Holden WB

The Holden WB series was released in April 1980, the range consisting of two coupe utility models, a panel van and a cab chassis truck.[1] The Kingswood panel van, Sandman utility and Sandman panel van models were not carried over from the HZ commercial range. The WB range therefore consisted of:

• Holden (utility and van)
• Holden Kingswood (utility)
• Holden One Tonner (cab chassis)

The Kingswood utility featured a black grate style grille and rectangular headlights, unlike the more basic models which shared a divided grille with circular headlights.[2] In August 1980, the base models received an update which gave them the same frontal treatment as the Kingswood utility.[1]

Plans to produce sedan and wagon versions of the Holden WB reached an advanced stage but ultimately were not pursued.[3] These variants would have supplemented the new Holden Commodore models in the family car market.[3]

A 3.3-litre inline six cylinder engine was standard equipment and a 4.2-litre V8 was offered as an option.[1] The 5.0-litre V8 option was not carried over from the HZ range, yet was available by special request which was popular with Kingswood model buyers.

The WB series was discontinued in late 1984. Production of the Holden WB and related Statesman WB models totalled 60,231 vehicles.[1] No replacement for the Holden WB was offered initially,[5] bringing to an end a continuous 34-year run of light commercial models based on Holden passenger cars. The gap left by the WB series was then filled by imported and rebadged Isuzu models. This market segment would however be directly contested by Holden again from 1990 when the VN Commodore-based VG Utility was released.[5]