[HSVGTS]

G’day Pete, thanks for your reply and welcome, I’m an Aussie Muscle Car collector [small time].

I grew up in the 70’s and owned the same model of cars back then, so I suppose it’s a second teenage childhood thing.

Holden’s first muscle car was the Monaro in the late 60’s [we obviously got the bug from you guys] in which they put 307, 327 and 350 small blocks, this continued up until 1973 when they dropped the chev in favour of the local produced 308 Holden 5ltr V8, which was introduced about 1969.

Our muscle cars were produced in an indirect way to compete in Australia’s biggest race of the year at Bathurst, and a lot of our premium produced muscle cars are refered to as “Bathurst Models”.

The 327 V8 Monaro won Bathurst in 1968 and the 350 V8 Monaro in 1969 against the Ford 302 V8 GT’s.

I own cars by GM-H that were produced for Bathurst in limited numbers but were road cars. In 1972 the Torana GTR XU-1 won, in 75 & 76 the SL/R 5000 L34, and in 1978-79 the SS A9X won.

I own all three of these particular models: The XU-1 is a 6cyl triple carby vehicle [mine is Strike-Me-Pink in colour] it beat the Ford GT-HO 351 V8, they were also called the “Giant Killer” because of that fact.

The L34 was the Aussie 308 V8 modified by REPCO Australia for racing, however back to my inquiry, they had a list of performance parts available through GM-H that included the Harrison engine oil cooler among other things. As I previously stated the L34 won in 1975-76 against the XA-B Falcon GT 351 V8.

The SS A9X is a LX Holden Torana hatchback similar to the L34 only a two door hatch and a few improved modifications that turned it into an unbeatable racecar of its time, winning Bathurst in 1978-79. In 79 it led the race from the start, was never passed, even during pit stops, won by six laps and broke the lap record on the final lap [Peter Brock driver]. Mine is white.

No doubt Ford has won their fair share of Bathurst races, but we won’t talk about that especially 1977 when Ford killed us !

Holden raced the Monaro up until Bathurst 1969 then changed direction and went for the lighter more nimble Torana up until 1979.

As you were asking about the Monaro, I do have a 1972 Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350 Coupe. It is one of about 300 produces and only about half were 4-spd Muncie’s. I love this car and it is in the process of being restored as it is a factory original.

As for the South African vehicles some do end up over here so I will make a few inquiries for you.

Hope I haven’t bored you guy’s with crap that probably doesn’t mean much not being in your heritage, but I’d love to get hold of a Harrison oil cooler for my L34.

I”ll post some pic’s if anyone’s interested……………regards Peter.