Why Nobody Talks About the Holden Monaro LS - The HQ & HJ LS Full History

Everybody remembers the Bathurst winning Monaro's, but what if one of the best Monaro's ever made wasn't actually a muscle or racing car at all? This video discusses the Holden Monaro, highlighting a specific model often overlooked in favour of its race-bred siblings, and which I believe is a classic in its own right. It showcases various examples of this iconic Australian car, including its "M41 3-Speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 Automatic" transmission, giving insight into these classic cars and their powerful V8 engine options. Introduced in July 1971 as part of the ground-breaking HQ series, the Holden Monaro LS (or Luxury Sports) Coupé was deliberately designed to bridge the gap between muscle car performance and premium executive comfort. Moving away from the aggressive, race-bred styling of the GTS, the LS catered to buyers who desired the sleek, pillarless silhouette of a two-door hardtop but preferred a more sophisticated, understated aesthetic. It was easily distinguished by its quad-headlight front grille, borrowed directly from the upscale Holden Premier, along with distinctive premier-style wheel covers, dual exhaust outlets on V8 models, and subtle "LS" badging. Inside, the cabin traded austere rally instrumentation for a wood grain accented dashboard, plush deep-pile carpeting, and luxurious, foam-padded bucket seats upholstered in premium fabrics or optional leather. Underneath its elegant exterior, the Monaro LS retained plenty of mechanical muscle, offering a highly customisable options list that allowed buyers to tailor the car's performance to their tastes. While a 3.3-litre (202 cubic-inch) inline-six cylinder came standard, most buyers opted for the effortless torque of Holden’s locally built 4.2-litre (253ci) or 5.0-litre (308ci) V8 engines, which were frequently paired with the smooth three-speed Tri-Matic automatic transmission. The LS configuration proved highly successful for the HQ generation, racking up over 6,000 units, but consumer tastes rapidly shifted toward four-door luxury saloons by the mid-1970s. By the time the updated HJ series rolled around in late 1974, the Monaro LS coupe was quietly phased out after a very limited final production run of just 337 units, sealing its legacy as one of the most refined and collectible classic cars in Australian automotive history. 0:00 Introduction: The Forgotten Monaro 0:34 HK Monaro (1968): Birth of a Legend 2:02 HT & HG: Refining the First Generation 3:45 HQ Monaro (1971): A Ground-Up Redesign 4:09 Design Philosophy: European Elegance Meets Australian Muscle 6:00 Engineering the HQ: Subframe, Suspension & Controversy 7:56 The Monaro LS: Holden's Gentleman's Express 10:04 Production Numbers & Rarity — Only 216 Ever Made 10:47 Series 1 vs Series 2: What Actually Changed? 13:49 HQ LS Engine & Transmission Specs (Full Breakdown) 17:40 HQ LS Suspension, Brakes & Wheels 20:14 HQ LS Interior: Wood Grain, Vinyl Roofs & Luxury Appointments 23:59 HQ LS Exterior and Badging 25:03 HJ Monaro (1974): The Final Facelift 29:14 HJ LS Engine & Transmission Specs (Full Breakdown) 31:50 HJ LS Suspension, Brakes & Interior Updates 32:40 HJ LS Interior, Luxury Appointments 35:09 HJ LS Exterior and Badging 36:57 HQ vs HJ: The Key Differences Compared 38:06 End of an Era: The HX Series & the Rare LE 39:32 Legacy: The Monaro's Final Years & the V2 Return (2001) 40:28 Conclusion: A Forgotten Classic If you liked this video, I have linked some others that you may find of interest and these are as follows: The Other Charger R/T    • The Other Charger R/T - One You Might Not ...   The Bandit Trans Am & a Couple of Interesting Facts    • Bandit's Trans Am, a Couple of Interesting...   The Lotus Carlton    • 1990-1993 Lotus Carlton & Omega - The 90's...   I hope that you Enjoyed this Video and if You Did a Like & Subscribe would be Greatly Appreciated and I would also Urge you to take a Look at my Channel, as I will be uploading content regularly. Thanks for Watching. Like & Subscribe & Catch You in the Next One.    / @wheeleyinteresting   I also find vidIQ very helpful, see link https://vidiq.com/wheeleyinterest