1971 HOLDEN HG MONARO GTS 308 COUPE

“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” was a motto that still rang true in the days of production car racing in Australia, where cars just like this Holden HG Monaro GTS would compete in the premiere class with very few changes to make them race-worthy contenders. This highly original example was ordered with the unusual combination of a 308 cubic inch engine (5.0-litre V8), ‘Saginaw’ four-speed manual gearbox, factory air-conditioning, power steering and side stripe delete. The odometer indicates 16,660 miles, which is believed to have been around the clock once, so a total mileage of 116,660 miles.

Purchased by the current owner seven years ago, the car has been preserved in what is believed to be a completely authentic and original state. It is assumed to have never been repaired, repainted or restored, and looking at the details both in and out, it is easy to understand why.

The Electra Blue paint is thought to be original, but is still glossy and vibrant, accented by black painted sills and hood scoops. The panels are all extremely straight with even gaps throughout, with only some minor imperfections that reveal that this is not a restored example. There is lovely patina in the chromework, with some minor imperfections, along with pitting and flaking in the badges and other external trimmings that is representative of its age.

The interior, also highly original, is finished in a combination of black vinyl with houndstooth cloth on the four seat squabs and backrests. The driver’s seat shows some signs of wear, with cracked vinyl on the side and some staining on the squab. There is fraying on the top of right rear seat and some wear across the rear seat base.

With a highly stylish interior for its day, resplendent with an artificial wood grain finish and ‘Monaro GTS’ branding, it has aged remarkably well. There is some trim below the central ventilation outlets that has come loose, but otherwise the rest of the dashboard trim is in sound condition, including the steering wheel, gearshift and other controls. All gauges and instruments are in working condition, with no known faults.

Under the current ownership, basic servicing has been conducted in 2014, 2017 and 2019, when the engine oil and spark plugs were changed. All four tyres are in reasonable condition, mounted to the original steel wheels.

Included with the vehicle is some service and maintenance documentation, along with an owner’s manual. It is currently registered in NSW, but the owner will retain the club registration plates.

Presented in impressively original condition, this Holden HG Monaro GTS will charm its next owner with nostalgic racing aspirations, particularly with its unusual driver-focused specification. Finding such unadulterated examples like this is becoming increasingly difficult, and this car would therefore make a worthy addition to any Australian muscle car collector’s portfolio, either kept in a preserved state or perhaps treated to a sympathetic restoration in due course.

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This vehicle’s VIN has been checked against the Australian Personal Property Securities Register, and there is no security interest or other registration kind logged against the serial number. This vehicle has been checked through the Austroads NEVDIS system, and there are no markers under the written-off or stolen databases.