Holden Monaro I (HK/HT/HG) photos

The first-generation Holden Monaro debuted in July 1968 with the HK series, instantly establishing itself as Australia's definitive two-door pillarless hardtop muscle car. Featuring sweeping coke-bottle waistline contours and a sleek fastback roofline, the Monaro was engineered around GM's full-size platform. Powertrains ranged from standard 161 and 186 cubic-inch inline-six engines to the performance-oriented GTS models fitted with Chevrolet-sourced 307 (5.0-litre) and high-performance 327 (5.4-litre) V8s producing 250 hp. The HT update in 1969 marked the arrival of locally designed Holden 253 (4.2-litre) and 308 (5.0-litre) V8 engines, alongside the legendary GTS 350 powered by a 300 hp 5.7-litre Chevrolet small-block V8, which dominated the Mount Panorama Bathurst 500 endurance race. The HG series in 1970 introduced subtle aesthetic revisions and GM's Tri-Matic automatic transmission. The car was sold in Australia, New Zealand, and exported to South Africa under the Chevrolet nameplate.