The first two letters will state simply whether the vehicle is an 'EJ' or 'EH'.
Chassis Type
215 - Standard Sedan
219 - Standard Station Sedan
225 - Special Sedan
229 - Special Station Sedan
235 Premier Sedan
239 Premier Station Sedan
2104 Panel Van
2106 Coupe-Utility
Transmission Type
The 'M' or 'A' that followsthe Chassis Type indicates Manual or Automatic
Chassis Number
The chassis number starts after the dash, and is followed by a final letter
A - Adelaide
B - Brisbane (assembly only)
M - Melbourne
S - Sydney
P - Perth (assembly only)
NZ - New Zealand (assembly only)
Trim:
The Trim code is in two parts and the first part which is 3 or four digits indicates the paint scheme used. The second part starting with 'B' or 'C' followed by two digits indicates the interior trim itself. Refer to the Interior Trim Code Identification Page for more details.
HK to HQ Holden VIN Plate
The VIN plate is located on the upper horizontal surface of the firewall in the engine bay. The VIN consists of 13 characters (letters and numbers), as per the example below. All HK Holdens are fitted with two identification plates, and have a chassis number stamped onto the firewall centre above the transmission hump. All HK series Monaros have the thin VIN plate fitted on the under bonnet cowl section in front of the passenger. Early HK Monaros had the larger "Body Plate" fitted to the firewall, directly above the chassis number.
The remainder had the body plate located on the under bonnet cowl in front of the driver. All HK Holdens had a chassis number beginning with HK, followed by 5 numerals, and ending with letter(s) indicating the plant it was assembled in - SS (Sydney), BB (Brisbane), A (Adelaide) and M (Melbourne). For example HK23114SS. For Sydney and Brisbane cars, the second S or B is stamped below the first one and normally in a different stamp with a shallower impression.
SAMPLE HOLDEN VIN PLATE
Section #1
Section #2
Section #3
Section #4
Section #5
8-
0737-
G-
H5-
14329
Holden
Monaro GTS
HK
Built in Pagewood, Sydney
build #14329
Decoding
There are 5 sections that make up the VIN number;
Section 1 First digit Vehicle Manufacturer
Section 2 Second to Fifth Digits Series Designation
Section 3 Sixth Digit Model Series
Section 4 Seventh and Eighth digits Assembly Plant
Section 5 Ninth to Thirteenth digit Vehicle Sequence Number
Section #1 Vehicle Manufacturer
8 = Holden
Section #2 Series Designation
0269 = Belmont Sedan V* (HQ SS)
0337 = Monaro (HK)*
0337 = Monaro L6 (HT/G/Q)
0437 = Monaro V8 (HT/G/Q)
0737 = Monaro GTS (HK)*
0737 = Monaro GTS L6 (HT/G/Q)
0837 = Monaro GTS V8 (HT/G/Q)
1137 = Monaro LS L6 (HQ)
1237 = Monaro LS V8 (HQ)
1837 = Monaro GTS 327 (HK)
1837 = Monaro GTS 350 (HT/G/Q)
* Note the VIN system did not differentiate between L6 and V8 engines in the HK series. Eg A 0737 designation HK series Monaro could have been fitted with either the 186S six cylinder or the 307 Chevrolet engine.
Section #3 Model Series
K = HK
T = HT
G = HG
Q = HQ
Section #4 Assembly Plant
H1, H2 = Acacia Ridge, Brisbane
H5, H6, H7 = Pagewood, Sydney
J1, J2, J3 = Dandenong, Melbourne
L1, L2 = Elizabeth Adelaide
L6 = Mosman Park, Perth
Section #5 Vehicle Sequence Number
The number relates directy to the vehicle sequence number for a particulat plant. When a numbe reaches 99999, the assembly plant identification code (section four) was raised by one number eg H5 chanes to H6 and the vehicle sequence number returns to zero.
HQ Holden from July 1971 to September 1972 VIN Plate
The VIN plate is located on the upper horizontal surface of the firewall in the engine bay.
SAMPLE HQ HOLDEN July 1971 to September 1972 VIN PLATE
Section #1
Section #2
Section #3
Section #4
Section #5
Section #6
8-
03-
37-
Q-
H7-
08182
Holden
6 Cylinder
Monaro Coupe
HQ
Built in Pagewood, Sydney
build #8182
Section #1: GM Divison
8 = Holden
Section #2: Luxury & Engine Size
01: 6 cylinder Belmont
02: 8 cylinder Belmont & SS Sedan
03: 6 cylinder Kingswood & Monaro
04: 8 cylinder Kingswood & Monaro
08: 8 cylinder GTS
11: 6 cylinder Premier & LS Monaro
12: 8 cylinder Premier & LS Monaro
14: 8 cylinder Statesman De Ville
15: 6 cylinder Statesman
16: 8 cylinder Statesman
18: 350 GTS
** 04 were also used for early HQ GTS/4 optioned cars (GTS sedan)
Section #3: Body Code
69: Sedan
37: Coupe
35: Wagon
70: Panel Van
80: Utility.
Section #4: Series Code
Q: HQ 7/71
Section #5: Assembly Plant
H1, H2 = Acacia Ridge, Brisbane
H5, H6, H7 = Pagewood, Sydney
J1, J2, J3 = Dandenong, Melbourne
L1, L2 = Elizabeth Adelaide
L6 = Mosman Park, Perth
Section #6: Serial Number
This is the number of the car off the production line at it's identified plant - the number relates directy to the vehicle sequence number for a particulat plant. When a number reaches 99999, the assembly plant identification code (section #4) was raised by one number eg H5 chanes to H6 and the vehicle sequence number returned to zero.
Trim codes are the best way to ID optioned Belmont through to HQ Monaro GTS/4.
HQ Holden from September 1972 VIN Plate
The VIN plate for post September 1972 to WB Model Holdens is located on the upper horizontal surface of the firewall in the engine bay.
We hope you enjoyed Part 1 of "The Holden Story - The First 25 Years". Part 2 is available on the Holden HK to WB review page. We also recommend the Holden Heritage and Holden History pages, along with others dedicated to old Holden radio and TV commercials, along with old Holden Brochures.