HOLDEN MONARO SERIES HK HT HG

HOLDEN MONARO SERIES HK HT HG

The Holden Monaro (mon-ah-ro) is a rear wheel drive coupé that was produced by Holden between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2006. Three generations of the Monaro have been produced, with the last spawning an all wheel-drive variant, export models and various concept cars.

The HK Monaro GTS327 gave Holden its first victory in the Bathurst 500 in 1968 at the hands of Bruce McPhee and co-driver Barry Mulholland. Whilst Mulholland only drove one of the total 130 race laps, McPhee drove the remainder and also scored both pole position and fastest lap of the race.

Norm Beechey drove a HK Monaro GTS327 to third place in the 1969 Australian Touring Car Championship, the first time the ATCC was held as a series rather than a single race. Beechey showed the capabilities of the Monaro when he won the final two rounds of the five round series at Surfers Paradise and Symmons Plains.

In early 1969 the HK Monaro range was awarded Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year for 1968.

In June 1969, the HK Monaro was replaced by the facelifted HT Monaro.The ‘GTS 327’ became the ‘GTS 350’ with the replacement of the Chevrolet 327 in3 (5.4 L) V8 by the 300 bhp (224 kW) Chevrolet 350 in3 (5.7 L) V8. As the Monaro was Holden’s main car in Series Production racing, this was primarily in response to Ford who had released the Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase I in 1969 which was powered by the 351 Windsor V8 engine (5.8 L). There was also an automatic version of the ‘GTS 350’ introduced which used a lower power version of the 350 in3 (5.7 L) engine coupled to a 2-speed Powerglide transmission.

Released on 26 July 1970, the HG Monaro was the last of the original coupé design concept. HG had cleaner lines with brightwork reduced and some re-designed. The HG sported different striping (delete options) which were known as “sidewinder” stripes which ran along the top edge of the fenders, under the windows and finishing just before the rear pillar. The “Monaro” badge on both rear pillars was introduced to all models. For the HG GTS, the “GTS” badges now featured black paint fill, received new black-out paint on rocker panels, with the GTS 350 getting bold treatment with new “sidewinder” stripes and bonnet scoop black-outs. “GTS 350” designations now featured gutsier decals on the fenders and boot lid. Wheel arch moldings were deleted on all models.

HOLDEN MONARO SERIES HK HT HG