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Sandy Mercer,
Glasgow, Scotland

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for your comments about my page and your information about your own cars was very interesting too. Such a diversity! And such a shame that we can't keep all the cars that we like - I especially fancy the 1970 Buick GS convertible, of which there are a small number around in Australia, too!

Amazing! A Monaro in the UK! I have seen the magazine here in Australia but they are often a couple of months old when they arrive here, so it is in the newsagents now and I've just seen it.

To your questions:-

As I mention on my page "In mid 1973 a four door sedan known as GTS/4 was added to the range.." Some enthusiasts will insist the coupes were the only true "Monaro" but the nameplate was definitely used on the sedan except for the final model HZ which ended late 1979 or thereabouts which was actually only called "GTS.

The squarer frontal design was characteristic of the big Holdens from the HJ series, i.e. late 1974 until end of production of the HZs (for that last model what we think of as Monaros were only available as a sedan). It involved all external panels from the windscreen forward (it was probably quite a big job that the owners of my car embarked on to swap the panels from HQ to HJ but maybe the front end had to be rebuilt after a crash, I don't suppose I will ever know now. It can't have been too difficult as I have seen numerous other HQs with the later front panels including our President Paul's coupe). By the way, the design of the vents which were fitted only to GTS's changed at HK-G from vertical slots to horizontal HQ from slots to three squares HJ-Z.

The vehicle advertised is an HZ, I recognized it immediately. It was the only GTS model with quad headlights plus the vented front guards; prior to this GTS's always had interior trim closely equivalent to the upmarket Premier sedans (and wagons), but retained a black painted version of the dual headlight/grille design of the Belmonts (super basic model) and Kingswoods (a little bit better!). The base model Monaro which was discontinued after HQ was virtually a Kingswood coupe; LS's (like mine) were Premier coupes in all but name, and included the quad lights. Fortunately bucket style seats were standard - no US style split benches thank god!

The Australian designed 308 engine (i.e. the 5.0 litre) would be pretty rare in the UK though they are common enough here where fitment rate of V8s was reasonable though nowhere near the American situation. Its smaller brother the 253 was the standard engine for GTSs from HQ onwards, prior to that a six cylinder called 186S was the standard (this excludes the GTS327s and GTS350s which were marketed as models in their own right, though the 350 could be had in HQ LS's, too). The auto transmission fitted with 308s from HJ onwards was an imported TurboHydramatic (400 rings a bell, but I may be wrong). The HK-T models likely used a Powerglide two speeder. For HG-HQ the Aussie designed Trimatic was apparently fitted, but was never really considered strong enough for the bigger engines.

As far as speed and enhancing them goes the engines were raced successfully but usually in the lighter Torana bodies. By 1977 the engines were "emissionised" but the HZs were improved on the 1976 cars, though this factor may not apply so much to the V8s. According to Wheels January 1978 (comparison with 5.8 Falcon sedan) an HZ GTS sedan with 5.0, 3.36 Final drive did 4.0 second 0-50km/h (vs. 3.6), 0-90 in 8.2(7.6), and Standing 400 metres in 16.8(16.3). Fuel consumption was 12.6 mpg(12.8) but driven hard and you might get 15 (whoah!).

Some people in search of the ultimate speedsters have fitted 454 Chevrolet engines as there is sufficient room under the bonnet. But the 308 probably has enough areas that can be improved anyway, but I don't know much else. Let me know if you want me to ask those in the club who might know.

The swage line on the cars should be identical, my flatmate has an HJ sedan (a lowly Kingswood) so it is easy to compare. It could be the angle of the photos, or the lack of a spoiler on mine, or even the fact that post HQ the fenders were modified to include the taillights that wrapped around (instead of bumper mounted) that makes it look different. Post HQ models (but not usually GTS's) had rubstrips along the swage line which served to appear to straighten it a little, too; the photos of mine show one but it has since been removed as I think it looks better without it and put up with the occasional chip! The rear fenders on HQ coupes and HQ sedans weren't completely identical pressings, of course, but in a way not immediately obvious (longer to meet the coupe door). If you could look at the rear of a sedan from straight on you'd be able to see the corner of the fender from where it turns from being vertical to horizontal is, say, 5 inches from the edge of the bootlid; on the coupe it is perhaps 4 or less. This is probably why they never updated the rear end to place the taillights in that position, though there is at least one that has had them fitted at what I expect was a considerable amount of effort, see Monaro coupe with HJ style lights?.

3500 pounds! Whether it is good value or know possibly depends on the exchange rate I guess; when I was in the UK last year it was around 33p to the Aussie dollar. That made it $10,500 but it is now back up to 40p = $8,750, perhaps 15-20% more than what you might pay for a pristine one here. To put it the other way you could probably get one for 2600 pounds at the moment here, but then it might cost close to the difference to send it back.
Mind you regardless of the change in exchange rate, I'd rather feed it here at around $0.78c /litre for leaded, rather than your petrol prices!

Fords! I think the XB Falcon hardtop was probably the best looking Ford made at the time (except perhaps the Granada coupes which were European style more than US style and therefore a different kettle offish completely). Are you sure the engine was American? I believe Ford Australia built the engines here, but perhaps the engine was later replaced with one from the US since the importers would have had easier access to those. The Landau which you would recognise was a highly trimmed Hardtop was companion to the LTD. Both were given the model code FA but the first model ran all the way till 1976 from only a few months before XB (October 1973) when the Landau was discontinued and the LTD was heavily revised and became an FB (Ford kept those codes relatively quiet, perhaps as FA can be Sweet and Holdens used FB for its finned two toned 1960s model).

VT Commodore exports in LHD to the Middle East are widely known about here; and the Series II upgrades due very soon are expected to replace the 308 with the Chev engine. A LHD VT was displayed at the Adelaide Motor Show a couple of months ago with Lumina nametags and bowtie badges (totally unrelated to the US Lumina, I know). There's even talk that the coupe (which has been confirmed as a goer but probably not before sometime in 2001!) may fill the vacancy in the US Buick lineup caused by the demise of the Riviera.

Cheers,
Bryan

Wed 12/05/99 6:50

Bryan, Thanks for all the info.

If I have got it straight, the car pictured (and I am glad you saw the photograph) is a late 70s HZ, but with a 308ci Holden engine. Automatic should be American Turbo-something. Are the wheels stock looking?

I haven't as yet phoned...you are quite correct. Gas is cripplingly expensive here, my GN hits 60mph in about 4.5seconds and gets 30-31mpg at 75mph on the cruise, so do I need another V8 gas guzzler?

Well, we are here for a good time, not a long time....:-))

You are correct, my XB's engine was the Australian block (very desirable as they are tougher than the US one) but I could use US parts on it if it broke. There was an interesting story about my Falcon and others. They are very rare here in the UK, but way back in 1973-74 a wealthy Scots guy brought 6 over brand new from Australia, four XB GT's and two XA Landaus, there they sat, unsold during the 74 gas crisis in a warehouse in the docks till 76 and they were all registered. One Gt was blue, two were red and one was orange (mine), the Landaus were both maroon. I took mine to Wales and sold it there and left it there when I moved back to Scotland. One disappeared, and the other two GTs are owned by a guy who has a racing car school in Edinburgh (the two red ones). Last anyone saw of them three or four years ago they were pretty sad state. One Landau is pretty junk and the guy uses it for parts for his good one.
Many years later I almost bought another XB (1992) that was black and the young guy had done lots of work on it, but, I pulled out at the last moment as there wasn't something quite right about the car..just a gut feeling.

I have seen an XC saloon, and once, an XB saloon painted up to look like the Pursuit cars in Mad Max. Seen also a couple of later, XD or XE, LTDs, which look like stretched Mk II Granadas. A 351ci XD would be cool as it looks just like a Granada.

As for Holdens, seen exactly one..a Kingswood I think at a classic car show here in Glasgow last year. It was a straight six, blue in colour...heavens knows where he could get parts for it.

Thanks again (oh yes, the big old GS had to go when I got divorced, I had to choose between the two, GS at 8mpg, or GN at 25mpg(and faster). Got to love those turbo Buicks...

Friends in Australia sent me some old car traders from about 8 years ago with lots of pictures of Holdens and Falcons...damned if I can find them now, plus I have all the old Bathurst tapes up to when the GT-Rs took over....an L34, A9X would be pretty cool, but got to love the Moffat/Bond One/Two..sorry..in 77.

Very best regards...you'll probably never speak to me again now.

Sandy Mercer,
Glasgow, Scotland

N.B! This exchange led me to search for Ford Fairlanes on the net and found no Aussie ones. So I built one.

Sun 16/05/99 5:15

Bryan,
there have been some further developments in the UK Monaro saga.
I phoned the guy and spoke to him about the car, which (potentially bad news for my bank balance) he still has.
It is an 1977 HZ as you said, known as a GTS.
The light metallic green colour is stock, the chromey style wheels are not as he said it should have come with Americam TransAm style wheels, although the bolt pattern is US size.
It is an automatic, a Turbo400, he said.
Car has four wheel disk brakes.
And has headers installed.

He sent me up some photographs of the car, which show it to be in pretty good condition. Original paint, with only a small rust hole in the bottom of the pass side front wing, in the black painted area. He said that the holden 308 is based on the chevy 307 engine. Is this true?

Car came from Sydney area where it made a 60 or 120 mile round trip every day by original owner who then brought it to the UK in 1991. The original owner pranged a high curb and damaged the front spoiler so a new one was sent from Australia already painted the green colour. Another guy bought it and the current owner has had it a couple of years. He has just bought a VL Brock Commodore so needs to sell the HZ.

As a matter of interest, are the brakes US style? In other words could I get American bits for it?
Also, the engine bay has that sort of 22 year old car look with funny hoses and extra wires on it. Is there anywhere I could see photos of what the stock bay looked like?
And the dash looks kind of tacky.
Plus side was, a complete spare new front windscreen comes with the car....

Off to do some more web surfing..:-))

By the way, I found your site using Holden Monaro GTS as the search string...and never seen an E37 or E38 Charger here but quite a few 318ci V8 powered ones.

best regards,

Sandy Mercer,
Glasgow, Scotland

Honeycomb Wheels!

Thu 17/06/99 15:15

Hello from America!

I have a question or two that I would appreciate an answer... Or perhaps you can pass this message along to a fellow Holden enthuiast who might know the answer...

Upon viewing a recent issue of "Unique Cars" magazine (June-July 1999 issue), I found an advertisement on page 278 which was quite interesting.

The advertiser offers a set of Holden "honeycomb" wheels for sale. Do you know which models/years of Holdens these rims were available? What did the center caps look like? Were these common or fairly rare pieces?

Any info appreciated

Thomas Sherwood
Tucson, Arizona

Sat 19/06/99 0:37

Hey Thom, thanks for your email!
Quick response for now, hope you don't mind (I am flying to Sydney tomorrow).

The honeycomb style wheels referred to are the ones that came out with HJ model GTSs in late 1974 and were available until the end of HZ (late 1979). They were actually a urethane skin moulded to look like alloys attached to the steel wheels that were otherwise the standard design (I believe Pontiac did the same for Grand Ams and probably Trans Ams too but they were 15" not 14" as per the Monaros). When I get a chance on my return (Wednesday) I will check the centre caps (do you mean bolt pattern? I am told the bolt pattern is US size but don't quote me!).

Cheers, Bryan.
Adelaide Australia.

Sat 19/06/99 13:09

Bryan-

A most gracious thank you for your prompt reply regarding the honeycomb wheels!

You are correct regarding the use of 15 inch versions on many American Pontiac models, but, believe it or not, 14 inchers were also available (I do own a set of five) on the 1971 Pontiac Ventura, LeMans, Grand Prix, and Firebird. 15 inchers (I own several sets of these, too) were available beginning in 1971 on the Trans Am, and then on ALL mid-size models of Pontiacs, including the GTOs, beginning in 1972. Production ceased in 1976. (They were replaced with the cast aluminum "snowflake" wheels, commonly seen on Trans Ams, beginning in 1977.)

I was curious about the bright metal center (sorry, "centre" Aussie spelling!?!) caps which are five-sided, chromed pot-metal, somewhat flat-looking things. In 1971 (the first year) the centre caps were devoid of any kind of markings, but the 1972-76 versions had a red Pontiac arrow crest in the middle.

I would be curious to learn if the Holden version of the centre cap is a derivation of either of those two styles.

As for the lug pattern, yes, they should be the same bolt pattern which we refer to as "five on four and three-quarters." My Australian friend who owns a 1971 Trans Am here in the USA, can attest to that.

One more question for you, Bryan...

I am planning a vacation (sorry, "holiday") to Australia sometime in the near future. Is there a particular annual car show or event which brings together many Holdens and/or Monaros which would enable me to view many of these beautiful cars at the same time? In other words, what is a good event to attend where I could go to see a good range of Monaros from the late '60s through the late '70s on display?

I have become particularly fond of the early '70s Monaro coupes, as they remind me of my 1970-72 LeMans and GTOs.

Again, thanks for the response.

 

Thomas Sherwood
Tucson, Arizona

Thom, sorry it has taken a while to respond - I was hoping to get a photo of the real things had someone brought their car to the last Monaro Car Club of SA meeting (unfortunately they didn't). But I have lots of old Aussie mags and here are some pix that may give you an idea until I get a proper shot (hadn't thought about the centres until you asked). Anyway they appear to be chrome hexagonal with a cross like motif.

Till I get some more,

Cheers,
Bryan.

 

MVC-089F.JPG

MVC-090F.JPG

MVC-091F.JPG

Wed 7/07/99 14:47

Bryan-

Many, many thanks for the pix of the honeycombs! It is way too cool to see those on something other than an American Pontiac.

The centre cap mystery is quite fascinating. In the black-n-white photo, it appears to have a plain cap (similar to our 1971 style) while the color photo is difficult to make out.

I'll try to locate a scan of the 1971- and the 1972-76 style centres to email to you.

Really, Bryan, thanks for your efforts. I truly appreciate this.

By the way, tell me about your Holden(s). I'd like to learn more about them...

Thom

Sat 10/07/99 0:56

Hey Thom,
glad you liked them, I was a bit worrried since they were only out of a magazine. I know what you mean by the black and white shot looking different, but I think that it was just a result of the camera angle, they all came from the same magazine road test so I expect it was the same car. I will probably go on the SMASA (Street Machine Association of South Australia) Winter cruise Saturday 17th so will take the camera and hopefully I will get a close up pic of some real honeycomb wheels (i.e. not a magazine photo) if anyone turns up with them.

Don't quite know what you'd like to hear about Holdens. The marque was born in November, 1948 (hence the recent 50 year celebration) with the 48-215 model (only 4 door sedans originally), and a unique to Australia body design (102" wheelbase, 2.2 litre 6 cylinder side valve engine).
Unlike American cars the models were not revised annually so a series code was used instead, "48" being the first, though later it was nicknamed "FX" since the models after were FJ(1953), FE(1956), FC(1958) and FB(1960), until the 1961 EK, then EJ(1962) and EH(1963).
The HD of 1965 was the start of H series models but the second character was randomly chosen (except some maintain that that first one was named after the reversed initials of the MD of Holden's at the time, David Hegland). The HD was replaced by the HR in 1967, and then the 1968 HK model which (finally!) spawned a coupe, of course, the Monaro! HT followed in 1969, with HG the next year, the first time that a body design went beyond a single facelift. HQ in 1971 was all new, followed eventually by HJ in late 1974 and then HX in 1976 which is when the coupes finished with the run of 600 LE Monaros (with gold painted honeycomb wheels!). Finally an HZ model was launched in late 1977 with "Radial Tuned Suspension", with badges identical to the Pontiac ones I have seen in magazine ads! (About this time, there was also a Holden Sunbird, quite different though about the same size as the Pontiac and again the badges were essentially the same!)
Then in late 1978 the smaller Commodore (no coupes!) started, derived from the European Opels so the unique Holdens virtually died except that the HZ was rejigged into a WB Statesman (extended wheelbase sedan) plus the carryover designs for the "ute" and "panel van" (Ranchero/El Camino style pickup and sedan delivery to you in the US!) but these were no longer the mainstream models.
Now Holden's latest Commodore is a rejigged Opel but so much is unique (and the body physically so much bigger than the Opel Omega = Cadillac Catera) that it is essentially the same size car that the unique HQ-HZ Holdens were (but with more overhang as modern cars tend to have) and any advantages of world wide commonalisation must surely have been lost along the way!

Well this may not have been what you were wanting to know about, but it is what I know about so there it is. I can also talk styling (till the cows come home - that's what I wanted to do for a living, but that's another story!) and a little bit of the mechanics but the latter is not my forte (e.g. I can quote what I have read in magazines about how they supposedly were equipped mechanically but can't talk from experience so that is not so valuable, perhaps?).

So tell me what interests you and we'll see what we can work out!

Cheers, mate.

Monaro LE Honeycomb wheels

Closeup

Mang01 in Byron Bay in 1988 on the way back from Expo in Brisbane. For more Pontiacs check out my new Pontiacs pages.

 

---

This came from a correspondant "Mervyn" in South Africa to the Yahoo Monaro club (email address not known).

In 1968 the HK's were released but we never got the Monaro.

In 1969 the HT series was released here and we got 2 versions of the Monaro:308 & 350's. 99% were 308's with a tiny sprinkling of 350's; most were 308's with Powerglide autos with 308 manuals making up about a third; there were very, very few 350 autos and less than 20 350 manuals in the country.

Options were limited. You could choose motor and gearbox, colour and if you took the 308 you could specify power steering or not. All HT Monaros got a vinyl top, all 308 cars got a 3,30 diff and 350's got a 3,08 diff only other thing to choose was whether you wanted a radio.

In early 1971 the HG series hit our shores and it differed slightly in spec to yours. The HT tail lights were used again as well as most of the trim bits. The 350 still used HT style 350 badges (again there were about 50 350 cars available). If you ask me the best change was the HG grille. The HG ended here in 1972.

The local Chev SS was a cosmetically changed HG Monaro.It used a Premier style front sub-frame, four headlights, and a totally different grille, headlight bezels and few trim items. The fenders were modified at the front to include running lights. The SS got the HG style trim, 350 decals, taillights, interior etc..

The best thing about the SS was that they really tried to push the 350`s, selling quite a reasonable no. of them.

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