1972 Holden HQ Monaro LS 253 V8 Coupe

Description

The all-new HQ series introduced in July 1971 was a milestone car for General Motors Holden, boasting brand new styling, unitary construction and major improvements to the suspension, brakes and interior. Designed specifically with Australian conditions in mind, the model range was greatly expanded, with the base Belmont, intermediate Kingswood and upmarket Premier joined by the luxury Statesman. For performance enthusiasts, Holden offered the Monaro, initially in two-door fastback guise but from early 1973 on, as a four-door sedan for the first time. With a variety of trim levels and several different engine/transmission combinations available, Holden built a Monaro to suit just about every type of buyer, from stylish cruisers through to out and out muscle cars. The LS, which stood for luxury/sport, was aimed at the more mature buyer, with upmarket Premier appointments like reclining front bucket seats upholstered in leather-grained vinyl, dual headlamps, black vinyl roof, centre console and rich loop-pile carpeting. Other touches included rear tinted glass and flow-thru ventilation and the standard LS specification included the 202-cid six with Trimatic column-shift automatic transmission - for the ultimate in ?luxury personal transportation? according to Holden's own marketing. The Monaro proved to be a great success with the press and public alike and is still held in high regard by enthusiasts today, particularly in two-door form.