Lyla Lindsey
GTOs, or Pontiac GTOs, were manufactured in Australia. They are also known as Holden Monaros and were built in a GM Holden plant in Adelaide, South Australia. GM Holden exports to every major continent, and the car is sold under different names in different markets. For example, it is sold as the Vauxhall Monaro in Europe, the Chevrolet Lumina SS in the Middle East, and the Holden Monaro in Australia. While the GTO was not considered a failure, some criticised its styling and departure from the design of its predecessors. Production of the GTO has since ceased, with the last Pontiac GTO rolling off the assembly line in 2005.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| GTO Production in Australia | Holden Monaro or Pontiac GTOs were produced in Australia |
| Manufacturer | GM Holden |
| Manufacturing Plant Location | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Export Markets | Europe, Middle East, Australia |
| Export Models | Vauxhall Monaro, Chevrolet Lumina SS, Holden Monaro |
| Production Start | Around 1999 |
| Engine | LS1 and LS2 |
| Performance | High-performance, powerful, affordable pricing |
| Target Market | Not aimed at young people; targeted collectors and retirees |
| Sales | Sold decently, progressive improvement each year |
| Parts Availability | Limited parts availability in Australia |
| Production Status | Seized production in 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
GM Holden's GTO manufacturing plant in Adelaide, South Australia
GM Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was founded in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer before moving into the automotive field in 1898. The company became a subsidiary of General Motors in 1931 and was renamed General Motors-Holden's Ltd.
GM Holden began auto production in 1948, with then-Prime Minister Ben Chifley driving the first car off the production line. The company's primary products were its own models developed in-house, such as the Holden Commodore, Holden Caprice, and Holden Ute. However, Holden also offered badge-engineered models under sharing arrangements with other automobile companies like Nissan, Suzuki, and Toyota.
In 2013, Holden revealed that it had received A$2.17 billion in federal government assistance over the past 12 years. Despite this, the company decided to cease vehicle and engine production by the end of 2017 due to declining sales of large sedan cars in Australia and the increasing attractiveness of importing vehicles into Australia rather than building them locally.
The GM Holden Elizabeth plant, located in Elizabeth, a suburb of Adelaide, played a significant role in the company's history. Construction of the plant began in 1958, and it underwent continuous revisions, upgrades, and modernization over the years. The plant produced the Holden Commodore range/Chevrolet SS Sedan and the Holden Caprice/Chevrolet Caprice PPV. Unfortunately, the Elizabeth plant was closed in October 2017, marking the end of GM Holden's manufacturing operations in Australia.
The closure of the GM Holden plant in South Australia resulted in nearly 2,500 job losses, putting pressure on the government to help those made redundant find new work. It also signified the end of Australia's nearly 100-year automotive industry, as GM Holden was the last automaker to shutter its manufacturing base in the country.
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GTO engines assembled in Australia
The Pontiac GTO is a front-engine, rear-drive, two-door, four-passenger automobile manufactured and marketed by the Pontiac division of General Motors (GM) over four generations from 1963 to 1974 in the United States. A fifth generation was made by GM's Australian subsidiary, Holden, from 2004 through 2006.
The GTO was assembled by Holden at Elizabeth, South Australia, and was equipped with the 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine for the 2004 model year. This was the same engine found in the concurrent model year Chevrolet Corvette, and it could be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic.
While the GTO was assembled in Australia, some of its engine components were sourced from other countries. For example, the fuel injectors were made in Charleston, South Carolina, and the throttle body was manufactured outside Greenville, South Carolina. These components were then combined into an integrated unit in Anderson, South Carolina, before being shipped to St. Catharines, Ontario, to be put on the engine. Some engines are also currently being shipped to Silao, Mexico. Additionally, the ABS unit is believed to come from Germany. Holden also imported the LS1 engine, which was featured in the Monaro.
The Holden Monaro, also known as the Pontiac GTO, was not very common on Australian roads. It was not marketed towards young people, and in some Australian states, driving a V8 was illegal for those under 18 years old. The Monaro was also not cheap, targeting those with car collections or retirement money. As a result, most Monaros in Australia were rarely driven and remained in good condition, with few crashes. This led to a minimal demand for aftermarket parts, and Holden did not produce many spares.
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Holden's limited spare parts availability
GTOs, or the Holden Monaro, were produced by GM Holden in Australia. However, the production of these cars was limited, and they were not sold in large numbers. Holden Monaros were targeted at people with car collections or retirement money, and not at young people. This meant that the cars were not driven much and were rarely crashed, so there was little demand for spare parts. Holden did not make much money from selling spare parts, so they did not manufacture many of them.
The limited availability of Holden spare parts has resulted in a premium on these parts in the USA, with the cost of shipping from Australia and the "Holden tax" further inflating prices.
While the production of GTOs or Holden Monaros in Australia may have ceased, there are still some sources for Holden spare parts. Holden Vintage & Classic offers classic car parts for British marques. They provide a range of handcrafted Moto-Lita steering wheels, mirrors, classic lighting products, and Powerlite Rotating Electrics.
In Australia, Car Parts 2U stocks a large range of brand-new spare parts for various Holden models, including the Commodore VE. These parts are available for purchase through their secure online store and can be shipped directly to the customer. Additionally, Genuine Edge offers brand-new genuine OEM parts to suit all Holden models, providing a 2-year/50,000km nationwide warranty on Holden Genuine and ACDelco factory-approved parts.
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Holden's export markets
GM Holden exported to every major continent. In Europe, the car was sold as the Vauxhall Monaro, in the Middle East as the Chevrolet Lumina SS, and in Australia as the Holden Monaro.
Holden's export business officially ended on May 5, 2017, with the last Chevrolet SS build. This bookends a program that started in 1954 with a shipment of FJ sedans to New Zealand. Over time, Holden-built cars were sold in countries as far-flung as Finland, Nepal, and Ecuador.
Holden's left-hand-drive program started with a shipment of FB sedans to Hawaii in 1960. The FB became the first Holden adapted for left-hand drive markets, which were also exported to New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and the Philippines.
In 1956, Holden commenced exports to Malaya, Thailand, and North Borneo. By 1957, Holden's export markets grew to 17 countries, with new additions including Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Fiji, Sudan, the East Africa region, and South Africa. Indonesian market cars were assembled locally by P.T. Udatin.
The arrival of the HQ series in the 1970s produced Holden's best decade, with 197,288 cars shipped overseas and seven plants worldwide building them from parts freighted in to avoid heavy taxes on entire cars. Sales were boosted by exporting the Kingswood sedan, station wagon, and utility body styles to Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Africa in complete knock-down form.
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Holden's cessation of production in 2017
Holden, an iconic symbol of Australian manufacturing, ceased its operations in Australia in 2017. The cessation of local manufacturing marked the end of an era for the beloved carmaker. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) announced that it would continue to operate beyond 2017, despite the end of Holden's local vehicle production.
The decision to stop manufacturing in Australia was influenced by a combination of factors. One of the main reasons for Holden's decline was the shift in consumer preferences. Australians began to favour smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and SUVs, which were not Holden's core strengths. The demand for large sedans and traditional Australian-made cars decreased significantly, resulting in declining sales for Holden.
The automotive industry became highly competitive, with numerous international brands entering the Australian market. Holden faced competition from Japanese, Korean, and European car manufacturers, who offered more technologically advanced and affordable vehicles. This intensified competition put pressure on Holden's sales and market share, making it challenging to sustain manufacturing operations in the country.
Additionally, Australia's high production costs, including labour, raw materials, and energy, played a significant role in Holden's decision to cease manufacturing. Compared to other countries with lower production costs, Holden struggled to remain competitive and profitable. The high Australian dollar and the relatively high cost of production made it difficult for Holden to offer competitive prices and invest in research and development for future models.
The Australian government's policy changes also impacted Holden's decision. The reduction of government support and the removal of tariffs and subsidies for the automotive industry made it financially unsustainable for Holden to continue manufacturing in Australia. Holden is a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), and the decision to cease manufacturing in Australia was part of GM's global restructuring plan to streamline operations and focus on more profitable markets.
The cessation of Holden's manufacturing operations in Australia had significant ramifications for the economy. The closure of its manufacturing plants resulted in job losses for thousands of workers and affected related industries and suppliers. Holden holds a special place in the hearts of many Australians, and its legacy lives on through its imported models and the memories associated with its Australian-made cars.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Holden stopped manufacturing GTOs in 2017.
GTO is a car model by GM's Pontiac division.
GM's Pontiac division didn't have a 2-door performance platform to build the GTO on, so they had to tap their Australian affiliate Holden.
