1,014-PS Statesman HQ restomod goes on auction Down Under

The rare and expensive Statesman HQ sedan made in Australia is a rare sight on streets nowadays, but a lavishly restored MY1974 example is heading to auction right now. There is no reserve, but we fully expect it to cash in big, thanks to packing a thousand horses under the hood and boasting dozens of show awards.

The tuner who worked with the car is none other than Matt McIntosh, a well-known restorer. The Stateman sedan he picked for the project was made by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. By the time it went on sale, Holden already had an HQ car lineup, but it felt that it needed to distance itself from the new “Stateman” sub-brand. As such, the car had no Holden badges or lettering anywhere and was marketed as a standalone development for the discerning customer.

Matt McIntosh had spent five long years restoring this example to its former glory – and beyond. He decided to go for a sleeker, better-rounded body shape, so he shortened both bumpers and redesigned the front grille and the hood. He then put staggered wheels into the arches – 20x9” at the front and 22x14” at the back. While somewhat odd-looking on a 1970s-era classic, their Rose Gold finish still stands out nicely against a bluish grey body.

Inside, the whole front panel was trimmed with leather, the dashboard became digital and all four seats were replaced with racing buckets clad in leather and suede. As for the powertrain, it was swapped to a modern one capable of 1,014 PS (1,000 hp / 747 kW). The suspension and the brakes are all-new as well, and a modern AT drives the wheels through a differential.

The car took part in the latest Summernats 35 festival in Australia and won top prizes for engineering, bodywork, powertrain, undercarriage design and engine bay design, just to name a few.