Custom Holden Monaros

Developed from a few scrawls on the wall of Holden’s then-new Technical Centre, awards and accolades quickly followed its release, with the new HK Monaro coupe taking out Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year award in 1968, also winning Holden its first Bathurst and backing it up the following year in the updated HT.

Initially lean and lithe, the Monaro aged like Elvis, getting fatter as the years went on. Technically the Monaro-badged coupe bowed out in 1975 with the HJ Monaro GTS, while nameplate lived-on for a tad longer on the HX GTS Monaro sedan until late in 1977.

The Monaro name returned officially in 2001 with the V2 CV8 Monaro, going through several different interations and also being exported overseas badged as either a Pontiac or Vauxhall, until bowing out with the rest of the VZ range in 2006 to make way for the new VE platform.

Dino Labbozzetta’s 700hp Silver Mink HK Monaro GTS

We’ve seen plenty of nice Monaros, but few have the 700hp stomp of Dino Labbozzetta’s Silver Mink mauler

Where are they now? Bill Cooper’s custom Commodore-fronted HQ Monaro

A one-of-a-kind show-and-go Monaro from the 1980s is back, still flaunting its pioneering credentials

Andrew Broadhead’s Harrop-blown LS-powered HJ GTS Monaro

Packing pristine panel and paint, classy leather interior and 1225hp of Harrop-blown Dart LS, this epic HJ GTS Monaro is a burger with the lot

Edin Dervisevic’s 1098rwhp big-block HK Monaro GTS

Until Summernats 38, This HK Monaro housed the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever to have competed at Horsepower Heroes

Kylee Kappe’s 1972 HQ Monaro GTS

Despite being a Ford fanatic, Kylee Kappe’s love affair with her cherished Monaro goes back many years

Johnny Wilson’s PIG-383 HK GTS Bathurst Monaro

A genuine Bathurst Monaro doing eight-second quarters? You betcha!

Woodside’s Steve Paech returns to Drag Challenge for mateship and endurance

Steve Paech and his HJ Monaro are back for another crack at Drag Challenge

Leigh Vella’s Pro Street HK Monaro GTS – WILDHK

While it looks like a well-used warrior from the earliest days of pro street, this 632ci, big-tyre HK Monaro is a street machine for modern times

Warr family’s 2500hp twin-turbo Noonan-powered HQ Monaro

Shields Garage finishes off the late Nigel Warr’s dream HQ build as a loving tribute from his friends and family – and they didn’t forget the grunt

Joe Napoli’s pro street HQ Monaro LS

Unfinished projects rarely turn out as beautiful as this

Luke Kestle’s ‘Junkyard’ HT Monaro at Redwood Rally drag-and-drive, USA

Luke Kestle’s ratty HT Monaro has been getting plenty of smiles per mile Stateside

Martin Pecotich’s blown Noonan Hemi-powered HTKO Monaro

Martin Pecotich’s blown Hemi-powered HT Monaro takes the concept of pro street to a new level

Andrew Marantos’s LS3-powered HQ Monaro GTS tribute

Simple LS swap turns into a full ground-up resto

Jungle Boogie: WheelBoyz CV8 Monaro

The first of the CV8 Monaros to receive the full street machine treatment. And it is now up for grabs!

540-cube INTENSE HQ Monaro

Michael Schena’s Holden HQ Monaro has a dash of genius in it

Nick Eden’s ‘Monarat’ HG GTS!

Nick Eden tells us the story behind his HG GTS Monaro, the Monarat!

3356hp, rear-mount twin-turbo 540ci HQ Monaro runs sixes

Mario Busljeta’s Monaro is a six-second-capable nuclear warhead with a big-block up front, twin turbos out back, and close to 3000hp on tap

Chris Dicker’s blown HQ Monaro LS

When the classic lines of an HQ coupe are interrupted by a blown Chevy, we don’t mind at all

Flashback: Holden VZ Monaro launch

Here’s a look back at our first fang of the then-new 2004 VZ Monaro at Lang Lang

Jody Vincitorio’s 468ci big-block CHOPPT HQ Monaro

Jody Vincitorio threw needs to the breeze to create exactly the Summernats stunner he wanted