1971 Holden HQ LS Monaro 253 Coupe (Project)

Description

The all-new HQ series introduced in July 1971 was a milestone car for General Motors Holden, boasting fresh sheetmetal, unitary construction and major improvements to the suspension, brakes and interior.  Designed specifically with Australian conditions in mind, the model range was greatly expanded; the base Belmont, intermediate Kingswood and upmarket Premier were joined by the luxury Statesman.  For performance enthusiasts Holden again offered the Monaro, initially in fastback guise but from early 1973 on a four-door version was available 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 upmarket LS (which stood for Luxury/Sport) two-door coupe was aimed at the more mature buyer with features like reclining front bucket seats upholstered in leather-grained vinyl, dual headlamps, black vinyl roof, centre console and rich loop-pile carpeting lifted from the Premier range.  Other luxury touches included rear tinted glass and flow-thru ventilation.  The entry-level LS came with a 202-cid six with Trimatic column-shift automatic but buyers could option any one of Holden’s engine/transmission combinations up to the 350-cid V8.  Billed as the ultimate in “luxury personal transportation”, the LS proved a popular seller alongside the sportier GTS Monaro but are becoming scarce today.  The HQ Monaro proved a great success with the press and public alike and is still held in high regard by enthusiasts today, particularly in two-door form and values have skyrocketed in recent years.