FAMOUS BATHURST MONARO UP FOR GRABS

BILL TUCKEY'S HT GTS 350 HOLDEN MONARO GOING TO AUCTION

A SLICE of motorsport history is for sale on October 21 with Lloyds Auctions offering the 1969 HT GTS 350 Monaro raced by Bill Tuckey.

In 1969 the Ford v Holden rivalry erupted at Bathurst. Both brands arrived at Mount Panorama with their latest and most potent weapons. Ford with its first GT-HO and Holden with a 5.7-litre engine stuffed under the bonnet of the Monaro, now called a GTS 350.

A name equally synonymous with Bathurst is legendary motoring journalist and former editor, Bill Tuckey, who drove a privateer GTS 350 Monaro for his third start on the mountain.

Now 48 years on and after a painstaking restoration, this historic race car is for sale.

Tuckey was as slick behind the wheel as he was behind a keyboard and this GTS 350 Monaro, a special dealer prepped version with all the trick bits, was owned and entered by Sydney Holden dealer, Boyded of Bankstown.

Tuckey and co-driver Sib Petralia teamed up to race the GTS 350 Monaro in the Surfers Paradise 12-hour race plus other meetings at Sydney’s Warwick Farm and Oran Park circuits, with Tuckey at the wheel and later on, twice Australian Drivers’ Championship winner Spencer Martin.

The Monaro's provenance was confirmed in 2005 prior to its purchase by its current owner, who then arranged a concours restoration overseen by Bathurst winner and former HDT and HSV staffer, John Harvey.

The Tuckey Monaro is being presented as close as possible to its 1969 livery and spec, right down to the replica Firestone tyres and comes with a copy of the original CAMS logbook application.

With the 350 Chevrolet engine nestled under the bonnet coupled to an American Saginaw close-ratio gearbox, 10-bolt Salisbury differential and a host of other special homologated racing components, the GTS 350 Monaro trounced the Falcon GT-HO at Mount Panorama.

Rally aces turned circuit racers, Colin Bond and Tony Roberts won the race that also included a couple of rookies named Brock and Moffat on the list of entrants.

This rare and significant piece of Australian motorsport history, possibly the only surviving GTS350 Monaro from the 1969 great race, is presented in stunning condition. What makes it unique is the name ‘Tuckey’ on the bonnet.