HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe front HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe front
A whole new body shape + a new LS ( = Luxury Sport?) model with the quad headlights as shown here and a 202 cid sx cylinder motor as standard (trim was mostly equivalent to top of the line Premier sedans). The Chevrolet badge likely indicates a Chevrolet motor; "small block" 350 cid V8s were available in this and the GTS 350 models but some people have fitted "big block" Chevs up to 454 cid.


 


HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe front quarter HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe front quarter
A Monaro Car Club of South Australia member's car (as are all of these on this page, this one runs a 350cid (5.7litre) Chevrolet engine, the largest available in Holdens and only on Monaros and Statesmans.
For the best of both worlds (performance vs. fuel economy) this car runs dual fuel i.e. petrol or LPG.


 


HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe profile HQ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe Profile
A beautifully balanced shape, this car looks more agressive without the trim as seen on the grey car above, and with extra wide wheels.


 


HQ Holden Monaro 2 door coupe rear quarter HQ Holden Monaro GTS 2 door coupe rear quarter


 


HQ Holden Monaro 2 door coupe rear end HQ Holden Monaro 2 door coupe rear end
A super smooth shape (this one lacking any badges admittedy), the bumper mounted taillights were a feature of all HQ coupe and sedans. The latter were altered to a raised corner-of-the-fender design for sedans from HJ onwards but the coupes retained the orignal design due to the cost of the change (versus the expected sales which had declined considerably).
Click here to see a coupe that was modified to the new treatment.


 


HJ Holden Monaro 2 door coupe front quarter HJ Holden Monaro 2 door coupe front quarter
The HJ model, coming three years down the track from HQ, was quite substantial. Front panels were squared up in the current Detroit style, new interior and dashboards, but the Monaro range was rationalised down to LS and the GTS shown here (no more 350 Chev motors either).
N.b. this car does not show the black out treatment applied to the headlight bezels, rocker panels and (fake) fender vents (or the front and rear spoilers which were actually optional) normally associated with the HJ GTS models.


 


HJ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe rear quarter HJ Holden Monaro LS 2 door coupe rear quarter
Brochure shot. Note the heavy trim above the bumper, (HQLS strip was slimmer) and side rubstrip newly introduced to all but GTS (and Belmont models - no coupes). The ribbed rocker panel trim continued from HQ and was shared with Premier sedans.


 


HX Holden Monaro LE 2 door coupe front quarter HX Holden Monaro LE 2 door coupe front quarter
Lampooned somewhat in the press at the time as an overpriced "bargain clearance special" (which was fair in someways but was truly not the intent, according to Leo Pruneau who designed the package), the final run of 600 coupes were only built in this LE form.
With the unique maroon colour (inside and out!) with front and rear spoilers, gold pin stripes and emblems, gold painted honeycomb wheels it still catches the eye but less useful was the eight-track stereo (true even when new in 1976!). A 5.0 litre Holden V8 with Turbo-Hydramatic (400?) powered each and every LE.


 


HX Holden Monaro LE 2 door coupe rear quarter HX Holden Monaro LE 2 door coupe rear quarter