1968 HK Holden Monaro GTS 327

One of the cars I had the pleasure to see recently at the National Motor Racing Museum at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.

Here’s some information on the car and why its in the collection in the museum…

“The 1968 running of the October endurance race at Mount Panorama was the scene of many ‘firsts’ in the history of the event. It was the first race to be sponsored by Hardie-Ferodo (later to become James Hardie), the first to see advertising permitted to be carried on the cars in the event, and the first appearance of factory V8-powered Holdens taking on factory V8 powered Fords.

After the dominance of the Ford XR Falcon GT the previous year, Holden was determined to get its revenge, using their newly released performance coupe, the HK Monaro, fitted with the 327 cid (5.4 litre) Chevrolet V8 engine. A three car team carrying the ‘Holden Dealer Team’ title were the favourites to face the Harry Firth-led Ford team, with eight Monaros facing nine Falcon GTs in Class D.

Wyong driver Bruce McPhee, using Michelin radial tyres on his GTS 327, drove a superb marathon to win from the first of the HDT cars - Jim Palmer and Phil West. McPhee took advantage of a rule which required a co-driver to take over for a minimum of one lap. That’s just how far McPhee let his co-driver Barry Mulholland take the Monaro, preferring to establish himself in a well worn groove for the remaining 496 miles.

This car is a replica of the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 winner, and was donated to the Bathurst City Council by James Hardie Industries. Starting life as a basilisks 6 cylinder Monaro, Council’s workshop staff rebuilt the car to full GTS 327 specifications as an accurate representation of the 1968 race winner.”