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When was the Monaro and Brougham released ? No thats not a trick question, I'm sure it has been discussed many times on many Forums from the official records to the usual hearsay or a bloke told me this or that stories. Was wondering though what release means in this case and who gets to know what about it all beforehand.
July 22nd always gets mentioned. Obviously some had to know before that. I have seen a copy of a National Magazines with a publication date of 2nd Sept. With a Double page ad that reads. Holden Presents the Brougham. They would have to have known well before 22nd July to arrange the typesetting for that publication. Also how soon after the 22 July did the cars start appearing at the dealerships and does any record exist of what cars went where and when. Pretty sure I do know of one sent to the Canberra Area, a Warrick Yellow 1837 and 2nd a Blue GTS 186s. 2 of 4 Cars that were sent to 4 of the main Dealerships in the Canberra Area as Demonstrators models. The 4 different colours and 4 levels of the GTSs. That Blue one and Yellow one are both still in Canberra at the moment.
Flem
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July 14-15 was three original plan to meet magazine deadlines for September. This was moved to avoid a clash with the AJC Trophy Race meeting at Warwick farm scheduled for July 14, so July 21-22 was locked in. As it happened a petrol strike caused the AJC meet to the same weekend, and it also created havoc for GMH getting cars to dealers for stock.
So GMH created a press pack of images for the press plus did a press drive morning on July 16 at Lang Lang so they could get their own images, most of the magazine images are from Lang Lang.
There was also a dealer release, well at least two of them held on 15th July. I know of one in Melbourne and one in Sydney, the Sydney one being held in the Trocadero Ballroom in George Street. My yellow GTS327 (2-H5) was at that release. There may have been more.
There was a press embargo date of July 22 requested after the July 16 Lang Lang thingy, but it was broken (or even allowed to be broken?) with photos published that look to be in a GMH garage. Go look at archives of the Age on July 17.
There would have been cars in dealerships in the week after release, but as stated the petrol strike hampered that. My yellow car went to Canowindra Motors as Charlie did a deal with the Sydney dealers at the release. They couldn’t get fuel but he owned a fuel dealership as well and had plenty. The official “on sale” date was August 2nd. |
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The word 'release' gets bandied about all of the time and there isn't just one release, there are several. This is why I've listed 2 dates in the model details in my books.
Generally what happens is they release the car to the general press usually at a drive day & hand out brochures, price lists, photos & specs etc. The news of the new model will then appear on TV & in the newspapers either that day or sometimes a few days later if GMH have the news embargoed until a certain date & time.
The next important date is the retail release at the dealer's showrooms. They used to cover the windows up & hide the new cars until the day of release & then pull down the papers to let the public have a good look on the 'day'.
These are the 2 dates that I have in my books, but there are other dates worthy of mention.
They have a 'long lead' release for the motoring magazines as HK1837 has mentioned. This was to allow the magazines to get photos etc. & have it all printed so as the magazine's release coincides with the release of the car to the public.
The other release is to the dealer network themselves. It is important to give the dealers advance info, after all they are the ones who GMH depend on to earn the $$$. Quite often small tweaks are made to the cars early in production due to suggestions put forward at the dealer release.
The actual dates for HK Monaro & Brougham are Monday 22-July-68 for the general press (both cars), Friday 2-August-68 for the Brougham's showroom reveal & Friday 9-August-68 for the Monaro's showroom reveal. They were actually released to the press at a rather lavish event on the Gold Coast over the weekend of 20-21 of July 68 & the drive day was a the Surfers Paradise raceway. The news however was all embargoed until Monday the morning after.
Dr Terry. |
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Thanks Dr Terry & HK 1837. The usual plans and procedures were frustrated a bit by a horse race and petrol strike it seems. I own The Yellow 327 I mentioned, one of the 1st 4 GTS Monaros sent to the Canberra Area as Demonstrators. 4 different colour GTS Monaros likely held in a back rooms somewhere waiting for the announcement day. I bought the 327 GTS off the original owner back in 1979, he’s passed away, as is the salesman and the Dealership is closed, sticker is still on the back Windscreen though. I was trying to work out the date when those 4 GTSs arrived in Canberra. Would there be any records held of that, what cars went where and when or is there any way to work it out. I’ve narrowed it down to when it was made and the day it was sold at the Dealership. Missing the arrival date to Canberra though.I also mentioned a 186s the blue one of the 4 is still in Canberra with the 3rd owner and the Dealership it was sold from.
Flem
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What number from Pagewood is it? |
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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords? |
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