Holden HG Monaro Coupe

1970-71

 
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Regarded as the most sophisticated of the early Monaro models, the HG is today one of the rarest and most sought-after of the charismatic Holden coupes.

Holden designers cleverly removed the detail from the HG's rear lights, providing the illusion of extra size as the lights merged smoothly with the black GTS tail panel. While the more subtle HG mesh grille revived the simplicity of the first Monaro, GTS blackouts highlighted the bold new centre division and surrounds.

The deletion of sill and wheel arch mouldings and the addition of black rocker panels around the lower body gave the HG GTS a meaner, sleeker look. Subtle 'sidewinder' stripes that swooped from the rear pillars to the front highlighted the flow in the original Monaro shape. New decals for the 350 engine were a Monaro first. New metallic colours and the lack of bold bonnet and bootlid stripes reflected a clean custom look and highlighted the 350's quad exhausts.

Engine choice was the same as for final HT models after the local 308 V8 replaced the Chevrolet 307. A new three-speed Trimatic auto option replaced the Powerglide on all models except the big 350.

Although virtually retired from competition duties - replaced by the XU-1 Torana - the Monaro still managed an amazing year on the track. Norm Beechey's Monaro dominated the Australian Touring Car Championship against serious competition and there was an outstanding Bond/Roberts endurance victory at Surfer's Paradise.

Away from the track, Holden built extra compliance into the Monaro rear suspension, boosting GTS 350 long distance touring capabilities and comfort. The HG GTS 350 manual, with its crisp driving feel and Salisbury limited slip diff, stood as the definitive road car for several Monaro generations.

DATE OF INTRODUCTION

July 1970

NUMBER BUILT

6,147

MODELS

Monaro Coupe
Monaro GTS
Monaro GTS 350

PRICES AT RELEASE

Monaro (161 ci six & 3 speed manual) - $2765,
Monaro GTS (186 ci six & 4 speed manual) - $3323,
Monaro GTS 350 (5.7 V8 & 4 speed manual) - $4174

ENGINES

161ci (low compression engine)
Capacity 161 ci (2640 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
One barrel downdraught Bendix Stromberg carburettor
Bore and stroke 3.375 inches (85.7 mm) (85.7 mm) x 3.00 inches (76.2 mm)
Power output (DIN):108 bhp (80.6 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):146 lb/ft (197 Nm) at 2000 rpm
Compression ratio:8.2:1

161ci (high compression engine)
Capacity 161 ci (2640 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
One barrel downdraught Bendix Stromberg carburettor
Bore and stroke 3.375 inches (85.7 mm) (85.7 mm) x 3.00 inches (76.2 mm)
Power output (DIN):114 bhp (85 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):157 lb/ft (211.9 Nm) at 2000 rpm
Compression ratio:9.2:1

186 ci (3050 cc)
Capacity:186 ci (3050 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
One barrel downdraught Bendix Stromberg carburettor
Bore and stroke:3.625 inches (88.8 mm) inches x 3.00 inches (76.2 mm)
Power output (DIN):130 bhp (97 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):181 lb/ft (244.3 Nm) at 2000 rpm
Compression ratio:9.2:1

186S (3050 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
One barrel downdraught Bendix Stromberg carburettor
Bore and stroke:3.625 inches (88.8 mm) inches x 3.00 inches (76.2 mm)
Power output (DIN):145 bhp (108.2 kW) at 4600 rpm
Torque (DIN):184 lb/ft (248.4 Nm) at 2200 rpm
Compression ratio:9.2:1

253 V8 (4149 cc)
Capacity 253 ci (4149 cc)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single two barrel Bendix Stromberg WW downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke:92.08 mm x 77.77 mm
Power output (DIN):185 bhp (138 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):262 lb/ft (353.7 Nm) at 2400
Compression ratio:9:1

308 ci (5047 cc)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single four barrel Rochester Quadrajet downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke:4.0 inches (101.6 mm) x 3.062 inches (75.0 mm)
Power output (DIN) 240 bhp (179.0 kW) at 4800 rpm
Torque (DIN) 315 bhp (434 Nm) at 3000 rpm
Compression ratio 9.0:1

350 ci (5740 cc manual transmission)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single four barrel Rochester Quadrajet downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke:4.0 inches (101.6 mm)x 3.480 inches (85.26 mm)
Power output (DIN):300 bhp (223.8 kW) at 4800 rpm
Torque (DIN):380 lb/ft (513 Nm) at 3200 rpm
Compression ratio:10.25:1

350 ci (5740 cc automatic transmission)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single four barrel Rochester Quadrajet downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke:4.0 inches (101.6 mm)x 3.480 inches (85.26 mm)
Four barrel Rochester Quadrajet downdraught carburettor
Power output (DIN):275 bhp (205.1 kW) at 4800 rpm
Torque (DIN):365 lb/ft (492 Nm) at 3200 rpm
Compression ratio:9.0:1

TRANSMISSIONS

Three-speed manual. (Synchro in 2nd & 3rd)
Three-speed manual. (All synchro. Column shift), 253 and six cylinder engines
Four-speed all synchro manual.
M21 four-speed all synchro manual.
Two speed Powerglide automatic
Three speed Trimatic automatic

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COMBINATIONS

161 engine standard on Monaro, 186, 186S, 253 and 308 optional.
186S standard on Monaro GTS, 253 and 308 optional.
Three speed column shift manual standard on Monaro, Trimatic automatic optional.
Four speed floor shift manual standard on Monaro GTS, optional with floor shift only.
Four speed heavy duty manual standard on GTS 350, Powerglide with floor shift optional

BRAKES

Front:Drums are standard with six cylinder models, power assistance optional.
Power assisted discs standard on Monaro GTS and V8s.
Front 10.5 inch (268 mm) discs
Rear 10 inch (254 mm) drums

WHEELS

Monaro and Monaro GTS - 5.00JJx14
V8 GTS - 6.00JJx14

INSTRUMENTS/CONTROLS

Monaro - Speedo, fuel gauge, water temperature, oil pressure and generator charge warning lights.
GTS - Speedo, tacho, fuel gauge, oil pressure, ammeter, generator charge warning light, water temperature gauge, handbrake warning light.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Total length (inches/mm):184.8 inches (4527.6 mm)
Total width (inches/mm):71.8 inches (1759.1 mm)
Wheelbase (inches/mm):111 inches (2719.5 mm)

KERB WEIGHT

Monaro 161 - 2897 lbs (1315.3 kg).
GTS 186S - 2947 lbs (1337.9 kg) lbs
GTS 350 - 3386 lbs (1530 kg)

TURNING CIRCLE

36.5 ft (10.7 m).

FUEL TANK CAPACITY

All models except GTS 350 - 16.5 gallons (75 litres)
GTS 350 - 25 gallons (113.7 litres)

ENGINE NUMBERS

Located stamped on a pad at the front of the right hand cylinder bank.
The prefixes for the HG GTS 350 Monaro automatic is '327A' and the manual '350M'. The engine serial number follows.

BODY/CHASSIS NUMBERS

Located stamped on a plate attached to the right hand side of the firewall. The first five numbers of the 13 digits is the model number.
80337 - Monaro Coupe
80437 - Monaro Coupe
80837 - Monaro GTS Coupe
81837 - Monaro GTS 350 Coupe

The next letter is the series code G for HG Monaro

The next two digits are a letter/number combination indicating the plant at which the vehicle was built
H1-H4 - Brisbane
H5-H9 - Sydney
J1-J9 - Melbourne
L1-L5 - Adelaide
L6-L9 - Perth

The remaining five numbers is the vehicle serial number represent the sequence in which the vehicle was built at that particular plant.

OTHER IDENTIFICATION MARKS

GTS 350 - 'GTS' and 'Monaro' badges.
Headlight bezels, grille, under front and rear bumpers, along sill panels, bonnet scoops and rear of boot lid blacked out.
Four slanted vertical louvres in lower front guards.
Low profile bonnet scoops both sides of bonnet.





 

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