In January 68 a new model was released called the HK, all them families created ten years ago in the back of the FJ Holden's were growing and needed more space in the family car so the new model was larger than the HR and with the extra weight of the growing kids plus the new larger car it would require power to match and a 307 chev V8 was now on the options list along with the 161 ci six, the 186 ci six and the higher performance 186S six plus there was still one more engine to come in the HK range, soon after, a longer luxury saloon was released above the premier, options like power windows and air conditioning were in, the new luxury car was now holdens first limo with plush seating ,courtesy and reading lights and classy looks, a nice car to be chuafered home in after a fancy dinner but for those that were often late for dinner and prefered to drive them selves Holden also in 68 released the MONARO.
A 327 chevrolet powered the new GTS 327 monaro coupe wich was aimed at the track in Bathurst NSW the place were when the flag drops the bullshit stops. The Monaro become an idol for aussie youth it was Australias own muscle coupe, based on the HK sedan the GTS 327 had a 4 speed stick shift, sports bucket seats, sports instrumentation, fluted fenders, redline performance tyres, a stylish pillarless side window area, stripes and red & chrome GTS 327 badging, the new holdens were now the kingswood wich replaced the specail, the belmont wich replaced the standard, the premier, the brougham and the Monaro. In 68 the great race (bathurst) was won by a GTS 327 Monaro
In 69 the HK was replaced by the HT model, wich introduced the 308 V8 MATE all aussie five litre V8 wich was smoother and lighter than it's chev brother there was also a 253 V8 wich had been previously diplayed in the famous Holden hurricane concept sports car, another new motor to come in 69 was another chevy V8 , this time a 350 5.74 liter, it was availiable in a limited production Bathurst pack Monaro.
at this time Holden also brought out a new version of the small torana wich now had a six cylinder option wich was the start of a new breed of aussie performance since the car was origionally designed for a four banger, the new Torana called the LC was a little car with a big motor. In 69 Bathurst was won by a GTS 350 Monaro.
In 1970 the HT was replaced by the HG, the GTS had it's race track suspension replaced with more comfortable springs since the little six cylinder Torana had taken over race track duties with the new GT/R wich had a warm six in a little body, a sports car named of the torana GTR- X was exhibited atracting huge interest but never reched production, many say this was the one Holden let get away and it would have completely changed Holdens humble Image. This year Norm Beechy won the Australian touring car championship in a Monaro.
In 1971 the HQ was released with a completely new body for the 70's with much rounder styling and a cab chasis ute was also added to the line plus now that them Kids from the back seat of the Fj were starting to get close to there driving years, The good lads at Holden decided to help them keep the " Love is good, love is golden , love is made in the back of a holden" family tradition going , after all in Australia you either come from a holden, ford or chrysler family or you are just not a Aussie, this is something that is passed down from generation to generation and if holden could assist the fj back seat generation of holden people to multiply it would increase there sales again in 17 years time so they brought out a specail holden family multiplier called the SANDMAN, This was like a GTS with a bed area attached to the back to help the good young holden drivers get started on making holden babbies while at the same time increasing our population in order to imporove economics, holden were not just planning ahead for there own sake but the whole country, the young guys were happy , Holden was happy but some of the FJ fathers of duaghters were angry. The HQ also introduced a SS V8 four speed sedan, and a new long wheelbase luxury saloon replaced the brougham , it was called a Statesman with the statesman de ville being the top line limo. The sixes grew again with the 161 growing to 173 and the 186 became a 202. A red hot version of the little torana came out in 72 called the GTR XU-1 with a triple carb six running all the hot gear in a lightweight package, this year Bathurst was not won by a Monaro, but this time a Holden Torana GTR XU-1 by a driver who had previously been racing a Holden six powered Austin, his name was Peter Brock.
In 74 The HJ was released with a more modern look but still along the lines of the HQ, a kingswood deluxe model was brought out to offer all the most common desired options while keeping the price under $5000. The base model statesman custom now became the de ville and a more luxurios statesman called the caprice was born and the HJ premier was also exported to japan and sold as a Mazda roadpacer , it had different trim, badging and a 13B mazda rotory under the hood, This at the time was mazdas top of the line car. 74 also saw a new torana for the economy people, based on the LC it was called the TA and had a choice of either 1.3 or 1.7 liter four cylinder motors, this year peter brock won the Australian touring car championship in a Torana. A bigger Torana was now out called the LH model with engine options being either 4, 6 or 8 cylinders.
In 75 a new addition to the holden family was a rebadged Isuzu called the TX gemini,this year Bathurst was won by Peter Brock in a Torana.LH V8.
In 76 we received new polution laws wich decreased the efficiency of pretty much every car on the market a new model replaced the HJ called the HX, this car was the end of Monaro with the last 800 being sold in a limited production of Monaro LE's, they had electric windows, air conditioning,and a quadraphonic cartridge player, they all had a 308 and auto and sat on honeycomb wheels. A LX model Torana also replaced the LH. This year Bathurst was won by a Holden Torana.
In 77 the HZ was born with the same body but a new grille and boot lid, The sandmans were being heavily promoted to get the next generation of holden babbies going,, Radial Tuned Suspension badges meant that the car was set up for radial rubber. A GTS sedan was released with the 253 V8 as standard and specail GTS interior, wider rims and and sports instruments.There was also a High performance version of the new hatch back torana powered by a hot 5 liter and using 4 wheel disc brakes, the A9X..
In 1980 the fuel crisis had killed the sales of the Holden family sedan with people looking for more economical transport, by now nissan, toyota and mitsubishi were all well established in Australia and the HZ was finished, the next model was the WB the sedan and wagon prototypes of the WB never saw production but they did release the WB in a statesman de ville,SL/E and caprice, there was also a hot Peter Brock specail of the statesman with a worked over 5 liter called the magnum, The demand for the ute , Panelvan, and 1 tonne cab chassis kept the commercial range going in the WB series and a new blue motor based on the red had a 12 port head, electronic ignition, counterbalance crank and 2 barrel carb but still remained either 202 or 173 CI