The Chevrolet Constantia is an automobile which was marketed by Chevrolet in South Africa from 1969 to 1978, as a rebadged Holden Brougham and later Statesman.
First series The first series Chevrolet Constantia went on sale in May 1969, along with the lower priced Kommando. It was based on the Australian Holden Brougham four-door sedan, but featured a unique frontal treatment. The styling changes were undertaken in General Motors' Port Elizabeth studios in South Africa Out of Africa, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 33, pages 82-87 and the model was locally produced.Chevrolet Constantia, The Observers Book of Automobiles, Sixteen Edition, 1970, page 40 The Constantia was offered with a 4.1 litre six and a 5.0 litre V8. 843 were sold in 1969 followed by 750 in 1970 and 800 in 1971.
AQ series
The AQ series Constantia was introduced in 1972 and was based on another Australian design, the Statesman HQ. Again, frontal styling was different from the Australian model, this time featuring a unique grille based on the 1970 Chevrolet Malibu. The restyling work was a joint effort undertaken in Australia. The AQ Series Constantia was offered with a 4.1-litre six and a 5.0-litre V8. Wheel covers came from the 1971–72 North American Chevelle Malibu.
AJ series The revised AJ series Constantia was marketed in South Africa from 1975 to 1978. It was offered as a four-door sedan, based on the Statesman HJ and as a five-door wagon, based on the Holden HJ wagon. The AJ Series was offered with a 4.1-litre six and a 5.0-litre V8. A more luxurious version was sold as the Chevrolet Caprice Classic.
Sales These are the South African official sales numbers. Year19691970197119721973197419751976197719781st series843750800?AQ?19191167?AJ?1149690173Caprice Classic135306197222
References
External links
1971 Chevrolet Constantia brochure cover at www.flickr.com Chevrolet Constantia (AQ) brochure cover at www.flickr.com 1976 Chevrolet Constantia (AJ) brochure (thumbnails only), www.moby302.co.za, as archive at web.archive.org