Thread: 1973 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 4-Door 253 Auto.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Yep. Back in the days of the SS, there were no 4 door Monaros. When the 4 door Monaros were being manufactured, the SS had long been out of production.

It is over 40 years ago but I do seem to remember the four door Monaro being sold at the same time as the SS in 73 but there may have been an overlap period with both on the showroom floor but not a production overlap.

"The SS certainly had not been long out of production" as they were only released in late 72 and were certainly still in production during the first half of 73 when the first 4 door Monaros were released in Mar 73 - so the SS had only been around for 6 months before the Monaro was released.

Originally Posted by pop058

Not that I am a Red fan, but I do not recall seeing a "Monaro" badge on the SS. AFAIK they were just a "Holden (Super Sport) SS".

That is correct - they never carried the same badging.

Then there was also the LS Monaro.
Npt sure what you guys mean by Muscle Car as there is no real defined rul about what constitutes one. Usually a collectible car (which all these are), Usually a V8 but not always (these were), Usually slight different body work and options package over standard (yes), Usually alternate name and badges (yes). Sometime a better performance package.
Not sure what you expect, would it have been better with a 350 Chev?
We could put up a huge list here what does and does not constitute a true Muscle Car.
I would even class a lot of base models that have been done up us Muscle Cars.
Is a GTR Torana a Muscle Car?
Is an XY GS a Muscle Car?
Is a 6 pack Charger a Muscle Car?

Originally Posted by CraigE

Then there was also the LS Monaro.
Npt sure what you guys mean by Muscle Car as there is no real defined rul about what constitutes one. Usually a collectible car (which all these are), Usually a V8 but not always (these were), Usually slight different body work and options package over standard (yes), Usually alternate name and badges (yes). Sometime a better performance package.
Not sure what you expect, would it have been better with a 350 Chev?
We could put up a huge list here what does and does not constitute a true Muscle Car.
I would even class a lot of base models that have been done up us Muscle Cars.
Is a GTR Torana a Muscle Car?
Is an XY GS a Muscle Car?
Is a 6 pack Charger a Muscle Car?

You raise some very interesting points there Craig,Your spot on in regards to what is a Muscle car.For me if it looks fast it should be fast.But your right there is no rule book stating what a 'true muscle car' is.

Originally Posted by disco man

You raise some very interesting points there Craig,Your spot on in regards to what is a Muscle car.For me if it looks fast it should be fast.But your right there is no rule book stating what a 'true muscle car' is.

My opinion is that a Muscle Car has one of the "Big Block" engines. Chrysler 383+, Ford 390+, Chev. 396+, Buick 455, and so on. The ultimate being a Mopar Performance after-market Hemi 426.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

My opinion is that a Muscle Car has one of the "Big Block" engines. Chrysler 383+, Ford 390+, Chev. 396+, Buick 455, and so on. The ultimate being a Mopar Performance after-market Hemi 426.

Mopar 426 Hemi...awesome,...even more awesome in my favourite Muscle Car,...Dodge Challenger 426 Hemi R/T, as seen (it wasn't a real one) in the original "Vanishing Point" starring Barry Newman, now a Muscle Car cult movie.
Anyway, the HQ SS is now a collectors item, & a Monaro HQ 253 Auto, is not a "Muscle Car",...IMHO.
PIckles.

Back in the HK, HT, HG days there was a Monaro (non GTS) available that just had the standard 186 motor too!

Cheers, Mick.

I would have thought the LS Monaro was just a 2 door Premier with no go fast bits. The 6 cylinder option in the LS was very common. So definitely NOT a Muscle Car,.