Such was the importance
of the all new HQ that Modern Motor released
an LP of their road tests...
1971 would see the first of the
all new HQ model Holden's come off the production
line. They remain a watershed in design and
are easily the most recognisable older Holden
around...
Mercedes were to release the first of the R107
body shape SL's, the 350. The R107 would prove
so popular, it would remain in production until
1989...
BMW would release the sensational "CS"
series in 1971, arguably the best and most
collectable BMW's to date...
 At $378 million, the 4 wheel steering Apollo
15 moon buggy was the most expensive mode
of transport in 1971...
1971 would see Charles Manson and three members
of "The Family" convicted of the
murder of Actress Sharon Tate and six others
in 1969...
Vic Gordon, Grigor Taylor, Michael Pate and
Paul Cronin were the original "Matlock
Police", a highly successful police drama
to run on Channel 0 for 5 years... |
The HQ Holden Release
The biggest news on the automotive
front for 1971 was the release of the all-new HQ Holden, the
new model bringing about
major changes and improvements to all Holden variants.
Modem Motor magazine editors said that an 8800 kilometre
test of the HQ Kingswood had shown that the new model
"raised the average family man's car to above average
status".
In many other quarters, the HQ Holden was
hailed as the most significant Holden since the original
48-215. As well as introducing new versions of the previous
Holden sedans, wagons and coupes, the range included
a new long wheelbase luxury model called Statesman
(the Brougham designation being dropped).
The HQ's
six-cylinder engines were carried over from the HG,
but with a longer stroke to increase the capacity.
Two versions of the local V8 were offered with the
imported Chevrolet '350' available in the Monaro. The
HQ was the first Holden built with a semi-chassis frame
(to improve rigidity and reduce noise and vibration)
and it introduced other new features including flow-through
ventilation and four-wheel coil springing.
During the
three years the HQ series stayed in production, various
'Specials', such as the Vacationer option package,
were announced. The sporty Holden SS V8 sedan featured
a four-speed manual gearbox and many Monaro details
- few realised its Belmont origins.
The Statesman, which replaced the Brougham, was built
on the extended wagon wheelbase and was 26 cm longer
than the other sedans. It was available in Custom
and De Ville versions. The HQ range also included
utilities, panel vans and Holden's first cab/chassis
truck.
The HQ design placed a considerable emphasis
on safety, and during its life nearly half a million
HQs were sold. That made it easily the biggest selling
single Holden model range, although the sales were
made over a longer period than previous models.
Rob Luck and Bobo Faulkner in the HQ Holden |
If
your up for it, why not put yourself into the drivers
seat and let Rob Luck, Bobo Faulkner and the V8
engine of the 1971 Holden Monaro take you for a ride
down memory lane.
Ford's XY Falcon Battles It Out
1971 would not bode well for Ford, given the fanfare that accompanied the release of the HQ Holden, and Chrysler too were to launch their all new VH Valiant. That left the XY Falcon to battle it out, by now a somewhat aging design - it being the final expression of a theme introduced 5 years earlier with the XR Falcon. Few back then would have realised just how highly prized the XY would eventually become.
The XY did however enjoy better than expected sales given the stiff competition,
some buyers obviously not all too impressed with the more modern designs on offer from GMH or Chrysler. It also helped that the fleet buyers loved the XY, it by now having established a stellar reputation for reliability and durability. Taxi operators too started their trend towards using the solid, familiar Ford.
With the US Falcon's being dropped, that left Ford Australia to design their very first all-Aussie car, the XA Falcon, however we would have to wait until the 24th February, 1972 to see the outcome.
Big News In Car Safety
The big news on the automotive safety front for 1971
came from Chrysler, who introduced a brake-slip control
system, (an early version of antilock brakes). 1971
would also see BMW intorduce their wonderful CS coupes - arguably the best of all BMW classics. Ignoring the
under-powered 2000CS of the early days, other CS coupes
had the best six-cylinder engines in the world - powerful,
smooth and refined. All CS coupes offered the remarkable
build quality and driver comforts, plus exceptional
handling for a 4-passenger car.
In other motoring news, Leyland Australia announced
plans to build a large family car, later to be designate
the " P76"; Dunlop released its first slick
racing tyre; British Leyland showed off its electric
mini-car prototype, and Radial tyres were tipped to
replace all other forms in the coming years.
Perhaps
the most expensive automobile to be driven that year
was by the team aboard the Apollo 15 spaceship. The
$378 million dollar "buggy" featured four
wheel steering, but gave little concession to creature
comforts.
The introduction of legislation to make the wearing
of seat belts compulsory in Western Australia was first
considered by Cabinet at a meeting on 1 July 1971.
Victoria had already passed similar legislation six
months earlier and found that its death toll fell by
20 percent.
The WA Police Minister advised Cabinet that only one
of the 72 people killed on WA roads in the same period
had been wearing a seat belt. Of the 1656 injured,
a staggering 92.6% were not wearing belts.
The Minister
considered it an urgent matter in the interests of
humanity, and for reasons of economy and pressure on
hospital accommodation and services. On 13 July 1971,
the West Australian Cabinet approved the drafting of
legislation to amend the Traffic Act to make the wearing
of belts compulsory. New South Wales also introduced
similar legislation that year. Naturally the Seat
Belt Safety Campaigns were
soon to follow - and soon the unfamiliar would become
familiar, the wearing of seat-belts almost second nature.
By 1973, legislation had been passed in all Australian
States and Territories for compulsory wearing of fitted
seat belts in motor vehicles and the wearing of protective
helmets by motor cycle riders and their pillion passengers.
Charles Manson And The Family
In International news, Charles Manson and three members
of "The Family" would be convicted of the
murder of Actress Sharon Tate and six others in 1969. One of the lesser known things about Manson was that he befriended Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys fame during the late 1960's.
It was a time of upheaval in Wilson's personal life.
He had divorced his wife Carol and soon found himself caught up in a lifestyle where drugs were readily available. Hanging out with the likes of Manson was indicative of the dark place he found himself in. Togther, Wilson and Manson wrote a song, "Never Learn Not to Love." It was included on the Beach Boys album 20/20, released in early 1969.
Dennis's friendship with Manson ended abruptly when Manson became incensed that he was not given a published credit for writing the song. Following the Tate/LaBianca murders, Dennis received threatening calls from Manson's cult warning him that he was next.
He often awoke in the morning to find that the furniture in his home had been mysteriously rearranged during the night.
Dennis could finally relax in 1971 after Manson was securely behind bars.
The Vietnam War Spreads
In other world news, the war in Vietnam intensified and spread to Cambodia
before the impact of anti-war demonstrations forced
the Americans to withdraw. After the tanks of North
Vietnam rolled into Saigon, the world witnessed the
"killing fields" of Cambodia and the phenomena
of the "boat people".
India would invade
the Eastern Province, expelling the Pakistani forces
and creating the new country of Bangladesh.
Back home, William McMahon was to replace John Gorton
as PM after Gorton, faced with a split vote following
a 'no-confidence' motion, was to cast the deciding vote
against himself!
The highly acclaimed American childrens series Sesame
Street began to air on the ABC in 1971, while over
at Channel 0 (10) a new weekly police drama was to
hit the small screen - Matlock Police. The Crawford
Productions serial was to enjoy a 5 year run, and nearly
all Australians that were around to enjoy the show
will no doubt remember constable Gary Hogan of Solo
One (Paul Cronin) continually radioing "Shirl" at
base.
GTV9 also debuted some of their new shows, however
we doubt anyone at the time would have forseen the
enormous popularity of "Hey Hey It's Saturday" hosted
by Daryl Somers and his pink feathered friend Ozzie
Ostrich. A Current Affair also launched, and was hosted
by Mike Willesee. 
Formula One Championship: Jackie Stewart (Britain) / Tyrrell-Ford
1971 Bathurst Winner: Allan Moffat / XY Falcon
GTHO
NRL Grand Final: South Sydney (16)
def. St. George (10)
VFL/AFL Grand Final: Hawthorn (12.10.82) def.
St. Kilda (11.9.75)
Melbourne Cup: Silver Knight (R.
B. Marsh)
Wimbledon Women: Evonne Goolagong d.
M. Court (6-4 6-1)
Wimbledon Men: John Newcombe d. S.
Smith (6-3 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4)
The Movies:
- The French Connection (number #3 in our Top 5 Car Chase Movies)
- A Clockwork Orange
- The Last Picture Show
- Fiddler on the Roof
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Academy Awards:
- Best Picture - The French Connection
- Best Actor - Gene Hackman (The French Connection)
- Best Actress - Jane Fonda (Klute)
Gold Logie: Gerard Kennedy (Division
4, Nine) and Maggie Tabberer
The Charts:
- Eagle Rock - Daddy Cool
- Pushbike Song - The Mixtures
- Maggie May - Rod Stewart
- I Don't Know How To Love Him - Helen Reddy
- Love Is A Beautiful Song - Dave Mills
- The Banks Of the Ohio - Olivia Newton John
- Black Night - Deep Purple
- Daddy Cool - Drummod
- L.A. International Airport - Susan Raye
- Love Story - Andy Williams
Farewells:
- Duane Allman (Legendary Southern Rocker)
- J.C. Penney (Founder of one of the US's most famous
retail stores)
- Igor Stravinsky (Russian composer)
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