Monaro ending production...
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Monaro ending production...
Joshua Dowling
Motoring Editor
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Bigger and stronger ... the Pontiac version of the Monaro will survive in America.
The classic car of the suburban rev-head has reached the end of the road. But only in Australia.
The modern Monaro, which began life as a drawing on a loungeroom wall and was never intended to go into production, will be phased out at the end of the year.
However, it will live on in the United States, where sales have taken off after the Holden coupe was given a bigger engine and a more aggressive look.
Production of the Monaro was supposed to end last year but those plans changed radically after executives from General Motors took an interest in the car. In the end, the Monaro was sold in the US, Britain and the Middle East wearing Pontiac, Vauxhall and Chevrolet badges respectively.
After a slow start in the the US, sales of the Pontiac GTO between January and June were up 87 per cent on the same period last year; in 2004 the US took delivery of 16,300 GTOs, just shy of the annual target of 18,000 cars. By comparison, about 11,000 Monaros were sold in Australia over the past four years.
Holden hopes that prematurely ending the Monaro’s life will preserve the value of the cars – and its legend status. The official line from Holden is that the Monaro, ‘‘like all champions’’, deserves to bow out on its own terms. That means it did not want dealers ripping up the price (and hurting resale values) as sales slowed to a trickle.
‘‘We recognise that we didn’t want a Monaro in every driveway,’’ said Holden’s spokesman, Jason Laird. Holden said production of the final batch of 1200 Monaros would start next month.
It has not yet approved the next generation Monaro, but plans to reintroduce the model ‘‘some time in the future’’. The Herald understands this could be as late as 2010.
Motoring Editor
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Bigger and stronger ... the Pontiac version of the Monaro will survive in America.
The classic car of the suburban rev-head has reached the end of the road. But only in Australia.
The modern Monaro, which began life as a drawing on a loungeroom wall and was never intended to go into production, will be phased out at the end of the year.
However, it will live on in the United States, where sales have taken off after the Holden coupe was given a bigger engine and a more aggressive look.
Production of the Monaro was supposed to end last year but those plans changed radically after executives from General Motors took an interest in the car. In the end, the Monaro was sold in the US, Britain and the Middle East wearing Pontiac, Vauxhall and Chevrolet badges respectively.
After a slow start in the the US, sales of the Pontiac GTO between January and June were up 87 per cent on the same period last year; in 2004 the US took delivery of 16,300 GTOs, just shy of the annual target of 18,000 cars. By comparison, about 11,000 Monaros were sold in Australia over the past four years.
Holden hopes that prematurely ending the Monaro’s life will preserve the value of the cars – and its legend status. The official line from Holden is that the Monaro, ‘‘like all champions’’, deserves to bow out on its own terms. That means it did not want dealers ripping up the price (and hurting resale values) as sales slowed to a trickle.
‘‘We recognise that we didn’t want a Monaro in every driveway,’’ said Holden’s spokesman, Jason Laird. Holden said production of the final batch of 1200 Monaros would start next month.
It has not yet approved the next generation Monaro, but plans to reintroduce the model ‘‘some time in the future’’. The Herald understands this could be as late as 2010.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 148
From: The Garden State
Re: Monaro ending production...
Thanks for posting this story (from all accounts it seemed that the GTO aka Monaro was a dead duck depending upon who's doing the talking);
It seems ironic and fitting Monaro is to bow out in Australia... They filled a hole for us by producing a great two door coupe under the General's unbrella just before the F-Body began it's "hybernation" - now we get to keep the Holden champion's spirit alive almost like a thank you...
It seems ironic and fitting Monaro is to bow out in Australia... They filled a hole for us by producing a great two door coupe under the General's unbrella just before the F-Body began it's "hybernation" - now we get to keep the Holden champion's spirit alive almost like a thank you...
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 574
From: Richmond, TX
Re: Monaro ending production...
Well, finally we get the answer to the future of the GTO. And it's good news.
I have a feeling as the wait for the Camaro drags on year after year, people are going slowly realize their muscle coupe has been here all the time.
I have a feeling as the wait for the Camaro drags on year after year, people are going slowly realize their muscle coupe has been here all the time.
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by BigBlueCruiser
Well, finally we get the answer to the future of the GTO. And it's good news.
I have a feeling as the wait for the Camaro drags on year after year, people are going slowly realize their muscle coupe has been here all the time.
I have a feeling as the wait for the Camaro drags on year after year, people are going slowly realize their muscle coupe has been here all the time.
What muscle coupe is that? The Mustang? 300 hp in a not-so-lean body does not impress much these days, maybe if this was 10 years ago. I won't even mention the looks but I certainly would not be seen in one.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Hebron, KY
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by SNEAKY NEIL
The Mustang? 300 hp in a not-so-lean body does not impress much these days, maybe if this was 10 years ago. I won't even mention the looks but I certainly would not be seen in one.
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by jrp4uc
The '05 Mustang is a runaway hit. There's no debate to it. And that's not even the car he's talking about.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,043
From: Shelbyville, IN
Re: Monaro ending production...
Well, it's apparently satisfied most peoples needs. What do you want an 8 second Factory car???
Yeah, I think that the GTO has been overlooked by camaro fans and not because of really it's looks as much as there is not base model. If they could have offered say a 5.3 version for around 25k and a V6 version 22-23k I think it would have sold thousands!!! Although, I don't think Holden had the production capabilites to satisfy that demand so that's probably why they haven't.
I expect to see BIG things out of the GTO once it's on GM's new RWD platform. Hopefully Coupe/Vert and monster engines. Hopefully it's every bit as quick as the Camaro maybe even with a special edition Judge with an LS7 or Blown LS2 (COBRA KILLER)
. Especially with Pontiac being more of the performance brand then Chevrolet anyhow.
I think Pontiac had good intentions with the Monaro/GTO, but there were several things going against it. I can't wait till 08-09 or whenever we will see the new one!!!!
Yeah, I think that the GTO has been overlooked by camaro fans and not because of really it's looks as much as there is not base model. If they could have offered say a 5.3 version for around 25k and a V6 version 22-23k I think it would have sold thousands!!! Although, I don't think Holden had the production capabilites to satisfy that demand so that's probably why they haven't.
I expect to see BIG things out of the GTO once it's on GM's new RWD platform. Hopefully Coupe/Vert and monster engines. Hopefully it's every bit as quick as the Camaro maybe even with a special edition Judge with an LS7 or Blown LS2 (COBRA KILLER)
. Especially with Pontiac being more of the performance brand then Chevrolet anyhow.I think Pontiac had good intentions with the Monaro/GTO, but there were several things going against it. I can't wait till 08-09 or whenever we will see the new one!!!!
Last edited by Chrome383Z; Jul 25, 2005 at 03:18 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,030
From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
Re: Monaro ending production...
Wow no new Monaro until 2010, I guess that means no new GTO until around 2010 unless the GTO is going stateside, which I've heard too but don't know if its true or not.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by Chrome383Z
Hopefully it's every bit as quick as the Camaro maybe even with a special edition Judge with an LS7 or Blown LS2 (COBRA KILLER) . Especially with Pontiac being more of the performance brand then Chevrolet anyhow.
. Especially with Pontiac being more of the performance brand then Chevrolet anyhow.
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by 90 Z28SS
....... Even now if the Camaro was out now it absolutely would not have a standard 400 hp LS2 outside the top of line model .
(obligatory "winky")
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by 90 Z28SS
"IF" a new GTO came out of the new NA RWD chassis , it would be a pretty safe bet to say it would be a faster car than the Camaro .
Pontiac attempted that with Zeta GTO/Camaro...and really overplayed their hand.
What I'm more concerned about right now are future crash standards and Camaro. 50mph rear impact, stricter rollover, etc.
I'm worried that our sporty little coupe will end up being larger and heavier than GTO to comply.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,646
From: Portland, OR
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by Z284ever
I don't agree Derek.
Pontiac attempted that with Zeta GTO/Camaro...and really overplayed their hand.
What I'm more concerned about right now are future crash standards and Camaro. 50mph rear impact, stricter rollover, etc.
I'm worried that our sporty little coupe will end up being larger and heavier than GTO to comply.
Pontiac attempted that with Zeta GTO/Camaro...and really overplayed their hand.
What I'm more concerned about right now are future crash standards and Camaro. 50mph rear impact, stricter rollover, etc.
I'm worried that our sporty little coupe will end up being larger and heavier than GTO to comply.
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by Z284ever
I don't agree Derek.
Pontiac attempted that with Zeta GTO/Camaro...and really overplayed their hand.
What I'm more concerned about right now are future crash standards and Camaro. 50mph rear impact, stricter rollover, etc.
I'm worried that our sporty little coupe will end up being larger and heavier than GTO to comply.
Pontiac attempted that with Zeta GTO/Camaro...and really overplayed their hand.
What I'm more concerned about right now are future crash standards and Camaro. 50mph rear impact, stricter rollover, etc.
I'm worried that our sporty little coupe will end up being larger and heavier than GTO to comply.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monaro ending production...
Originally Posted by SNEAKY NEIL
Wow, this is terrible news. I don't belive that i have heard anything about this until now. Even if it is the same for all automakers, that still doesn't help the auto enthusiast. That's going to bring down gas milage as well so I wonder how that will play out. Looks like we are going to be driving 70's tanks again.