Monaro styling

Imagine what it must have been like to join Holden in early 1968, just as the company was about to unveil its revolutionary Monaro. Who better to walk us through the super coupe’s styling than automotive designer, historian and author Paul Beranger, who back then was the youngest member of the team that brought the original Monaro to life.

Story: Paul Beranger

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The 1960s was a golden age for General Motors-Holden and 1968 was undoubtedly its biggest year of that decade. Not only did the company release the latest generation of ‘all new’ volume-selling HK Holden sedan and wagon models, but it also launched what would become the company’s most iconic model: Monaro.

Under the astute managing directorship of American Max Wilson, GM-H faced significant challenges with the bigger, lower and heavier HK.

The new model created unprecedented complexity in the company’s widespread manufacturing plants, outgunning its cross-town competitor with multiple options, plus the addition of a prestige V8 sedan and two-door pillarless coupe, both of which were introduced six months after the high-volume sedan and wagon.