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.

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!

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.

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

So the Ewe’t was photographed in the US? Wow. It’s on that same turntable in the photos.