Description

The HOLDEN HZ GTSB or HZ GTS “MONARO”B as some prefer to call it. Although the Monaro name had survived into 1977 as the HX Monaro GTS sedan, the coupC) configuration was no longer in production and Holden decided to delete the Monaro name altogether from the new Holden HZ range. With the development of Radial Tuned Suspension, Holden transformed the bland characteristics of their full-size sedans and introduced a sporting variant called simply Holden GTS. and featured a four headlight grille, front and rear air dams, four-wheel disc brakes, sports wheels and a 4.2-litre V8 engine as standard equipment. The optional 5.0-litre V8 became standard in June 1978

With the November 1978 introduction of the new mid/full-size VB Commodore sedan and its availability with V8 engine power, the days of the GTS appeared numbered. Production of the GTS ceased in December 1978

Critics of late 1970s Monaros say that the four-door HZ was a betrayal of modelbs heritage as Australiabs first true muscle car b little more, in effect, than a btizziedb up Premier. The factor that set HZ Monaros b and all HZ Holdens b apart from their predecessors was Radial Tuned Suspension. Holdenbs HQ had introduced in 1971 the brandbs first all-coil suspension, with vastly improved ride quality coming at the price of mid-bend wallow and almost incurable understeer. Yet the fix was a simple mix of revised suspension geometry, a larger anti-roll bar and shock absorbers that transformed the HZ GTS into one of the better handling cars of its era.B B Missing, however, was any “on-car” reference to Monaro,B and yet Holdenbs promotional literature still referred to the car by that name, those that actually appeared on showroom floors were identified only by GTS badges front, side and rear.

Power from the locally manufactured V8s had declined markedly since 1974 when rudimentary emission control measures were first introduced. By 1977 the 5.0-litre enginebs official power output had dwindled to 161kW b down 10 per cent on the HQbs 179kW. The 4.2-litre suffered proportionally less with a six per cent drop to 130kW. A four-speed M21 transmission was standard, with the durable Turbo-Hydramatic a popular alternative.

The HZ GTS enjoyed an unspectacular lifespan and disappeared without fanfare during the early months of 1979. Actual production figures are unknown but HZ Monaros are among the rarer performance Holdens.

This plate has no embossed characters but has a pressed out embossed borderB and is made from high quality aluminium and the artwork applied by a dye sublimation process with a lovely gloss finish. They measure 37 x 13 cm, exactly the same as the traditional fully embossed type of plate and look just like our other Aussie made novelty number plates; even the mounting holes are in exactly the same positions, so they can easily be hung on display indoors or outdoors. For protection during delivery we use extra packing materials to ensure they arrive in tip-top condition

If you would like plates made to your own design, we can easily do this for you.B Virtually anything you want can be created with our modern digital equipment.B The key is good art, and we can do

ANY GRAPHIC! B B ANY DESIGN! B B ANY COLOUR!