1968 - 1969 Holden HK Monaro 1969 - 1970 Holden HT Monaro 1970 - 1971 Holden HG Monaro 1971 - 1974 Holden HQ Monaro 1973 - 1975 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 4 Door 1976 Holden HX Monaro GTS 4 Door 1976 Holden HX LE Coupe 1977 - 1979 Holden HZ GTS 4 Door

There's something about the Monaro name that is infused with nostalgia - if you happen to be an Australasian male. While a few examples of American muscle cars trickled down to Australia and New Zealand, most vehicles in the 1960's and 70's wereeither of English or, to a lesser extent European, origin - or they were big Australian Ford Falcons or Holdens. Somehow a Vauxhall Victor or Zephyr 6 hardly qualified as 'Muscle Car' - no matter what their virtues were.

Things changed with the debut of the Holden Monaro in July 1968. At the launch Holden described it as 'the first sports machine to be designed and engineered in this country.'

Buyers were offered a choice of 19 engine and transmission combinations - including several Chevrolet small block engines with four on the floor. The coupe's instant street credibility was soon backed by unprecedented race and rally success. Monaros had rakish good looks matched to the traditional Holden virtues of longevity and toughness, went through a variety of model changes during its 11 year reign.

Of the thousands of examples that still remain, the majority are in the hands of enthusiast owners who are dedicated to ensuring that the original Monaro legend lives on.

The Origin of the Monaro Name

In late 1967, with nine months to go til its launch, Holden's new sports coupe was still without a name. Its strongly US-influenced design suggested something along the lines of Chevrolet's Camaro, or the Oldsmobile Toronado from which it took several styling cues - but although Holden had sifted through hundreds of suggestions, none seemed to have that special ring.

Then Noel Bedford, a technical stylist and member of Holden's design team, was driving through Cooma, New South Wales, Australia on holiday when a sign on the council offices took his eye: 'It said ÔMonaro County Council' in western-type lettering that reminded me of 'Marlboro Country' and Camaro. It seemed to me so simple and logical. Why didn't somebody think of it before? I was quite excited and couldn't wait to get back to work.' After quickly checking for copyright and dialect meaning, an impromptu board meeting , held next to Noel Bedford's drafting table, instantly approved the name.

'Monaro' is of aboriginal origin, meaning a high plateau or high plain. The coupe shares its name with the Monaro range, which is part of NSW's Snowy Mountains as well as the Monaro Shire, just south of Canberra, ACT.

THE HOLDEN MONARO: 1968 TO 1979

1968 - 1969: Holden HK Monaro Coupe


The impact of the first Monaro will not be forgotten by anyone who swiveled in the street to watch it go by or pressed against the showroom window for a longer look. A product of a brand new Holden design studio, the HK Monaro coupe took a spectacular design direction that was profoundly influenced by automotive trends in the USA. Its striking roofline was modeled on the front drive Oldsmobile Toronado coupe, which was the most sensational US release in 1966 and remains a 20th Century styling beacon. The Monaro shared the same rear pillars, which blend seamlessly into the rear quarter panels, and an almost constant slope from rear window to bootlid. Other Toronado features, like the stylish rear wheel arch blisters, also worked well on the more compact Monaro.

Exterior GTS detailing included a tail panel strip that replicated full-width tail lights, offset bonnet and side stripes, cooling slots in the front guards, stainless steel full wheel covers and grille blackouts. Inside, there were new stitch patterns, ventilated trim, an alloy-spoked steering wheel and centre console. There were 19 Monaro engine and transmission combinations, including the 161 (2.6 litre), 186 (3.0 litre) and 186S six-cylinders, as well as 307 (5.0 litre) and 327 (5.3 litre) Chevrolet V8 power.

The HK Monaro was 1968 Wheels Car of the Year, and a 1968 debut one-two finish in the Sandown 3-Hour (Roberts/Watson) for the Monaro GTS 327 was followed by first (McPhee/Mulholland), second and third outright in the Hardie Ferodo 500 at Bathurst - the forerunner of many Holden enduro victories to come at Mount Panorama.

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1969 - 1970: Holden HT Monaro Coupe

The HT Monaro upgrade exhibited even more of the self-assured and extroverted attitude of the people who chose to drive it. Most dramatic change was a new multi-louvred plastic grille with a raised centre section and Monaro black-outs. The GTS had bold centre bonnet stripes in black or gold, flanked by new bonnet scoops. Beefier two-section taillights separated by a blacked-out tail panel, thicker side stripes and black sills made the GTS look even sleeker. Wild new colours included Sebring Orange and Daytona Bronze. A full set of circular instruments replaced the HK's console-mounted tacho and strip speedo. More contoured bucket seats with optional houndstooth check cloth inserts and a 'grippier' steering wheel were in keeping with the HT's added refinement and special detailing.

A new Y-frame engine cradle and neoprene front suspension bushes isolated harshness from the cabin. The track was widened and fatter rubber bushings in the rear leaf spring eyes matched the gains in the front. The HT was also first to get the Aussie V8, initially as a 253 (4.2 litre), and for many Monaro buyers, it was the perfect choice. The 308 (5.0 litre) version was introduced as Chevrolet 307 stocks ran out. Chevrolet's new 350 (5.7litre) V8, which came in different auto and manual specifications, arrived later, giving engineers extra time to 'fine tune' the GTS 350 sports suspension so it could be the first Holden to offer low profile radial tyres as an option. The limited build GTS 350 manual could also be ordered with rally wheels, another Holden first. In 1969, the first year under Harry Firth, Holden Dealer Team Monaro 350s came first (Bond/Roberts) and third (West/Brock) outright in the Hardie Ferodo 500 at Bathurst. HT GTS motor sport victories in 1970 included the Surfer's Paradise 12-hour race (Bond/Roberts), and the Australian Touring Car Championship (Beechey).

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1970 - 1971: Holden HG Monaro Coupe

Regarded as the most sophisticated of the early Monaro models, the HG is today one of the rarest and most sought-after of the charismatic Holden coupes. Holden designers cleverly removed the detail from the HG's rear lights, providing the illusion of extra size as the lights merged smoothly with the black GTS tail panel. While the more subtle HG mesh grille revived the simplicity of the first Monaro, GTS blackouts highlighted the bold new centre division and surrounds. The deletion of sill and wheel arch mouldings and the addition of black rocker panels around the lower body gave the HG GTS a meaner, sleeker look. Subtle 'sidewinder' stripes that swooped from the rear pillars to the front highlighted the flow in the original Monaro shape. New decals for the 350 engine were a Monaro first. New metallic colours and the lack of bold bonnet and bootlid stripes reflected a clean 'custom-look' and highlighted the 350's quad exhausts.

Engine choice was the same as for final HT models after the local 308 V8 replaced the Chevrolet 307. A new 3-speed Trimatic auto option replaced the Powerglide on all models except the big 350.

Although virtually retired from competition duties - replaced by the XU-1 Torana - the Monaro still managed an amazing year on the track. Norm Beechey's Monaro dominated the Australian Touring Car Championship against serious competition and there was an outstanding Bond/Roberts endurance victory at Surfer's Paradise. Away from the track, Holden built extra compliance into the Monaro rear suspension, boosting GTS 350 long distance touring capabilities and comfort. The HG GTS 350 manual, with its crisp driving feel and Salisbury limited slip differential, stood as the definitive road car for several Monaro generations.

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1971 - 1974: Holden HQ Monaro Coupe

With the HQ series, Holden's design, engineering and manufacturing team delivered the definitive Australian car - new from the ground up and embracing the best of US and European trends. The HQ's forward-reaching front, flowing rear lines and pronounced 'tumblehome' behind each wheel gave it a compact, ground-hugging look, even though it was bigger than previous models. The separate recessed grille reflected European trends while the bulging muscle lines above each wheel arch, the rounded tail and bumper-mounted rear lights were straight Pontiac GTO muscle car. After it was blacked-out for the Monaro GTS, the HQ's standard silver grille became a 'road-devouring' intake. The Monaro's pillarless coupe roofline and its wrap-over rear window were eye-catching.

A new LS -'luxury and sport' Monaro with black vinyl roof and dual headlights combined Premier appointments with Monaro style. The HQ was the most radically new model since 1948, and Monaro shared the benefits. It had a partial front subframe that extended to the centre pillar and a totally new rear suspension. It delivered new levels of structural strength, rough road stability and grip. Further features included a more comprehensive safety package, Holden's first flow-through ventilation, a demisting system, integrated air-conditioning, a new flat dash and slender front pillars for exceptional forward vision. Holden sixes were also boosted in size and there were hefty 10-bolt Salisbury limited slip differential rear axles on all V8 models. A new Australian M21 4-speed close-ratio gearbox could be ordered with the local V8, the big Chevrolet 350 V8 'scored' a new Muncie 4-speed manual and the 350 was fitted with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 auto shift.

While Daddy Cool's Eagle Rock topped the charts, Monaro colours came from the 'flower power' palette. They included several purples, pinks, lime and forest greens, acid reds, bright blues, silver and gold. As the HQ went through several phases over its long model life, the Monaro GTS coupe was upgraded in 1973 to coincide with the release of the four door GTS. It introduced bold new colours, new bonnet and bootlid rally patches, accents on the side vents and optional polished trim rings for the sports wheels.

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1973 - 1974: Holden HQ Monaro GTS 4 Door

Inevitably, the trendsetting 2-door Monaro had such a strong influence on the rest of the Holden range that sedans took on a similarly sleek look. The process began with the HT sedan's 'faster' roofline and became more apparent with the arrival of the 'fluid' HQ. So it was in the course of this modelÕs long selling life that Holden took the opportunity to 'test the waters' with a 4-door Monaro. In 1972, Holden had offered a limited edition sedan based on the entry level Belmont. The first SS, it was transformed by sports wheels, GTS grille, side vents, blackouts, black boot panel and unusual bonnet stripes from the headlights to the front scuttle panel. Backed up by a 253 V8 (4.2 litre), Australian four-speed manual, bucket seats, sports steering wheel and GTS instruments and finished in 'Infra Red', 'Ultra Violet' or 'Lettuce Alone' green, it became a huge hit.

The first four-door GTS Monaro arrived in 1973. It featured new contoured front seats, trimmed in a sophisticated herringbone pattern. Black SS bonnet and boot patches were replaced by 'louder' GTS rally panels on the bonnet and boot lid. They did the trick; there was no mistaking the GTS Monaro 4-door for any other of the 250,000 HQ Holdens already on the road. By this stage, the Monaro GTS 350 - coupe or four door - became a rarer beast as more Australian drivers opted for the 'home-grown' 308 V8. The final 4-door HQ Monaro GTS 350 examples still made a fabulous farewell to the Chevrolet small block V8 with Salisbury rear axle, Muncie four-speed and 70 series radials. 1974 -1976: Holden HJ Monaro Coupe and 4 Door As a rush of new European models entered the market and Australians were presented with a wider range of choices in general, the HJ Monaro upgrade had to satisfy a more demanding enthusiast buyer.

Introduced in October 1974, the HJ Monaro GTS offered extra comfort, a comprehensive sports instrument panel of its own and greater emphasis on body detailing to further distinguish it from other models. Beefier HJ styling was matched by extra-strength bumpers. The four-headlight Monaro LS coupe became the new entry level Monaro and the GTS continued as a single headlight coupe or 4-door sedan. All HJ Monaro coupes retained the HQ's rear styling. More imposing than its predecessor, the 4-door GTS featured a prominent, blacked-out grille, bigger wraparound rear lights, more aggressive side vents and decals. Full foam high-backed seats came in a variety of trims, including herringbone with a red centre stripe. The GTS instrument panel featured multiple ventilation outlets and clear recessed instruments with international symbols. The first factory front and rear spoiler options gave the HJ GTS real presence, the deep rear spoiler and new tail lights in particular bolstering its sloping boot line.

As the imported Chevrolet 350 was de-tuned to meet US anti-pollution legislation, it no longer made sense as a premium performance option. Instead, Holden boosted the compression ratio of the Australian 308 to close the performance gap. The automatic 308 gained the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 from the previous GTS 350.

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1976: Holden HX Monaro GTS 4 Door

The HX arrived in July 1976 as the Australian automotive industry concentrated on meeting new anti-pollution requirements. There was no Monaro coupe in the new HX line-up, but the name was emblazoned on a single, extroverted GTS 4-door. Its bright colours, large GTS decals, colour-keyed mirror and bumpers, integrated body-coloured spoiler options and optional bonnet blackout, made it the most distinctive of all 4-door Monaros. A substantial, long distance grand tourer, it retained the longevity and built-in toughness of the HQ series while adding greater comfort and extra appointments. These included a new multi-function column stalk that replaced the floor-mounted dipswitch, controlling headlight high/low beam as well as windscreen wipers and washers.

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1976: Holden HX LE Coupe

This final coupe was exceptional and exclusive enough to ensure that the original Monaro concept had an appropriate send-off. Although the limited edition LE coupe did not carry the Monaro nameplate, Holden fans regard it as a 'true blue' member of the breed. The LE arrived in August 1976, almost two months after the HX series release. The run of just 580 LE coupes was produced at Holden's Pagewood plant in Sydney, which specialised in the exacting - low volume, assembly of luxury Statesman and Caprice models. It was a fine tribute to the Monaro heritage that these last coupes were custom-built as 'top-shelf' Holden models.

The LE appeared with gold pinstriping and lettering over an arresting shade of metallic crimson and sported unique gold-finished 14 x 7-inch polycast wheels. It came with a 308, Turbo-Hydramatic and Salisbury limited slip differential only, all high-performance Monaro hardware. Outside, it featured the four headlight (quartz halogen) HX Premier front and integrated, colour-keyed front and rear spoilers. The passenger compartment combined GTS features with a walnut finish dash fascia and centre console, with crushed velour and cloth trim. Its comprehensive equipment listing included power windows, power steering, power aerial, integrated air conditioning, heated rear window, quadraphonic eight track cartridge player and tinted windows.

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1977 - 1979: Holden HZ GTS 4 Door

Like the LE coupe, the HZ GTS 4-door did not wear a Monaro badge, but the brochure produced for it certainly did, and it was officially designated a 'Monaro GTS sedan'. Holden was unwilling to let the legend lapse - especially when this final incarnation would take it out on such a high note. The HZ series was launched in October 1977 as - behind the scenes, Holden geared up for its most drastic model shift ever É the 1978 launch of the Commodore. The HZ brought remarkable advances in ride and handling with the introduction of Radial Tuned Suspension, delivering a Holden that 'tamed' local road conditions better than any before it and handled the 'twisty bits' with European-style competence. Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS) had its biggest impact on the GTS, which - with a mesh grille, subtle body stripes and detailing on optioned-up versions, revived aspects of the HG Monaro GTS. A four-headlight nose, body colour front and rear spoilers and bumpers and sports wheels also helped to make it more of a stand-alone package in the Monaro tradition. The GTS came standard as a 4.2 litre V8, but it was possible to add the 5.0 litre, power steering, plaid cloth seats, limited slip differential, electric windows and air-conditioning. Rear disc brakes were standard, 7-inch polycast wheels or spoked wire wheels were optional. The HZ GTS was ranked by many as Australia's premier performance car, a position that was consolidated in May 1978 when the 5.0 litre V8 became standard.

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