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Buyers Guide - Monaro GTS Coupe
It is hard to believe that Australia's first purpose built "Muscle Car" has been around for over 30 years, longer in fact than many of the owners and enthusaists who own and adore the Monaro. If not for the grainy videos, many owners would not have seen Bruce McPhee and Colin Bond give the Monaro its Back to Back Bathurst victories, McPhee heading a Monaro 1-2-3 walkover in 1968, Bond having to battle, ironically against with McPhee in a Falcon GTHO, for his 1969 win. Long gone race glory has little to do with the Monaros continuing popularity and steadily appreciating values. Along with Ford's XY GT, it ranks as the most recognisable Australian performance car, its range of V8's all effective and durable.
In 1993 the average price paid for a 5.0 Litre Monaro was below $7000, today the same car is worth over $10,000 with outstanding examples fetching up to $15,000. In its ultimate guise, the Chevrolet powered 350V8 in pristine condition will go $5000 to $7000 higher again. Lately the demand for the Chevy powered HK 'Bathurst 327 GTS has seen prices of around $30,000+ being asked.
Practicality plays a huge part in the Monaros appeal and no other Australian built two door can match the Monaros's combination of interior and luggage space, accessibility, visibility and mechanical simplicity. Mecanical parts, most body panels and almost all the hard to source interior and rubber parts can be aquired at prices within reach of the young and impoverished.
Overall the investment potential of the Holden Monaro is high with the current prices very reasonable and with interest in the Monaro on the rise, purchasing the right vehicle could be a very rewarding experience, as well as giving the owner of the pleasure owning the Mighty Monaro.
Source: Unique Cars, January 1999