the same label of Bathurst Torana is applied to the L34's
on the cover of oct 74 wheels magazine there is an yellow L34 on the cover
with the caption of Holdens Bathurst Supercar. and that was printed 4wks
before the race was on, so the press thought it was worthy. cheers Gary

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Originally posted by Dr Terry

quote:

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Originally posted by BIGCAV
the same applies to the option 97 XC's i suppose, every one calls them bathurst specials

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That's a good point CAV.

Several manufacturers built minimum number batches of cars especially for Bathurst, but the GTS 327 wouldn't be one of them. Arguably the EH S4 was the 1st such & the Cortina GT500 the 2nd. Holden made batches of XU1s for Bathurst. Ford produced the RPO83 & the 30 special XC Cobras etc. These cars would have legitimate claim to the name Bathurst special. There were others like the 'big tank' Charger, but I doubt that the GTS 327 or say XR & XT GTs would be amongst them.

Dr Terry

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Greetings, Very good points. I recall reading in musclecar that Harry Firth was behind factory alterations for the HT GTS 350 model that raced at and won Bathurst in 1969. All the cars built prior to that race were the subject of special enhancements that resulted in the only true "Bathurst Monaro" model and that 200 had been registered by October. The cars built after the race also had the enhancements so they too would be "Bathurst Monaros". This would indicate that there are quite a few legit "Bathurst Monaros" out there. The GTS 327 is not a "Bathurst Monaro" but the HT and HG GTS 350 with a 4-speed sure are.

Personnally I like the Sandman Panelvan's. They were intentionally modified by Holden for a more sedate but equally important purpose.

Mauser

Holden would have loved to have called them Bathurst racing Monaros. Now they just had to get around a GM manufacturers worldwide ban on motorsports activity. Aaah yes we'll call them 81837's to conceal any activity and start the Holden DEALER Team. Dealers can then push the "Bathurst" Or more concealed "Mountain" moniker in marketing at a franchise level. And so they did!
Holden Monaro- Mountain- Winning= "Bathurst Monaro" The public joined the dots, and Holden got around the ban in turn creating mystique and intrigue surrounding a two-door Kingswood whose ultimate goal was to serve as a marketing platform for the new all Australian built V8. Which would in time become the most winning engine around the "mountain". Funny how they are never referred to as "Bathurst 308's". And the Monaro is most loved for the venerable "327,350" Chevrolet engines that were powering North American cabs at the time. (Sorry!)

a quick one i hope doesnt change the topic but is teh 350 really the motor with the most amount of wins?

surely not? i dont know the figures at all but i would of guess a clevo or 5.0L holden, or the 5.0l race motor holden in a supercar or a 5.0l windsor if you counted supercars and xt's etc

5 litre Holden, not just 308. Windsors should have won more times than Clevelands but they have also been used for an awful long time. The current Chev engine in V8 supercras would be getting close to the 304/308 too.

Here is the updated list.

13 cars have used the Holden 308/304 V8 12 have used the 5 litre GM Motorsport V8
6 used 351 Cleveland V8
5 had 5 litre Ford Motorsport V8s
3 were 1500 Cortinas
2 Small Block Chevs (327/350)
2 Sierras
2 GTR Skylines
1 Small Block Ford 289 V8
1 Jag V12
1 Holden 6
1 Falcon 6
1 Mini
1 M//Benz
1 Vauxhall
1 Volvo
1 BMW

Dr Terry

Well I suppose if you are going to get all hot and bothered about the shameful "Bathurst" tag (after all who would want to own a car with a connection to that second rate track) you should all start pronouncing Monaro as it is meant to be. The Monaro region they are named after is pronounced "Monairo", not Monaro. So get it right OK!
And Bathurst is NOT pronounced Bath Hurst. It is Bathurst. Even Brocky couldn't get that right.
Every body repeat after me; Thou Shall Never Call Any HK 327 Monaro a Baturst Special Again. Naughty Naughty people.

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Originally posted by castellan
Their is no such thing as a Bathurst Monaro or any other car called Bathurst.
It's just rubbish dreamt up!
Holden never made a Monaro for Bathurst coming from the factory as such.
The special enhancements were fitted after the car was sold new.

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Incorrect. The HK 327 GTS Coupe thst was raced at Bathurst is the same car you'd have bought from the dealer. The HT 350 Manual had specific factory modifications and the one raced at Bathurst was the exact same car you purchased from the dealer. I agree. I cant stand it when people refer to an HK 327 as a Bathurst Monaro BUT, the HT 350 manual was such a vehicle.

The HT 350 GTS Monaro from the showroom floor ran at other tracks ?

And what about the Different heads fitted after the showroom floor and mods air box after ?

It was not like you had GTS Bathurst on the glove box or any where.
A GT got GT-HO on the lid ? and if anyone could not tell the difference they had to be stupid.