Vauxhall Monaro VXR

Holden Monaro
Holden Monaro (V2) CV8
Overview
Manufacturer	Holden (General Motors)
Also called	Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet SS Holden GTS Holden Limited Edition Pontiac GTO Vauxhall Monaro
Production	1968–1977 2001–2006
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door hardtop 4-door sedan

First generation
Holden Monaro (HK) GTS 327
Overview
Production	1968–1971
Powertrain
Engine	L6 161 in3 (2.6 L) (base model) L6 186 in3 (3.0 L) (GTS with an uprated 186S only) V8 253 in3 (4.2 L) V8 307 in3 (5.0 L) V8 308 in3 (5.0 L) V8 327 in3 (5.3 L) V8 350 in3 (5.7 L)

Second generation
Holden Monaro (HQ) GTS
Overview
Production	1971—1977
Powertrain
Engine	L6 173 in3 (2.85L) (base model) L6 202 in3 (3.3 L) (LS model) V8 253 in3 (4.2 L) V8 308 in3 (5.0 L) V8 350 in3 (5.7 L) (GTS model)

Third generation
2001–2002 Holden Monaro (V2) CV8
Overview
Also called	HSV Coupé Chevrolet Lumina Coupé Pontiac GTO Vauxhall Monaro
Production	2001–2006
Body and chassis
Related	CSV Mondo Bitter CD II
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L V6 (supercharged; CV6) 5.7 L V8 (CV8)
Transmission	6-speed manual 4-speed automatic

The Holden Monaro (mon-AH-ro) is a rear wheel drive coupé that was produced by Holden between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2006. Three generations of the Monaro have been produced, with the last spawning an all wheel-drive variant, export models and various concept cars.

Named after the Monaro region in New South Wales (although pronounced differently), Holden's new coupé was introduced in July 1968 as a two-door pillarless hardtop coupé available in three models: Monaro base model, Monaro 'GTS' and Monaro 'GTS 327'. The GTS versions had "full instrumentation" which included a tachometer mounted on the centre console. This proved to be a bad location as the drivers knee would obstruct the view and it often rattled. The cars could be ordered with a choice of six-cylinder engines of 161 in³ (2,640 cc) capacity (base only) or two versions of 186 in³ (3,050 cc) capacity (GTS with the uprated 186S only), or a 307 in³ (5,030 cc) capacity Chevrolet-sourced V8. The exclusive 'GTS 327' model was powered by the 250 bhp (186 kW) Chevrolet 327 in³ (5,360 cc) V8.

Uniquely styled by Holden, the Monaro nevertheless featured styling cues derived from Chevrolet designs, employing a "coke bottle" look similar to that of the Camaro, Corvair to the Nova coupés of the late 1960s.

After Holden engineers had originally claimed that the Monaro's engine bay was too small to house the 327 Chevrolet V8, the decision was made to speed up development of Holden's first ever Australian developed V8, the 5.0L 308 in³ (5,050 cc) capacity Holden V8 engine, and the smaller, 4.2L 253 in³ (4,150 cc) V8. However, as this particular V8 engine project ran behind schedule, this led to engineers re-measuring the engine bay and finding that the original measurement calculations had been incorrect, thus allowing the use of the imported Chevrolet engine after all.