History of this car
| Model | Monaro GTS Coupe - Model No. 80837 |
| Build date | 1 November 1972 |
| Delivery date | 14 November 1872 |
| Delivery dealer | Claridge Motors, Unley, South Australia |
| Paint colour | Nutmeg Metallic --> paint code 567 - 13886 |
| Interior trim | Black --> trim code 1844 - 10X |
| Photos | 1972 - 1975 1976 - 1990 1991 - 2001 2002 - present |
This car was completed on 1st November 1972 at Holden's Dandenong Vic plant
This car was built to order so that a unique combination of options could be obtained. It took nearly 3 months from order to delivery.
The car was a daily driver from 1972 until 1991. In 1979 the original 253 V8 was replaced with a new 308 V8 "crate motor" from GM Parts & Accessories. The new 308 delivered considerable improvement in power with a commensurate reduction in fuel economy !!! Various other "factory" options were added over the years, these included power steering, factory air conditioning and a power aerial. In 1981, the M21 was replaced with a Trimatic auto to make family driving in the city a little easier.
In 1991 it was de-registered and kept in storage until 2001. The motor was started every week with regular oil changes even though not driven. In 2001, it was brought back to roadworthy condition by replacing front suspension bushes for the 1st time, replacement of brake components, radiator hoses and drive belts. The M21 was re-installed. It still has its original paint and interior trim.
It passed roadworthy on 4th October 2001 and was fitted with personalised Victorian number plates with the same letter - number combination as its original SA plates.
In June 2006, the 308 V8 and M21 combination was replaced with a standard "factory" HQ 350 V8 and Turbo Hydramatic 400 recovered from an unmolested 1973 Statesman 350.
April 1991 - made roadworthy again
I took my GTS off the road and put it into storage in 1991 after I gained access to a company car. My GTS had been my daily driver and primary family car for 19 years. During the next 8 years in storage it was started every 2 weeks and the oil changed every 6 months. In April 1999 I started to get the car up to roadworthy status with the intention of it being used as a weekend cruiser. Read more.
January 2005 - 350 engine transplant
In January 2005 I found an unmolested 1973 HQ Statesman 350. The Statesman would provide all the parts necessary to upgrade my GTS to a "factory configuration" GTS 350. Read more.