Australian and North American muscle car enthusiasts share a love for V8 engines. However, manufacturers Down Under took a different path with body styles, primarily driven by economies of scale. The Australian new car market is surprisingly small, meaning that producing unique Hardtop and two-door bodies to cater to the high-performance market wasn’t financially viable. The result was classics like this 1975 Holden HJ Monaro GTS. It is a stunning vehicle featuring its range-topping V8 under the hood. Scrutinizing the photos reveals only one slight modification, which the buyer could easily reverse for authenticity. The seller has listed this beautiful Monaro here on eBay in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. They set their price at A94,000, and with the current exchange rate, that figure equates to approximately US$66,300.
Holden introduced its Second Generation Kingswood range in 1972, featuring unique styling to appeal to local buyers. It performed the first facelift in October 1974, with the latest offering featuring a more aggressive nose that bears a striking resemblance to the First Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Buyers could select from a wide variety of trim levels, including the sporty Monaro GTS. This Monaro rolled out of the factory in Elizabeth, South Australia, in June 1975. Finished in striking Mandarin Red, its overall presentation is seemingly flawless. This is unsurprising, with the seller confirming that it has been carefully protected since receiving a professional repaint in PPG products. The panels are beautifully straight, and rust isn’t an issue. The decals are as crisp as the day this GTS left the lot, while the trim and glass look perfect. The wheels appear identical to the North American Rally IIs, but were locally manufactured to suit Australia’s surprisingly harsh road conditions.
One look at the interior confirms the Monaro’s sporting leanings. Bucket seats, a center console, a sports wheel, and a comprehensive gauge cluster featuring a factory tachometer. It’s all there, and with this car’s air conditioning, life on the road would be extremely comfortable. The interior presents as impressively as the exterior, with no genuine shortcomings. The seats, trimmed in Slate Black vinyl with contrasting Red stripes, are free from wear. The carpet is exceptionally clean, and the plastic hasn’t succumbed to the harsh Australian sun. I spotted an aftermarket CD player, which appears to be this car’s only modification. It isn’t a deal-breaker, because factory radios often appear on the usual online auction sites, potentially allowing the buyer to return the interior to its original form relatively cheaply.
Powering this Monaro is a 308ci V8, teamed with a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. Australia hadn’t been hit by emissions regulations that stifled engine performance when this Monaro left the line, meaning the V8 produced 240hp and 315 ft/lbs of torque. The 308 is a uniquely Holden engine, and its development is a fascinating backstory. Holden management knew by the mid-1960s that Ford planned to fit a V8 to its Falcon range. This eventually proved correct, producing the first of a range of Falcon GTs. Holden had nothing with which to respond, so it petitioned General Motors for funds to develop a competitor. GM denied the request, but did permit Holden to import Chevrolet small-block V8s to fit its upcoming Kingswood range. The theory seemed sound, but the import costs and tariffs involved meant that the small-block was more expensive than desired. Therefore, in a desperate act, Holden management allowed the engineering department to siphon off small amounts from the development budgets of other programs to begin designing a unique V8. By the time General Motors realized the error of its way and green-lighted the engine program, Holden’s backroom boffins had a complete engine that had already run on the dyno and was ready for endurance testing. The design proved a winner, and after first appearing in 1969, the 308 remained in production until 2000. The V8 under this Monaro’s hood isn’t numbers-matching, but the news remains positive. The deal includes the original V8, which has been safely stored. Potential buyers can consider the GTS a turnkey proposition that runs and drives extremely well.
Australia was once the home of a vibrant vehicle manufacturing industry. Ford, Holden, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Leyland, Volkswagen, and many other marques operated facilities Down Under. However, times change, and the Australian industry is no more. Holden produced its last car in October 2017. It soldiered on and sold rebadged imports, but these never found a ready market. Sadly, Holden joined Pontiac when General Motors “retired” the brand on New Year’s Day 2021. I believe that, like iconic Pontiac vehicles, classics like this 1975 Holden HJ Monaro GTS deserve preservation. Otherwise, future generations will have no insight into the Australian vehicle manufacturing industry at its peak. Thankfully, many enthusiasts share my view, and values have climbed as a result. That begs the question of what the future holds for this Monaro. Do you believe it will remain on its native shore, or will a North American buyer purchase and export this beauty, ensuring that they arrive at shows or a Cars & Coffee behind the wheel of a genuinely unique vehicle?
Ok….now about that cargo container….”It’s how much?????”
That comment is right on the nose unless cargo containers have recently taken a nose dive re: cost.
One more innovative model from Down Under from one of our best again-Adam.
Insofar as the industry being no more, that may be true of the car industry but over at Boeing your team worked extensively and helped get the U.S. team on board to have come up with that same model of thinking in aviation.
Keep them coming, Adam.
This would be cool at a car show, but $66k is up there.
Adam!!! This is a great write up and I’ve learned a lot about Holdens. You also answered a decades old question for me, I always wondered why there were a larger selection of hot 4 door vehicles in Australia, than in the States. Now I know. I also never knew about the 308 V8 or the V8 program either those folks were really smart developing that V8 behind closed doors in the back. This one looks great. As far as shipping, hey, you never know.
If it winds up here, think about it this way, if you’re a rural Postal Carrier, you can deliver the mail with this ( steering wheels on the correct side for delivering mail here) and run to a Cars and Coffee event after work. Win win!!!. Once again, thank you Adam, great write up!!!
240 HP in 1975 would have been good enough for the malaise era in the USA. It would have made a few American cars more appreciated.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, bud lee. I probably should have mentioned that the 308 under the hood of this GTS is the L31 version. A few people “in the know” managed to order one of these cars with the L34 variant. That pushed power to 349hp. That motor was developed for the competition version of the Torana L34, and was a potent piece of kit.
Its always a pleasure to pop open the hood on a Holden product and see the GM heritage. The full size Fridgidaire a/c compressor, visibly a Quadrajet under the air cleaner, the a/c components even the power brake.assembly albeight on the other side. I’d love to import one here in Canada and look at the guy’s at the GM dealership.when i’d bring one in for maintenance.
Mad max interceptor
Hahaha, love Mad Max!
A 2 door Holden Monaro was driven by the Nightrider in the opening chase scene of the original Mad Max. It was a V8 Pursuit Special “on methane”. It appears black but is actually a very dark blue and has “MFP” in large outlined letters on the rear of the car.
Adam, awesome write up! Learned a lot about Holdens!
But you could get Monaros with 2 door bodies Adam and you know that.
Four doors always sold better due to their practicality for families.
If your mate’s dad bought one of these as “the family car” back in the day, he was just an old hoon at heart. The kind of dad who would drop the kids at school and then drop the clutch lay some rubber on the way out of the parking lot just for feces and giggles while your dad, Ted Bullpit slowly rolled out at 20kph in the Kingswood. And don’t say “Not the Kingswood”.
Monaros were originally 2 door jobs, but I think that the low production runs made them an uneconomic proposition.
Some of my Australian mates might educate me but I thought the Monaro name was not used on the 4-door body shown here.
The HQ even had a 4 door Monaro, I had a relative who had a yellow HQ but had fitted the Premier clip on the front to have the 4 head lights.
These uniquely Australian cars are fun to see today. Like a hybrid of American and European influence. That dash looks like a what we would see in the 3rd generation Firebird. Cool car for sure.
It would be a cold day in hell before any self respecting Australian would let that car leave our shores.
Those Aussies sure like their more door cars and Holdens especially. I watch a show that’s based in Australia and three quarters of the cars in the shows are 4 doors. I don’t understand
Which show Rob ?
Rob, in Australia we have a term called “Responsible Driver”. When you go to the pub for a night out the responsible person doesn’t drink any alcohol and drives the car. The 4-doors make it much easier to fit in the six or more friends who go with you!
LMAO. From my memory it also makes it easier to hose out the backseat the next day after they all chunder on the way home.
It’s called Classic Restos, on some obscure channel I found a while back
Classic Restos is on Youtube. More than 500 programs. Well worth a look….
Very nicely restored, clean, tidy, and the attention to detail is obvious. Chevy Monte Carlo? Ford Granada? Pontiac Le Mans? There are so many styling cues, that it is impossible to decide. Window louvers on a 4 door sedan? $66K, just to be that guy at C&C with the unicorn? I’d rather buy a ’67 GTO and enjoy the drive.
The rear end has a hint of Chrysler Cordoba in it, too!
All of these aussie turds look like the illegitimate step children of the models we’re familiar with in the USA.
I bid you good day!
Hey Dirty Sanchez, You do know that there are many Aussies here don’t you ? I guess not.
No need to urinate on one of Australia’s most loved cars from the era, especially since you have never even driven or seen one. You won’t make friends here doing that.
And in closing, may I say to you sir: “Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt if elderberries.”
Hurt your feelings cupcake? Wow 😆 🤣 need a tissue?
You sound vaccinated.
Dirty Sanchez
And you sound like a right proper ballsack.
Good day 🧁
I live in Oz. I don’t particulary like the old Monaro’s, the locals go ga-ga for them. I didn’t mind the styling of the newer ones. Most of the Holden’s reminded me of seventies model US made cars, square and bland. I have owned a couple of Holden’s over the years, rebranded Isuzu Troopers.
Front end looks like a 1970 Monte Carlo, rear has Pontiac tail lights. Reminds me of the Beaumont in Canada. Off the shelf GM parts in a new arrangement. The GTO/Monaro was a great car that GM should have built in the USA.
Mad Max here with A/C just get rid of the mud flaps.
There’s no “Second Generation Kingswood in 1972” The HQ range was released in July ’71. This is a HJ, released in late ’74, ran until mid ’76.
The bonnet fit needs attention.