My folks sent me an Australian collector car classifieds magazine for Christmas. The value of pre 1978 Holdens has gone through the roof. A 1971-74 Monaro GTS Coupe is valued from $16,000 to $62,000. LX Torana Hatchbacks run upwards of $50,000. So what am I doing cutting up an original HQ GTS coupe? From the time that I brought the Monaro home from St Louis, a couple of weeks after buying the Torana, it was always my intention to turn it into a dedicated drag car. It had the local 308ci V8 and 4 speed with a straight rust free body. I paid $US 7500 for the Monaro and $US 10,500 for the Torana in 2002. The Torana appears to have been a pretty wise investment. The Monaro however had been converted to left-hand drive, I have no idea why. They did a nice job on the conversion which cost $4500 but essentially they destroyed its value in Australia while really adding no value to it in the US where right hand drive vehicles are perfectly legal on the street.
So knowing this I have no regrets about the project and continued to cut. I had left the inner wheel wells and much of the internal bracing in but its clear it has to go to fit the tires and wheel tubs. Using a combination of cutting wheels, sawzall and body saw I trimmed a little at a time to reveal the inner quarter panel and inner bracing. Holdens are built tough for Australian conditions where they have to contend with miles of corrigated dirt roads not generally found in Europe or Nth America. So working slowly and being VERY careful not to cut into the back of the quarter panel, I cut away the inner wheel well and supporting structure. I left approx 1" of the inner wheel well where it attaches to the wheel opening lip for a little rigidity but mainly because its spot welded together and I didn't want to screw up the painted lip. Picture on the right is the untouched right side to contrast the left side which I have finished cutting. The right side should go a lot faster now that I know whats behind it.
