The answers to most of that is out there, but to address it all is hours of work. I have lots of internal GMH memos that address some of it as it gives some context to why certain decisions were made.

As for the most desirable that is going to come down in the end to personal choice, but I think there are really only a few contenders and which one you choose will be for personal reasons. I shortlist the ones I think below.

HK GTS327. The first and essentially only true Muscle Car built in Australia, using the original US criteria for a Muscle Car. Created as an image car but modified right at the last minute to turn it into a Bathurst crushing weapon. This car is the reason Ford built the XR GT in the first place and later the GT-HO's after the XT GT's got their arses whipped at Bathurst in 1968.

HT-HG GTS350 manual. The natural evolution of the HK GTS327. And a winner in its own right at the mountain and subsequent races against a no-expenses spared GT-HO factory race car.

XU1. 1000's of these made but very popular and a giant killer in 1972. A true factory race car but built on a budget.

VK Group A. Another GMH factory racer, and the most powerful carburetted GMH vehicle. It took nearly 20 years to make one more powerful than the HT-HG GTS350.

As well as these you have the homologation cars like the L34 and A9X, both which are very desirable and highly valued principally due to their very small build numbers. And I guess too the L34 has actual Bathurst wins under its belt too.

And 350 powered HQ's. The GTS's pull big money but any other 350 powered HQ's are very much wanted. Although very popular will probably never eclipse the HK-HG 81837 prices.

Probably similar for 350 auto HT-HG.

Then once you get into the lower tiered cars I guess it all becomes subjective. Like any other V8 HK-HG GTS, LH-LX SLR5000, 308/5.0L HQ-HJ GTS coupes, HQ-HZ GTS sedans, LE coupe, 308/5.0L Sandmans etc, LC-LJ GTR. They all have their followers but will never see the $ the big boys pull.

The reason people chose certain cars in the day or certain options is easy in most cases - $. For example a HT GTS was $3198 plus rego. Today you'd think what idiot wouldn't pay $3438 to get a V8 HT GTS, that is only $240! But that is 7.5% extra. In today's terms it is like $2500 or more. OK, why not get a 308, rally rims with D70 tyres, dual exhaust and rally stripes on the sides. That is $77 + $28 + $60 + $10. Another $175. So you are suddenly paying over 10% more and the car looks the same! And costs more to run and insure. And if you want aircon that is another $460, which is why it is very rare.

I agree totally Warren that is true.

I am not a fan of Bathurst ect in regard to cars at all, but as to what one could buy at the time off the floor. as the reason I would of wanted to buy a car would not be influenced on Bathurst at all, all tho I loved Bathurst ect back in the days and if I had the coin I would of liked to race.

I don't idolise cars, I see faults or something I don't like with all of them.

I can even see the point of why someone would of bought a TA Torana ? not that I would want one, but for the wife maybe as a runabout may of done fine. you know I am even impressed with the 2.0L 4sp TC-D Cortina performance of the day, it's a tin can and looks like crap not to mention a bucket of shit handling car with a 6 cyl in them but the 2.0L is not as bad.

Ok most people think that a 202 HQ handles like shit, but that's not true with the right mods it could be fine, like good shocks just for a start, it's little tweaks that can make a car just so much better than it came off the floor new, that major bugbears can be rectified.

One can look at the FJ Holden as a bucket of shit but back in the day it was very advanced car. one can look at the HB Torana in the same light but in 1967 it was not that bad to plod about town in, just look at it had a 4sp manual on the floor and bucket seats and sports dash and if you take a peep under the skirt their is a coil sprung setup with a Salisbury diff your looking at haha ! not to mention the Brabham ! or a optional sun roof, boy Holden was just starting to produce cars for people who love to drive. remember the HR 186S with a 4sp on the floor.

I love the HK-T-G GTS Monaros but the back seat is crap as I have never seen a centre armrest, so I would of gone Premier as I like rear doors and hate getting out of the back or having to let people in and out like so. HT-G you could option GTS dash and get a Steering wheel for it and dual exhaust with 4 tips tho I never seen one like that, not to mention you have better lights.

I don't think you'll find that HK-HG Monaros in general will ever see a big drop off in generational interest like we have seen in the past with FJ's and EH's. I have friends and relatives with kids that are right into stuff I see as junk, like VL Commodores, Nissan GTR's and diesels that make stupid whistling noises when they change gears. But whenever there is a HK Monaro around they flock to them. They aren't really interested in LH-LX Torana or sedans from the 60's and 70's but show them a HK or HT-HG coupe and they love it. Especially if they have a big V8 in them. This generation also seems to be into Sandman vans too. I think you'll find a similar trend in the USA with 60's Camaro and Mustang. Even the Fast and the Furious generation with their Japanese junk know and appreciate the Chargers, Challengers and Camaros in the movies. You'll probably find the same for XA-XC coupes, young kids love them but probably aren't all that interested in the sedan GT's.

Some of the above posts have mentioned a "drop off in generational interest" of the older cars. How is that measured ?

The only number we have to go off are resale figures & I find that FJ & EH resale figures are at an all-time high.

A few years ago $50K for an EH would've been for the best one on the planet. Recently we've seen $100K for a low mileage Premier wagon & $50 for several rarely average cars. FJ numbers also show no drop & plenty of solid numbers.

I don't think it is a simple generation thing. I've recently noted an increase in interest in T-Model Ford by young people who have no family connection or otherwise.

Dr Terry

Who knows I guess Terry. That is a high price for a EH for sure. I guess the only thing anyone can know for sure is prices paid for cars at auctions. All privately sold ones have no proof of the sale or price.
Perhaps a lot of investors are testing the market now too. They may have no interest in the cars at all and are driving the market, which could be good and bad. Good for short term price increases but potentially bad for any actual car lovers hoping to sell their cars to fund retirement etc if these investors find a better market somewhere else.
I’ll stick with my $600 rolling shell HX Sandman ute, purchased about ten years ago. I am glad I have it as the ridiculous prices asked these days would prohibit me from buying a car I always wanted to own.

Yes, HD/HR are still relatively cheap, their prices are on the way up currently.

A good original HR Premier could've been yours for $20K a just a few years ago. We are now talking $40K-50K for the same car.

Dr Terry

HK1837 If your thinking of going HD with the Hk running gear i'm still looking for an exhaust for my Hk panel van.

Everyone has hit on what makes a car desireable. Memories of family owned vehicles, seeing them race are big factors. For me style of the vehicle (for me love of panelvans or coupes) others Utes (WB springs to mind) is a major factor. Scarcity drives up prices of course, old economies of supply and demand. As HK said with the amount of then undesireables wrecked in the 80s and 90s the ones left become more coveted, so even standard sedans are now special (no FE-EK pun intended).


Then there are those that purely see them as a tax free investment. Being someone who still enjoys driving my old beasts I hate the fact that the driven up values have effectively driven a lot of old cars off the road and that cars are locked away perhaps not seeing he light of day for years at a time.


I noticed around the early 2000's a resurgence in the interest in the old Monaros and Sandman which I believe was in part due to the then release of the Monaro prototype and Maloo Sandman and the hype associated with that in the media. I remember a lot more personal interest in my cars from kids/early 20 year olds where there had previously been none.

Edited by user Tuesday, 30 July 2019 9:40:52 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Was it the Big block 1760 4 or the small block 1300 4 high compression or low is the question.

I remember back in 1981 a mate that was high tailing it back and forth past my place in a TA big block 1760 4sp, I thought what's going on here, is another clown looking for a challenge or what and then he rolls on in my drive and took me for a blast showing me the awesome power of the beast, it was a mates of his car. that's the only 4cyl Torana I can remember being in.

I asked him about that car about a year ago and his response was, that piece of shit ! he had a 1976 Gemini in Melbourne that he gave the same response to.

When asking people about their cars that they have owned it's interesting as to their opinion of them, or what they thought about my cars, that mate loved my 253 auto HG Premier back in the day maybe it was because his dad had a HT Premier 186 manual from new and held on to it for years.

My Mum had a HR Special sedan 186 auto from new for 10 years, do I like them ? or would I want one no ! but my brothers youngest about 15 years ago said that he loved the look of them and I nearly fell over backwards thinking why would he want shit like that for. my mums was a rust bucket at 10yo. I asked my dad why did he buy the HR and not the XR Falcon and he said that he liked the look of it better than the XR Falcon, but the dealer said that the new model HK was not coming out for a year or so yet and that was 8-1967, or dad would of held back for the HK coming out. and he had a HK wagon 186 auto for about year himself and a HD P Van before that.

Myself I think my 5.0L 4sp HX Sandman P Van was what I liked the best or the 6sp VY SS ute, I would still like to have them, I don't miss my LH SLR 5000 really.

True.

Got a HB up the bush from me siting their 20 years or more, some stolen cars end up their. I have thought of jus walking back with the diff housing, just to show it off, for bragging rights.

Boy 300.000km that's not bad, never blew a diff ? or 4sp.

I know a woman who has a FC that her dad owned from new and it's in top condition like new, I admire that.

Seen many people with just some old car in sheds and I have forgot of how many on farms that they just would not sell for any amount of money, but just to see them just rust away to nothing, I hate that.