Not race cars, but I saw these guys out for a Sunday drive in the late 70's, I wonder where they all are now ? Headed and tailed it seems by a couple of outsiders.
http://i45.tinypic.com/s65bo7.jpg
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Not race cars, but I saw these guys out for a Sunday drive in the late 70's, I wonder where they all are now ? Headed and tailed it seems by a couple of outsiders.
http://i45.tinypic.com/s65bo7.jpg
Wow, thats an absolute ripper photo Bruce! I wonder if the brown Camaro at the front is Steve Malam in the old Art McKee Castrol GTX car. He owned it for a while. Pretty impressive line-up. Although that lot would have been pretty affordable back then, that'd easily be over half a million dollars worth of cars now, given the rapid rise in Monaro values.
Not sure if that Camaro would bee the ex McKee car. Those side pipes were the hot set up back then, and the bronze colour was popular at that time too.
Certainly a few nice cars in there.
Bruce.
Where is that pic taken Bruce, thats a fine building behind them? Woulntnt want an earthquake to happen then with that massive parapet above them
Used to be a time when you could count on seeing a dead/sleeping Falcon Coupe or Monaro sitting on blocks in someones yard while traveling through this area.
This thread has been quiet for a while, it is anorak time -statistics of imported HK Bathurst Monaros to GM in Trentham .Does not include private imports.
Here we go-
81837 327 manual-40.
Colour breakdown-
Picardy Red-3.
Warwick Yellow-11.
Silver Mink-6.
Inca Gold-1.
Bright Blue-19
First one was HK-3337, last one was HK-60666.These are the numbers stamped on the firewall-not the skinny or wide tags.
Will return with 80737 stats showing 186s and 307 .
Here are some more riveting stats for fans-there were 180 Monaros- 80737 GTS -imported by GM in Trentham between 19.8.68 and 20.5.69. Model break down as follows-80737 could have 186s or 307
59 of these were 307 V8,
82 were automatics.
We only got GTS and not the base model -161, three on the tree, bench seats.
One of these came into the country for display purposes for all the dealers to see and get excited by.
Was this the one from Taupo that was repowered by a twin turbo Nissan?
So stats show that in a 9 month period , GM in Trentham imported 220 Monaro GTS for we lucky Kiwis.
And that is only HK .
HT to follow.
John, great breakdown on the model numbers. Was 81837 just for the 327 and 350, and did that include the non Bathurst cars i.e. the auto and in the case of the HT at least, car without the 25 gallon tank ?
I assume that the 8 is the GM division number (Chev 1, Pontiac 2, etc) and 37 is the code for two door coupe right ? Do you know the other numbers ?
Bruce.
Hi Bruce,
I spent 7 years in the Parts Dept of GM agents -Davie Motors and Paine Motors, so I know a parts book and ID.As you well know I have always had a strong attachment to Monaros so have researched them very deeply.This information I put up is not available through usual research and so that is why I put up this format.
Feel free to drop in and see it , it will blow you away.
81837 was always the Bathurst model designation for HK/HT/HG.
327 was HK only, 350 was HT/HG.
HK Bathursts were all manual.
Details I will put up for HT show manual and auto for 81837.
The Bathurst tank was only fitted to those models that had the big diff.
However just because the big diff was there did not always mean a big tank.
Big tank also needed a different located breather and bigger tank protection plates.
There was a special step over the diff section on the floor for the big diffs.
8 was Holden.
35 was Station wagon,
69 was sedan.
Will get back soon with full breakdown of models.
80169-standard Belmont-M15 designation meant all synchro.
80369-standard Kingswood sedan.L20/J52l-large motor , disc brakes.M25-auto.
80569 -premier sedan.
80135-belmont station wagon.
80335-kingswood wagon.
80535-premier wagon
81469-Brougham
80180 Belmot Ute.
80380 Kingswood ute
Thanks John, Looking forward to it. My HT 350 was an 81837, but auto, and the previous owner had put in a big tank, but not the right breather. I only found out when the fire dept was called to clean up fuel spewing out the filler on a hot summer day.
Right, here we go on HT Monaros-
30-81837
8 were autos.
12 -Sebring Orange.
7-Daytona Bronze.
8-Verdoro Green.
1-Monaco Maroon.
1-Kashmir White.
1-Monza Blue.
All imported by GM at Trentham between15.9.69 to 8.6.70
Whoa, mine was the Monaco maroon, one of one !
Bruce, baby, someone had to own it , and it was you
Was your key number 9125?
Also this was an automatic-was yours?
If not yours may have been a private import.
It was a late arrival, and is the only one that was not assigned a Dealers name.
Have the first owners name.-thats private ,for your eyes only.
Back again with more HT Monaro stats-
9 of 80337 Monaro-6 cylinder very standard-not GTS
1 auto.
2-80437 Monaro.-not GTS
1-307 auto.
1 -253 manual.
John,
Mine was an auto, from the Wellington area I believe. It wasn't new when I got it. In fact I bought it from Rod Coppins (motors) when he was up in Great North Rd, Key number ? not sure. I may still have one, I often keep a key as a souvineer.
Bruce, sounds like your car all right. As you say one of one.You put in a pic here much earlier showing you dragging one, is it the same one? Also interesting about the later fitting of a big tank, they didnt exactly grow on trees, always a rare item. I got one from Aus 10 years ago, made sure it had the correct filler-was Aus $1000 , plus freight,at the time.Never regretted it as an essential item for my HK
This is bloody good info John, keep it coming.
John, yes, same car that I dragged, A previous owner fitted the big tank before I got the car in '77. The filler was in the same location. later on I put in a 300/327 so it went the full circle, nearly.
Bruce, wonder if it survived to modern times and has a nice warm dry garage to rest, lick its wounds and recover.BTW ,what times were you doing and what class? Also looking at thread on NZ Allcomers, there is a R Tanner racing a green Consul, is this the same one that raced your Firebird
John,
Not sure if it is the same Robin Tanner in the Consul, I know he dabbled in the hot rod/drag scene and some dirt track activity out Puke way earlier on. My old Monaro managed some mid 13's at 110 mph, not too bad as I drove it all week and it probably still had the spare in it. It must have weighed over 4000 lbs. It was only DYO/match races.
Thats a very good time for a road car Bruce, and I suppose that you were carrying a full 25 gallon tank-50 cents a gallon then.The Kawasaki 500 Mach 3 , which was very light would do 12.2 The GTHO was about 14 secs.Does anybody remember what time Dennis Marwood did with his Camaro at the drags in the early 70s at Wiri.
Hey John, some very good information here. so out of the 22 Bathurst monaro's 81837 imported to NZ by GMH I wonder how many are still on the road. how many private imports do you think there would be?
Linz- you will find that of the ones that GM imported, definitely more came here.
People often viewed the auto as not a true Bathurst., but the correct numbers dont lie
I know of some that have gone back there because Kiwis dont want /cant match the Aussie money
You are sooooooooooooooooo lucky your firewall number shows it was a GMH import , with all the details, you have the tags and matching numbers.
On trade me the is a E49 Charger for $145,000, so you have made a very sensible purchase.
Saw Bob Janes HQ Monaro at the Muscle Car Masters today. Beautiful looking car and a credit to the Wall family for it's restoration. Simply awesome car. I'm hoping Pete Geoghegans Monaro will surface again.
I know I am lucky that all the numbers all match, you have made my weekend with that information. I will have to get a copy of the import history from you so I can keep it with the car.
I am working every second weekend to pay for that car so it is worth while now.
Linz- send me a pm with your email address and I will send you what your heart desires.
Now, please tell the story of your Bathurst HK that you had to sell to get your house.
I know viewers out there who would think working every second weekend is a small inconvenience to own what you have.
John- I bought the HK 327 Bathurst Monaro from a farmer just out of Queenstown, it was complete with WOF but was very rough condition. The good points were it had the original engine and original ownership papers and the best thing was the firewall number was on the ownership papers so all the numbers lined up. I started to strip it down and there was so much bog in it it covered the whole garage in bog dust. One of the previous owners told me he spun up on a gravel road and went down a bank and stuffed one side of the car , But the insurance fixed it. But with a bit of work and money I could have finished it.
After a relationship split up and me deciding to keep the house I could not afford both so ended up selling my Monaro.
It was a sad day when the Monaro left my garage, But you have to live somewhere.
I have not seen the car since and the rego number does not come up on Carjam so hopefully it is in someones garage somewhere.
Lin- got any pics to put up mate ?
If you combine the views on this and my Team Cambridge Monaro site, that is a combined total of almost 40,000.
That shows how powerful the Monaro name is and the interest they still generate.
Have sent that page to you, just for you., have a glass of champagne on me and enjoy your weekend off.
The boss of Rare Spares bought one , then sold to a panelbeater. He had it for quite a few years then sold it to Aussies. Was on Ebay some 8 years or so ago- AUS $35K Was blue/blue
Attachment 21017Attachment 21018John- Thanks for sending the GMH import history of my Monaro. you are right there are 2 R/T E49 Chargers $140K and 160K asking price on Trade Me. That's a lot of gold, They do look good though. I looked at a HT 350 Auto monaro 81837, at a Yard in Ch Ch , Looked like it needed a bit of tiding up, asking price was $60K, It was not advertised for long, Does anyone know if it sold? or maby it was for sale on behalf of. I will try and find some pictures of the 327 HK I owned. It was back in 1991.
Here is a picture of the HT 350 Auto from CHCH
Linz- can I ask for do do a small favour- can you please tell me the measurements from side and bottom of boot lid for the holes to secure the MONARO badge
Attachment 21022
John- There are 3 pins The side measurements first 140mm 228mm 292mm.
From the bottom of boot lid up starting on the left hand pin 86mm 79mm 79mm
hope this helps
Linz
Linz- thanks for that. The Cambridge Monaro had it in that place.
John- hopefully you can find some more race history.
Check out my Monaro fuel tank it has a big patch cut out of it.
I am guessing something was fitted there to speed up the rufueling when racing.
It takes ages to full that tank at the petrol station and also cost a lot of money.
Attachment 21025Attachment 21026
Linz- On the face of it, I would say that the tank had an accident or rust and this was a cut out to facilitate the repair.
I'm looking to connect with a Forum member - Leo D - regarding some images and an article I'm currently writing. If anyone cane help - or Leo D can contact me directly - I would very much appreciate it.
Have you had any joy with this yet Aron? I will have his email address if you don't yet have it. Just let me know.