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HK1837 Offline
#1 Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2018 2:12:48 PM(UTC)
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The first week of July 1968 was (as best we can tell) the first week of volume production of HK GTS and GTS327. July 1st 1968 was a Monday. Approximately 300 Monaro were built at Pagewood leading up to July 1st 1968, and Dandenong will have been similar, Elizabeth and Acacia Ridge probably less. But for GTS, next week is the 50th birthday for the initial GTS's built for public consumption after the coupe and Brougham release later in July 1968. I have two of them, both Pagewood build, and they are in the same shed now after having been separated for 50 years after leaving the Pagewood plant. Both Warwick Yellow, the GTS327 is 2-H5 and the GTS is 20-H5. They are 32 HK chassis numbers apart (GTS327 lower) and 174 PSN's apart (GTS lower) meaning the GTS327 body exited the Pagewood body plant earlier, but pushed aside and the GTS went through the Pagewood assembly plant earlier. The GTS327 was assembled after hours we believe (by the VIN tag's stamping), probably as it is the first volume production GTS327 (1-H5 being the Pagewood online Pilot). Will try and put up a photo of the GTS, all painted and ready for finishing. My mate repaired and painted the car. My job now is to do all its mechanicals and interior, plus fit A/C and other mod cons.

I thought it was interesting what else went on in that week in July 1968:

July 1: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed in Washington, Moscow and London and opened for signature by the other nations of the world

July 2: The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court, ordered that accused American assassin James Earl Ray be extradited back to the United States to face charges for the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

July 3: Six people and eight racehorses were killed in a cargo plane crash at London Heathrow Airport. [17] [18] The chartered BKS Air Transport plane, an Airspeed Ambassador, was arriving from France where it was transporting the group from William Hill's farm in Deauville, when metal fatigue caused it to lose control while landing. The plane struck two empty BEA airliners after touching down.

July 4: British yachtsman Alec Rose completed his solo trip around the world after 354 days, as his ketch, Lively Lady, sailed into Portsmouth harbour and was welcomed by 200,000 cheering spectators after an escort by a flotilla of 300 boats. Rose, a 59-year-old vegetable dealer, had spent 320 of his 354 days alone at sea, "longer than any man known in history."

July 5: Rod Laver beat fellow Australian Tony Roche in three straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) to win the Wimbledon Men's Singles tennis competition.

July 6: Billie Jean King of the United States defeated Australian Judy Tegart 9–7, 7–5, to win the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles tennis competition. She became the first tennis player (since Maureen Connolly in 1954) to win three singles crowns in a row.

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 1 user thanked HK1837 for this useful post.
HG714 on 6/07/2018(UTC)
Shearer Offline
#2 Posted : Monday, 2 July 2018 8:47:16 PM(UTC)
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https://www.shannons.com...-and-model-a-fords-90th/

There are a few good pictures of a Monaro prototype
HK1837 Offline
#3 Posted : Monday, 2 July 2018 10:02:09 PM(UTC)
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Very cool. That is the ‘glass model of the HK GTS from mid 1967. The first real bodies were made a few months later in September ‘67. Strange - the comment about the GTS being built to compete with the GT? It was actually the other way around!
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Warren Turnbull Offline
#4 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 2:16:52 PM(UTC)
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Plus the base model was there before the GTS 327 model.
HK1837 Offline
#5 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 3:21:50 PM(UTC)
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That too Warren. The Special Coupe (that became the Monaro) and the sports version (GTS) were around (in design terms) long before Ford even had an XR, let alone GT. So it makes me wonder what else is not correct in the article. The July 1967 date on the Fibreglass model does give a really good picture of where the whole car was up to at the start of 1967.
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Dr Terry Offline
#6 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 3:34:39 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
The Special Coupe (that became the Monaro) and the sports version (GTS) were around (in design terms).


I seem to remember a motoring magazine article (AMS) where they had 'sneak' preview pictures of the upcoming HK coupes. They looked to be showroom ready, but were badged Kingswood, Premier & Kingswood GTS coupes.

Dr Terry

Edited by user Tuesday, 3 July 2018 3:42:27 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

If at first you don't succeed, just call it Version 1.0
Shearer Offline
#7 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 5:01:57 PM(UTC)
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Closer inspection on the photos on 14-15 show an American date 7-18-67 and interestingly the number plate vaguely says 'Holden GTS coupe'; not called Monaro

Also the second picture on page 16-17 of the non-GTS 'Monaro' badge on the front badge looks like its been air brushed (Pre-Photoshopped) -does it look like a proper Chrome badge?
HK1837 Offline
#8 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 5:28:39 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Dr Terry Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
The Special Coupe (that became the Monaro) and the sports version (GTS) were around (in design terms).


I seem to remember a motoring magazine article (AMS) where they had 'sneak' preview pictures of the upcoming HK coupes. They looked to be showroom ready, but were badged Kingswood, Premier & Kingswood GTS coupes.

Dr Terry


Sounds about right r close to it. After the first coupes were made in April 1968 they were Kingswood Coupe and GTS or something like that. Then the Monaro name was applied soon afterwards, in May if memory serves me correct. But prior to HK even being released (like 1964-5) the Kingswood was called the Special and the next spec was the Premier, so they were Special Coupe and Premier Coupe and got Fisher designations in later 1965 (80x37). Later the 80537 became the 80737 and Premier was dropped in favour of GTS.
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HK1837 Offline
#9 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 5:32:43 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Shearer Go to Quoted Post
Closer inspection on the photos on 14-15 show an American date 7-18-67 and interestingly the number plate vaguely says 'Holden GTS coupe'; not called Monaro

Also the second picture on page 16-17 of the non-GTS 'Monaro' badge on the front badge looks like its been air brushed (Pre-Photoshopped) -does it look like a proper Chrome badge?


Yes, it is a fibreglass model and that is a July 1967 date. There were no steel HK coupe bodies made until September 1967. The photos probably came from the GM tech centre in the USA where GMH would have sent them, hence the date. Probably the date they received them? Unless that turntable is not at Fisherman's Bend??

Edited by user Tuesday, 3 July 2018 5:34:23 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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Shearer Offline
#10 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 6:24:36 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Shearer Go to Quoted Post
Closer inspection on the photos on 14-15 show an American date 7-18-67 and interestingly the number plate vaguely says 'Holden GTS coupe'; not called Monaro

Also the second picture on page 16-17 of the non-GTS 'Monaro' badge on the front badge looks like its been air brushed (Pre-Photoshopped) -does it look like a proper Chrome badge?


Yes, it is a fibreglass model and that is a July 1967 date. There were no steel HK coupe bodies made until September 1967. The photos probably came from the GM tech centre in the USA where GMH would have sent them, hence the date. Probably the date they received them? Unless that turntable is not at Fisherman's Bend??



I agree the turntable isn't at Fisherman's Bend, here are some pictures of the GM Tech Centre in the 60s which show the same pavers on the fourth and fifth picture.

https://www.hotrod.com/a...evrolet-camaro-design-2/

I had another close up on the rear shot of the Monaro, it says on the top of the plate '1969'?

Edited by user Tuesday, 3 July 2018 7:52:46 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

wbute Offline
#11 Posted : Tuesday, 3 July 2018 8:08:09 PM(UTC)
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So the Ewe’t was photographed in the US? Wow. It’s on that same turntable in the photos.
HK1837 Offline
#12 Posted : Wednesday, 4 July 2018 6:33:59 AM(UTC)
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Ewe't and other pictures I have on the GMH Tech Centre rooftop turntable is a different turntable to that one. The turntable that fibreglass model is on appears to be at ground level to start with.

In the images in that article the GMH turntable is on page 13 top right and page 17 bottom.

My guess is this fibreglass model in on the same US GM turntable as the '66 Toranado on page 15.
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