1970 Holden HG Monaro GTS 308 Coupe

Description

The HG was the third and final facelift of Holden's HK/HT series and was introduced in July 1970, largely to coincide with the introduction of the new Tri-matic automatic transmission. Apart from a new grille, the remaining bodywork was shared with the HK/HT models and all the same trim levels, including Belmont, Kingswood, Premier and Brougham, were offered for sale. Holden had an extensive list of six and eight-cylinder engines on offer, ranging from the 130-cid six through to the 350-cid V8, along with no less than six different transmission types, with the three-speed Tri-matic replacing the old two-speed Powerglide. The Monaro sports coupe was again the hero car of the full-size Holden range, with its pillarless fastback styling still managing to look fresh and appealing. However, with Bathurst duties switching to the XU-1 Toranas, the Monaro GTS 350 became less of a homologation special and more a high performance executive express, with a good many equipped with automatic transmission and air conditioning. The GTS package included the option of stripes, Houndstooth check cloth trim and a wide range of distinctive colours, plus full instrumentation (including tacho), GTS badges etc. Although base GTS Monaros came with the 186S six-cylinder motor, more power was available through the choice of 253-cid or 308-cid V8 motors (first seen on the HT in October 1969), the latter using a Salisbury 3.36:1 rear axle when fitted with the auto transmission. Production of the last of the original shape Monaros was short-lived and the HG was replaced by the all-new HQ in 1972, making it very hard to locate good original examples, particularly in the more desirable V8 guise.