Polished the turd

[AZlb5.0]

The GTO washed and waxed.

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[Inthehighdesert]

Still neat cars. They just didn‘t catch on here in the US like they did in Australia.

 

[AZlb5.0]

Still neat cars. They just didn‘t catch on here in the US like they did in Australia.

Agreed!
I think though GM missed a really big opportunity with these cars in the US market. Ford and Dodge capitalized on their Mustang/Charger(Challenger) models. They did what the people were asking for. Street light to street light cars. But GM wanted to please the European market more than the market that got them to the top. If they would have done a retro look like Mustang did or a more muscular look like Dodge, with the power to back it up, the GTO would have been a home run for GM. But they decided the SS was the way to go

 

[enderw88]

These are growing on me. Nice to see one.

 

[Hack]

Those cars have great running gear. I'm sure it's a lot of fun to drive.

 

[DFB5.0]

As an Aussie Ford man, I supposed to hate those!

But.......................I love them. From what I can gather, you guys in the US found the styling too subtle, whereas in Australia, the subtlety was seen as sexy.




The later versions with the twin hood vents were a direct result of that desire for more attitude, but I like the originals, clean surfacing and carefully executed proportions.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I feel the lack of success with Aussie Holden's has a lot to do with "not invented here syndrome". The same applies to Ford not leveraging Ford Australia for their RWD expertise, the modern Falcon and the Territory SUV (think Ford Freestyle/Edge) based on the same platform.

Tell me, would you have chosen an FWD/AWD Taurus............................

....................or a RWD Falcon with a variety of big torque inline-6's and V8's?








But no, there was too much internal politics and instead, Ford US killed off the Australian factories and took away our local muscle cars. Now, if want to buy a Ford, you are basically restricted to a Ranger or Everest SUV, or Mustang if you can get an allocation. Otherwise, they are not interested.

 

[AZlb5.0]

Those cars have great running gear. I'm sure it's a lot of fun to drive.

It’s an 04 so it has no nannies it’s mechanical to the point the throttle is cable driven and it feels really planted when driving. It definitely is a joy to drive.

 

[AZlb5.0]

As an Aussie Ford man, I supposed to hate those!

But.......................I love them. From what I can gather, you guys in the US found the styling too subtle, whereas in Australia, the subtlety was seen as sexy.




The later versions with the twin hood vents were a direct result of that desire for more attitude, but I like the originals, clean surfacing and carefully executed proportions.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I feel the lack of success with Aussie Holden's has a lot to do with "not invented here syndrome". The same applies to Ford not leveraging Ford Australia for their RWD expertise, the modern Falcon and the Territory SUV (think Ford Freestyle/Edge) based on the same platform.

Tell me, would you have chosen an FWD/AWD Taurus............................

....................or a RWD Falcon with a variety of big torque inline-6's and V8's?








But no, there was too much internal politics and instead, Ford US killed off the Australian factories and took away our local muscle cars. Now, if want to buy a Ford, you are basically restricted to a Ranger or Everest SUV, or Mustang if you can get an allocation. Otherwise, they are not interested.

The Aussie Holden FTV, looked way better than the American version GTO. The front fascia, and rear cover was highly sought after here in the US. To be honest the simplicity of its looks has grown on me though. When these first came out, I was a Corvette guy at the time, and thumbed my nose at them. Too heavy no enough hp, you know all the ego driven bs.

Now that I have this 04, I am truly appreciating not just the car, but honestly how rare they are becoming up here. Most of these cars have found their way to the wrecking yard in the US, so there’s less and less of them on the road. Which is good and bad. Good because you don’t see many on the road and bad because parts are becoming more and more scarce.

 

[Balr14]

Australia gets all the cool cars! A number of years ago, we found an old Ford Ute somebody brought over here.... I think it was about a 1950 model. If we could have converted it to left hand drive, we would have kept it.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

RIP HSV

 

[DFB5.0]

RIP HSV

The company behind HSV has flourished since GM pulled the rug out from under them.

(To be clear, GM completely packed up and left the Australian market. They are now only selling the Corvette in small numbers, through what is now called GM-SV, a new division of the old HSV.)

What was HSV is now trading as ASV (American Specialty Vehicles)`and are now converting RAM 1500's and Chev Silvarado's to Right-hand drive. In both cases, the vehicles are directly supplied by Stellantis and GM, then stripped and remanufactured to RHD, allowing them to be sold through dealerships around the country.

 

[Bulutt]

This was mine in1972. A 1968 model. The car was called Monaro. Your MONARO/GTO was a modern interpretation just like the New Mustang is to the original.

 

[Brisvegas]

Those cars have great running gear. I'm sure it's a lot of fun to drive.

Rare as rocking horse shit but there is an all wheel drive version in Australia called the HSV Coupe4 , only 140 made but apparently not a great car to drive , still sell for decent money nevertheless

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/de...hicles-coupe-4-auto-4x4/SSE-AD-13670640/?Cr=2

 

[AZlb5.0]

Rare as rocking horse shit but there is an all wheel drive version in Australia called the HSV Coupe4 , only 140 made but apparently not a great car to drive , still sell for decent money nevertheless

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/de...hicles-coupe-4-auto-4x4/SSE-AD-13670640/?Cr=2

That’s pretty awesome.

 

[DFB5.0]

Rare as rocking horse shit but there is an all wheel drive version in Australia called the HSV Coupe4 , only 140 made but apparently not a great car to drive , still sell for decent money nevertheless

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/de...hicles-coupe-4-auto-4x4/SSE-AD-13670640/?Cr=2

That’s pretty awesome.

As mentioned, the Coupe4 was sold in small numbers.

To recap, the Coupe4 was based on the Holden Monaro, which was sold also sold as the HSV GTO and GTS Coupe. The Coupe 4 took the AWD system from the Commodore wagon based Adventra (think Subaru Outback style AWD wagon). That same AWD system was also fitted to the One-Tonner Ute and Crewman dual cab Ute.





Early versions of that AWD system were limited to the 5.7 Chevy V8 and ancient 4-speed auto. Later on, the new 3.6 HFV6 and 5-speed auto were offered on the Adventra, Crewman and 1-Tonner Ute.

Because that AWD system was originally intended for higher ride height and increased track width, HSV needed to adapt it for the lower riding Monaro. That required the fitment of those wheel arch flares. When the body shells were constructed, the body was removed from the line, the wheel arches were laser cut to allow for the new flared items to be fitted. The completed body was then returned to the line for painting and final assembly. HSV also designed specific front suspension control arms to permit a lower ride compared to the rest of the AWD models.

That all sounds like a great combination, but there were a couple of reasons why it didn't sell in big numbers.

1/ Because of the AWD system, and the front driveshafts in particular, there were space limitations for the exhaust headers. This meant the engine only produced 270 kW / 362 hp, compared to the 285 and 300 kW / 382 and 402 hp of the rest of the HSV range.

2/ The only transmission offered was the clunky old 4-speed auto, no manual was offered like the rest of the range.

3/ Again, the AWD system didn't allow the fitment of HSV's larger AP-Racing brake system.

4/ The steering was excessively heavy and lumpy in feel. Most Holdens of the era were the same, but the Coupe 4 was even worse.

5/ The AWD system took an already heavy car and made it even heavier.

6/ Because of the lower power numbers, auto only and extra weight, the Coupe 4 was the slowest model in the range.

7/ Retail pricing reflected all the bespoke parts and commanded a healthy premium.

8/ And the most crucial element, being AWD, how was the average cashed up bogan going to do a burnout!

So, buyers were paying a premium for a car that was less powerful, slower, didn't brake as hard and was worse to drive.

Don't get me wrong though, I find the Coupe 4 an interesting proposition and it represented a golden era for HSV and Holden, a time when Holden/HSV could do no wrong and were happy to take the gamble on niche products like this.

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