|
Like the LE coupe, the
HZ GTS 4-door did not wear a Monaro badge, but
the brochure produced for it certainly did, and
it was officially designated a 'Monaro GTS sedan'.
Holden was unwilling to let the legend lapse -
especially when this final incarnation would take
it out on such a high note.
The HZ series was launched in October 1977, as
behind the scenes Holden geared up for its most
drastic model shift ever, the 1978 launch of the
Commodore.
The HZ brought remarkable advances
in ride and handling with the introduction of
Radial Tuned Suspension, delivering a Holden that
tamed local road conditions better than any before
it and handled the twisty bits with European-style
competence.
Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS)
had its biggest impact on the GTS, which with
a mesh grille, subtle body stripes and detailing
on optioned-up versions, revived aspects of the
HG Monaro GTS. A four-headlight nose, body colour
front and rear spoilers and bumpers and sports
wheels also helped to make it more of a stand-alone
package in the Monaro tradition.
The GTS came standard as a
4.2 V8, but you could add the 5.0 litre, power
steering, plaid cloth seats, limited slip diff,
electric windows and air-conditioning. Rear disc
brakes were standard, seven inch polycast wheels
or spoked wire wheels were optional.
|