First revealed at the 1998 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Holden’s VT Commodore-based concept Coupe proved popular right off the bat and turned into a successful model for the Australian brand.
It wasn’t until three years later from when Mike Simcoe’s concept was revealed the Coupe turned into the Monaro and so followed a successful stint for Holden with its new two-door sports car.
At a cost of $60 million, Holden launched the V2 Series Monaro based on the recently released VX Commodore coming in CV6 specification featuring a supercharged 3.8-litre V6 and automatic transmission in addition to CV8 level where a 5.7-litre LS1 V8 as a six-speed manual or the four-speed auto.
When the VY Commodore arrived in late-2002, there was no outside updates just a revised interior as the ad campaign for the reborn coupe tapped into the new world of racing simulation and Gran Turismo ending in the trademark Game Over tagline.
The CV6 was dropped as the CV8-R was released in July 2003 with just 350 produced in Turbine Mica (grey metallic), while another followed in 2004 as 320 were produced in Pulse Red.
For the final generation of the model, the CV8-Z was the limited edition model featuring a 15kW power increase.
The last Holden-badged Monaro was put up for auction on eBay and was purchased by Queenslander Darryl Mattingley for $187,355.55 as all proceeds went to the Leukaemia Foundation.
Of course the Monaro did live in as part of the Holden Special Vehicles range known as the Coupe, which at the top of the range model featured a Callaway C4B V8 engine developing 300kW, while an aggressive exterior displayed its differentiation from the Monaro.
Four-wheel-drive entered the fray with HSV’s Coupe4 as just 134 were produced (though there is conjecture surrounding this figure) and proved a quick muscle car.
However, not only did the Holden prove successful in Australia, but proved a winner in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Monaro where it won critical praise as in the US Pontiac adorned it with its prestigious GTO nameplate.
Once again, the Monaro proved Australia’s underrated design and engineering abilities.