB Statesman rolled off the production line in 1985, marking the end of an era and in total some 60,231 were built. Today, the WB Statesmen enjoys a loyal following amongst Holden enthusiasts and good examples continue to be sought after.

HISTORY
- Tidy example WB Statesman DeVille
- Suit the Holden collector or enthusiast
- Offered at No Reserve

A good example of Holden’s classic luxury car, this WB Statesman is a DeVille model finished in Firethorn (burgundy) with contrasting Buckskin cloth upholstery and all the usual options like cruise control, power windows and an electric aerial. Being an early build, the car features GM’s Turbo 350 transmission and drives well – the current owner advises he has sorted the front end, tuned the engine, fitted new tyres and serviced the car since buying it. The big Holden wears its relatively high mileage (the odometer is showing 381,480kms) well, with the seats, carpet and interior generally presenting in good condition – even the original push button radio/cassette player is still there. Driven sparingly to car shows and on club runs, the Holden is currently registered in Queensland until February 2019 and will therefore be sold unregistered and at No Reserve.

Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.