True Believers Rejoice - The Holden One Tonner Rides Again

While the Monaro has made its triumphant return, there’s another Holden comeback that true blue believers have been awaiting with equally eager anticipation.

Their patience will be rewarded, as the Holden cab chassis light commercial, working man’s icon of the 70s and 80s, is set to ride again.

Next week at the Melbourne Motor Show, Holden will whip the covers off a sedan-derivative, cab chassis light truck to be known – what else? – as the One Tonner.

Although it doesn’t go on sale until mid-year and full details on specification and features won’t be released for some time, Holden says diehard fans can be assured that the reborn One Tonner is more than capable of carrying the flame lit by its predecessors – and a lot more besides.

Alan Blazevic, Holden’s Marketing Manager, Light Commercials, says the last One Tonner, the WB model, was phased out of production early in 1985, just over six years after the advent of the all-new Commodore passenger range.

“And I have to say that there are some people who have never forgiven us for it,” he added. “There’s a remarkable number of One Tonners out there, still on the road and still on the job – which speaks as much about owner loyalty as it does about Holden durability,” he said.

“In 1998, when newspapers urged readers to send us ‘bring back the Monaro’ faxes, you’d be surprised how many requested the return of the one tonner as well – and in no uncertain terms. I’m confident that these people, as well as an entirely new generation of Holden light commercial buyers, will be very happy indeed with what we have in store for them,” Mr Blazevic concluded.

Holden One Tonner Heritage
The Holden One Tonner – so named for its carrying capacity – made its entrance in November 1971 as part of the landmark HQ range. Built on an extended 3058mm wheelbase with a full-length box section chassis, and offering a choice of six cylinder or V8 power, it was Australia’s first passenger car-based light truck.

With a cabin section similar to the ute (featuring new ‘flow-thru’ ventilation), the One Tonner could be fitted with a big range of custom bodies, including flat-top, dropside and stakeside trays, pantech-style and campers.

The One Tonner cab chassis was an immediate sales success, along with the rest of the HQ line-up. It remained, essentially unchanged externally, as the heavy duty light commercial staple of successive HJ, HX and HZ Holden model ranges.

In April 1980, the One Tonner was the first of the six-model WB Holden series (it included a panel van, two utilities, Statesman DeVille and Caprice) to be introduced. Facelifted for the first time since 1971, it shared the same front end sheet metal as the utes and panel van.

The still-unique WB One Tonner benefited from the fitment of new XT5 3.3 litre six-cylinder and ‘blue’ 4.2 litre V8 engines introduced with the VC Commodore. At launch, it was priced at $6,940, with a dropside tray option at $809.

Like the rest of the WB series, it remained in production for almost five years.

WB One Tonner is Tim’s Pride
Tim Marano was yet to be born when his WB One Tonner rolled off the Holden production line in 1982. While he was growing up, it plied its trade around Sydney, lugging heavy spray painting gear and clocking upwards of 350,000 kilometres.

These days, the WB’s original V8 powerplant sports chrome rocker covers and occupies a fully detailed engine bay. The former workhorse now carries nothing but several coats of high polish on its custom finished timber-floored tray and a proud 19 year-old owner who takes it to car club meets for the admiration of fellow enthusiasts.

“People really like it. I bought it three years ago because I really liked the look – it was something a bit different – and I’ve spent a fair bit of time and money on it since. How much? Thousands .. that’s all I’m going to admit! “ Tim Marano says.

Tim, of Mt Hunter, NSW, is keen to check out the new One Tonner when it hits Holden showrooms in a few months’ time.

“I know from the comments I get about mine that a lot of people have been hanging out for Holden to bring another one out. I don’t think I’ll be trading mine, though. I love it too much.”