1970 Holden HT GTS Monaro 186S Coupe

Description

The ground breaking Monaro was first announced by Holden in July 1968, becoming the first home grown sports coupe with fastback styling inspired by Detroit. Stealing the march on rivals Ford and Chrysler, the Monaro became an instant legend after winning Bathurst first time out. With each succeeding model, the Monaro became more refined and the facelifted HT series, introduced in May 1969, brought with it numerous improvements, both external and under the skin. The most obvious visual cues were a new plastic grille, along with a more squared-off rear section and stacked taillights. Neoprene rubber bushes replaced the steel bushings used on the front suspension of the previous HK, resulting in a much more comfortable, quieter ride. The interior was also reworked, with a new seat design, door trims and revised instrumentation using more conventional round dials in place of the HK's old strip speedo. Customer's who chose Holden's popular GTS package got twin bonnet scoops, stripes and unique wheel trims, along with the option of houndstooth trim. Most HT Monaros were sold with either the familiar 186-cid six-cylinder or 308-cid V8 (once supplies of the imported 307 V8s ceased) and automatic transmission proved increasingly popular with Australian motorists. Six-cylinder GTS models using the uprated 186S engine got a Stromberg two barrel carburettor and had a healthy 145 bhp on tap. The hero model in the line-up was the GTS 350, which scored a resounding win at Bathurst in 1969 with Colin Bond and Tony Roberts at the wheel under the direction of Holden Dealer Team's mastermind Harry Firth for the first time. The HK/HT/HG Monaros are reaching new levels of popularity with collectors, as they become properly appreciated for their place in Australian motoring history.