1972 HQ GTS 350 Monaro

This retro green 1972 HQ GTS 350 Monaro has been “all over the place” according to owner Jeff Pahl.

The vehicle had rolled through the streets of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs until Mr Pahl bought it in 2002.

“I bought the car almost 17 years ago from an elderly couple in Frankston and I remember the whole street came out to watch me load it into the car trailer,” Mr Pahl said

“It spent its whole life there until I purchased it.

“I brought it home and drove it untouched until five years ago when I began a full restoration myself.”

Mr Pahl said the restoration process involved pulling the vehicle apart and then putting it back together.

“The body was removed from the chassis and three coats of green lina mint paint job was carried out at Bricey’s South East Collision Repairs in Naracoorte,” he said.

“I also added the 73-74 paint over the bonnet and boot.

“I restored all the fittings, re-did the motor, gearbox and diff, and reupholstered the interior to get it to the state it is now.”
The Monaro packs a 350 cubic inch V8 motor, four-speed Muncie manual gearbox, 3.08 limited slip differential, factory air conditioning and a full stainless-steel dual exhaust system. 

“I completely restored the car’s 10Z green houndstooth over black trim interior in the original trim configuration” Mr Pahl said.

“It sits really well on the road fitted with original sized red wall tires and 14 by 6 GTS rims.

“Everything remains cosmetically factory correct apart from the little fiddly things.”

Mr Pahl enjoys the noise of the car among many other things.

“The HQ Monaro is a great car to drive, from the bucket seats which are very comfortable to the factory AM air chief radio cassette fitted with an aux output so digital inputs can be played,” he said.

“Playing the old 80’s tunes when driving the car is good fun.”

Mr Pahl is a member of the Adelaide-based Commodore and Classic Holden Enthusiasts club and enjoys taking the car on regular trips.

“My wife and I did the Bay to Birdwood last year and we were also involved in the 2017 Holden Dream Cruise in Elizabeth,” he said.

“It was the last week of Holden manufacturing and we were there which was special.

“It has been all over the place actually and I quite frequently drive it to Adelaide.”

Mr Pahl’s passion for Holden vehicles has developed from a young age.

“My passion has been a life-long thing especially when it comes to Holden cars,” he said.

“My parents previously owned Holden V8s and it stemmed from there.”

Participating in the Leukemia Foundation Aussie Muscle Car Run four times, this car was the first to take the route.

“My love for cars has brought me into the muscle car run family,” he said.

“This car was featured in my first event I participated in when I had just finished the restoration with a week to spare in 2014.

“I covered it in stickers and off we went from Adelaide to Bathurst for a seven-day cruise and back with my father in law Bruce as codriver.”

Mr Pahl could not wait to get the stickers off when he arrived home.

“It was a great trip, but three things went wrong,” he said.

“The radio got static in it, the air conditioner lost its gas on day seven at Mildura when it was 41 degrees and the rear sway bar rubbers fell out. 

“After a full one and a half year restoration, three things going wrong was not too bad.”

The car was awarded with second place at the SA Monaro state titles in 2015 in for best original HQ.