 The first Statesmans were based on these short-wheelbase Holden HQ variants.Statesman was initially offered in two specifications, an upmarket Statesman de Ville and a basic Statesman Custom.Engines ranged from a Red six-cylinder, a the metric designation given to the 253 was always the 4.2 V8, a V8 and a Chevrolet small-block V8, but the de Ville featured the 308 engine as standard equipment.