Originally Posted by: gm5735 
Is this the bit you take issue with?
"Significant suspension improvements were made to the GTS350 over the regular GTS models with performance in mind. Stiffer shocks, a heavy duty stabiliser bar and rear radius rods ensured a much sportier ride whilst bearing a significant improvement over the harsh ride of the HK GTS327. The end result was a car suitable for the track whilst also being completely practical for day to day use. Interestingly, the GTS350 in manual guise was the first Holden that could be ordered with rally wheels."
There is one true bit in that lot.
Given the car they were talking was an auto none of that applies anyway.
All of that is large part of it. And I agree the thread is about the auto car, but they say they are looking back at the HT GTS350 which to me means the whole thing, and they quote manual only stuff. Problems:
They mention Bathurst 1969 and the January 1970 Surfers Paradise 12 hour. But totally leave out the 1-2 finish in the Lakeside 1500 in November 1969 in between - this was 3 x 90 mile races
Not sure why the HT GTS350 (manual) was more useable than the HK GTS327. Sure it became a more refined car in some ways, but is essentially the same thing as far as
useability is concerned - I guess it depends on what you are
using it for! Unless you are talking about the automatic version.....
The HT GTS350 being "at least equal" to a GT. The GTS350 left the XW GT in its dust! The 20.1 seconds 0-100mph quoted for the GTS350 is from Australian Motor Manual - one of the GMH hobbled cars, rego number KJP-864. Christopher DeFraga tested this car, and managed 15.6s quarter @92mph, and I think given the 20.1 second 0-100mph quoted I think whomever wrote this blog has read and misinterpreted Christopher's comments where he compares the HT to the HK:
“Although there is little to indicate the reason, this current GTS 350 is a softer riding, far quieter car and whereas I had previously considered it a misplaced track car, it now qualifies as a magnificent road machine – a true GT vehicle at a sensible price."
Sports Car World in December 1969 quotes 0-100mph as 18.9s, again a hobbled car.
In reality the HT GTS350 is a far faster car. The real truth is found in two locations:
1. Wheels took an auto HT GTS350 with aircon and 3.08 rear axle for a test. This is a car with 25hp less, weighing 222lb more with a 3.08 rear axle yet did a 16.0s quarter @90mph letting the powerglide shift where it wanted to and 0-100mph in 22s. Simple power/speed calculator shows the manual cars were not optimally tuned ie fiddled with.
2. Mel Nichols let the cat out of the bag in December 1970 where he tested another manual GTS350 (a Tonawanda engined HG, identical to HT mechanically) and timed 0-100mph in 16.3s. This is faster than a GT-HO as tested in December 1969. The same tested GT-HO did 14.4s quarter (fastest) and 14.8s average quarter mile, and the car tested was prepared for Bathurst 1969 by Tony Meehan.
Hence my comments about the garbage in the article with the comparison to the XW GT.
Plus all the garbage Geoff has already pointed out about stiffer shocks, radius rods and "optional rally wheels" which were actually standard on all V8 HT GTS (albeit extra special ones on most HT GTS350M). In fact most Holdens after HK Monaro release could be ordered with Rally wheels....? Sure the HT GTS350 (manual only) had more race-tuned suspension than a HT GTS, but it did that courtesy of the HK GTS327's suspension with the only major change being rubber bushes and
less performance oriented UCA geometry to improve the straight line tracking of the HT! I think this sentence smells of Joe Kenwright.....
Edited by user Wednesday, 26 July 2017 8:30:35 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
