WHEELING & DEALING

2001-2006

The first in a new series of project car buyer’s guides. This month: Holden’s Monaro CV8

THE WAY the modern Holden Monaro came about is a story that sure as hell doesn’t need telling again. But just in case you’ve been under a rock since the turn of the century, the basic design was the result of a handful of Holden workers back in the late 90s who gave up beer and footy time to stay after hours and sketch up a two-door version of the then-current VT Commodore.

Holden chief stylist, Mike Simcoe, was in on it, but the GM brass were deliberately left out of the picture. Thing was, when Simcoe and the lads stepped back to look at the finished article, it was so damn sexy, they just knew it had to be smuggled onto the Holden stand at the 1998 Sydney Motor Show. So Cinderella did go to the ball, and she blew away everything else on four wheels.

Even though the concept car was news to Holden’s high-ups, it was clear they had to build it, or they’d risk a riot from the punters who’d clapped eyes on it in Sydney and had come over all fidgety and reaching for their chequebooks. Equally obviously, it just had to be called Monaro.

Even if you’re not a Holden fan, you can’t ignore that this is one sweet-looking full-sized coupe. The proportions were bang on the money and with proven Commodore mechanicals, not even the early LS1’S reputation for rattling and burning oil could slow it down. Hell, it even managed the equivalent of selling coal to Newcastle by being offered for sale Stateside in left-hook form, badged as a Pontiac GTO.