This site provides reference information for enthusiasts restoring HQ Monaro GTS 350 and Monaro LS 350 V8 Coupes produced by General Motors Holden in Australia Between 1971 and 1974. Of approximately 13,000 HQ Monaro coupes built, there were only 622 Monaro coupes equipped with the imported Chevrolet 350 V8 engine – representing only 0.12% of HQ production of almost 500,000 vehicles.
The site provides extensive photos of a “ground up” restoration of a numbers-matching, fully optioned, 1973 Monaro LS with a 350 V8 with Turbo Hydramatic 400 powertrain.
Only a handful of LS 350’s survive today, go to the HQ LS 350 register to see these unique cars.
There is additional info covering the entire range of HQ Monaro coupe models, available options, specs and 1971 prices.
Another section describes the installation of a new GM Performance Products “385 Fastburn” crate motor into a HQ GTS coupe, retaining as much originality as possible to a factory HQ 350 configuration.
The site is being continually added to so some pages may be incomplete.
HQ Monaro Coupe Models
Monaro LS
Standard power train was a 202 six cylinder with either a 3 speed manual column shift on Series 1 cars and Trimatic for Series 2 cars. The LS could be optioned up with either a 253 with M20 4-speed, M21 4-speed or Trimatic, a 308 with M21 or Trimatic or the Chevrolet 350 V8 with Turbo Hydramatic auto. No manual option was available on the LS 350.
Monaro GTS
Standard power train was a 253 V8 with 4 speed M20 gearbox (M21 was the “high performance” option on 253 V8s) and could be optioned up with the 308 V8 with M21 4-speed or Trimatic. Top of the range was the GTS 350 with the imported Chevrolet 350 V8 with Muncie 4 speed or Turbo Hydramatic 400 auto.
Monaro Coupe
Standard power train was a 173 six cylinder mated to a 3 speed manual column shift. It could be optioned up with either the 253 or 308 engines with 4 speed manual or Trimatic auto.