The irrepressible Bryce found this Monara GTS 350 slaking its thirst the other day. Given the cost of fuel down under, that’s going to hurt a bit. Bryce didn’t leave any commentary, or even the model, so I had to dig through wiki to figure out that it’s an HT model, or a 1970 model. Beyond that, I’m not going to be able to add a whole lot, except that like so many Holdens, it looks like a cross between an Opel and a Chevy.
Which is probably not too far off the mark, but I’ll probably stimulate some commentary from Bryce on that.
The GTS 350 does use the genuine bow-tie small-block, as the Holden V8 only came in 253 and 307 inch versions. A 327 inch Chevy was used in the first HK series. We’ll have to wait a while until it’s morning down there and Bryce wakes up, so in the meantime…
Mornin all, yes its a 69/70 HT Monaro GTS 350 quite a rare and valueable car these days the engine range began with a povertypack 161 cube 6 186&186s 253 V8 308V8 with the 350 being top o the range also available was a long range Bathurst fuel tank. This car is an face lift of the HK model and it was facelifted once more for the HG model which gained a 3 speed trans. The body began life as an Opel Commodore coupe sawed in half lengthways and widened by GMH also sold in South Africa under the Chevrolet brand.MONARO Paul not Monara
Chevy and Opel influences … Yes I Can See My Dad’s 68 silver Kadett, My Bros 69 Malibu in Blue/black roof… Had similar flags on fender beside the headlights. I can see both of them in This Holden.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I want to visit Supercheap Auto!
They’re a parts/accessories store only, but sadly they don’t stock anything for Lincolns…! They’re an Australian company, but have been in NZ for several years now. Repco, another Aussie brand, is regarded as a better store for autoholics such as myself. I find Supercheap to be Superaverage Auto myself. Though I bought a cruise control kit for my car from them 2 years ago which was both supercheap and super good (although the NZ$50 kit still cost NZ$500 to have installed).
That is a handsome car. It looks like it could have been sold in the US, but for the narrower track. Must be quick!
Oh yeah theyre fast built to race at MT Panorama against the 351 GTHO Falcons except the smaller 6 cylinder Torana proved better for racing and eventually more successfull
The car is 185″ long (well the sedan is) on a 111″ wheelbase and 72″ wide overall with 59″ track. Weight is 3300lb
Nice car and from the rear it does make me think “Chevelle”.
The rear shot threw me. At first glance, the fastback roof and taillights looked just like an early 70′s AMC Hornet.
My thoughts exactly.
thanks to the magic of internet snooping, here’s everything you could want to know about this cutie!
Make: HOLDEN
Model: HT MONARO GTS
Year: 1969
Main colour: Orange
No of seats: 5
CC rating: 5,740cc
Plate: DI3670
Engine no: V1213XCD-3970010
Chassis: 81837TJ189253
Latest odometer reading: 82,414 (on 2012, January 13th, source: WOF Inspection)
Estimated current odometer reading: 82,414
Carjam?
You’re a scary man, Alistair.
Please tell me where to get car information from a NZ (?) plate number.
http://www.carjam.co.nz
It used to allow free and unlimited searches, but users have to register now to get three free look-ups per month. The look-up is a report which provides the info Alistair has noted above – as well as graphs indicating the WOF history (WOF=Warrant Of Fitness, a 6 monthly vehicle inspection, without a WOF cars aren’t allowed to be driven).
Once any user has done a vehicle lookup, that particular report is then saved on the carjam site for future users to see – this means that if someone else has already looked up the same vehicle, you don’t have to waste one of your 3 freebies, as the report is there already. The reports are only current to the date of the original look-up, but may be updated later on (this counts as one of the 3 free look-ups though).
I’m registered, as it allows useful background info/history when looking at cars for sale on our trademe website. For example, users can track the mileage reading at each WOF to ascertain the amount of use a vehicle has had over the preceeding years. It also allows users to use the chassis number to identify if a car is cloned (ie a replica) or not. I used carjam for the Falcon GT post here recently, as the owner told Bryce it was a real GT, but the chassis number revealed it wasn’t – it was actually a base model, cloned to look like the real thing. Great site carjam!
Ta
I’ve got a friend that has one of these (well, an HG model, but close enough). All original, unrestored and tidy (but not mint). I’m driving it for him for his wedding. not sure if I’m excited or nervous about that!
Looks a bit like a Marlin from behind, the square taillights and the round back of the side window…
Maybe (?) my memory is foggy but I see my 68 Nova in the first shot. Then it just looks like that cousin at the family reunion who has a family resemblance to everyone and you just can’t pin dow exactly who.
Nods back off to sleep.
I’ve posted the pics before, but here’s an updated one showing the both the Chevrolet and Holden version of the car. The Chev version, named simply ‘SS’, was sold in South Africa, and was a rebadged Monaro, except it received unique front panels. A few have been reimported from SA to Australia/NZ and always create interest. Likewise the Australian Ford Falcon was also sold in SA, still as a Ford, but with unique model specs.
The Chevrolet SS is the red car in the photo:
And in South Africa it was called the Fairmont GT, not Falcon
Holdens were all rebadged Chevrolet in South Africa from 66 onwards and used Chevrolet engines not Holden The used a recessed firewall to fit the Chevy6 in but of course from the HK in 67/68 the engine bay was designed for V8s so plenty of room
Chevy and Opel influences… How cool is that? I wish they would do that now…
The 307 Chev was used in the HK model before the introduction of the local Holden 308, there is a saying amongst some “never late in a 308″. You could get a Monaro in all sorts of specs from absolute plain-Jane base models with 161ci 6cyl single carb & drinking straw exhaust to the GTS which itself was still available with the 6cyl 186ci engine as well as the V8′s. The long range tank for Bathurst was 25 gallons (imperial) or nearly 30 US gallons, important to reduce the number of pit stops at the 500 mile Bathurst race – the local equivalent of the Daytona/Indy 500 combined in terms of importance.
The front spoiler on this car is a later add-on, perhaps someone will be able to nominate what it might have come from originally?
Thats just over $250 to fill in Kiwi pesos, spoiler could be mid 70s Torana LX/LH or just aftermarket track special.
$250? Wow. 112L would be roughly $150 at the moment here with $1.3x per litre.
I did think of the SLR Torana spoiler but they are more upright & taller, and cover the front valance/stone tray of the car up to the bumper. I think they’d be a bit narrow for a Kingswood too.
How much was gasoline Down Under, in 1969-70?
1973 when I began driving 48 cents per 4.5 litre gallon its now $2.10 per litre in NZ
How much of that current NZ price is tax? And how much of that tax has been tacked on in response to recent global-warming concerns?
This isn’t really about gas prices, though. It is about the interesting ways GM affiliates worldwide borrowed design elements from each other. No one would mistake that Monaro for anything but a GM product, but one would have to dig a little deeper to figure out its origins.
I was thinking contemporary Opel Rekord C Coupe, also transplanted to South America as the Chevrolet Opala complete with Chevy 4 or 6 power. No doubt there was some influence, but it’s not quite the same car.
so is this built on the “A body” frame? looks like a nova to me.