LION'S PRIDE!

MONARO GTS 327 WAS A PIONEER OF AUSTRALIA'S MUSCLECAR SCENE THAT GAVE THE GENERAL SUCCESS IN MANY WAYS

- MARK HIGGINS/CLIFF CHAMBERS

A region in eastern New South Wales is where the Holden’s Monaro got its name and came to being after GMH executive Noel Bedford saw a sign ‘Monaro Shire Council’, as he drove into Cooma on holidays. He thought it sounded pretty good and not dissimilar to Camaro, GM’s American muscle car.

On return to the office, he threw the name into the ring and senior management liked it and ran with it.

Under GMH Design Director Joe Schemansky and HK Monaro designer John Schinella the coupe, named Torana during its clay model stages, took shape and was introduced in July 1968.

Holden’s first coupe was a roaring success in showrooms, on the track, and with the media, giving the brand its maiden Bathurst and Wheels Car of the Year wins.

The Monaro was part of the all-new HK range and offered in three trim levels: Monaro, Monaro GTS and Monaro GTS 327.

The base model Monaro was a mundane affair, with its standard 161 cubic-inch six and three-on-the-tree manual or two-speed Powerglide auto. The GTS got a power boost thanks to its bigger 186S inline-six.

Back in the day buyers could mix and match specs far better than now and you could order a base Monaro with the optional 186 or 307 V8 donk, while GTS buyers could also opt for the 307 V8. 

The GTS also scored bucket seats and a tacho hidden down on the centre console.

The flagship and reason for the Monaro’s existence was the GTS 327 and its 250 horsepower, 5.4-litre V8 Chev paired with a Saginaw four-speed manual, limited slip diff, a large 25-gallon fuel tank, tweaked independent front and live axle rear suspension, disc brakes up front, drums on the rear and 14-inch wheels running DR70-14 cross plys.