Holden Monaro CV8
The Holden Monaro CV8 is a high-performance coupe that was produced by Holden, an Australian automaker, from 2001 to 2006. According to the source, Silodrome, it was also sold in the USA as the Pontiac GTO and in the UK as the Vauxhall Monaro. The car was praised for its performance and design, with a 5.7 liter LS1 V8 engine producing 302 bhp. The source reports that the car shown is a 2002 CV8 finished in Red Hot over black leather, with the naturally aspirated 5.7 liter LS1 driving the rear wh
The Holden Monaro CV8 was the Australian automaker's high-performance coupe before General Motors shut down production. The source, Silodrome, states that it was also sold in the USA as the Pontiac GTO and in the UK as the Vauxhall Monaro. It was also sold as a Chevrolet - for sale in the Middle East it was badged the Chevrolet Lumina Coupe.
History of the Monaro CV8
The Monaro CV8 began as an internal design study that was never intended for full-scale production. Its designers worked on it after hours and on their own time, outside of any officially approved program, and without the knowledge of the big wigs in the boardroom. The oldest surviving drawing of a two-door Commodore dates back to 1994, made by Senior Designer Peter Hughes after Holden Design Chief Mike Simcoe suggested he sketch a coupe version of the Holden Commodore VT sedan.
Specifications of the Monaro CV8
The Monaro CV8 launched at $56,990 AUD with the 5,665cc Gen III V8 making 302 bhp. The car had a number of notable features, including a roofline 40 mm lower and doors 150 mm longer than the sedan. The finished shell was 23% stiffer in bending than the sedan's and 5% stiffer in torsion. The source reports that the car used the all-aluminum Gen III V8 that had arrived in the VT Series II Commodore in 1999, with a displacement of 5,665cc and producing 302 bhp at 5,200 rpm and 339 lb ft at 4,400 rpm.
Variants of the Monaro CV8
The Monaro CV8 had a number of variants, including the CV6 with a supercharged 3.8 liter V6 and 229 bhp. However, the source states that buyers largely ignored the six-cylinder version, and Holden dropped it after 18 months. The CV8 was also sold as a Pontiac GTO in the USA, with a 350 bhp LS1 engine. The source reports that the car was also sold as a Vauxhall Monaro in the UK and as a Chevrolet Lumina Coupe in the Middle East.
The Car Shown
The car shown is a 2002 Holden Monaro CV8, finished in Red Hot over black leather, with the naturally aspirated 5.7 liter LS1 V8 rated at 302 bhp driving the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual. The odometer reads 13,743 kms, and according to the seller the car has been on display at the Hillsborough Holden Museum since 2015, it was last serviced in March of 2026 at 13,375 kms. The source reports that the car is now being offered for sale out of Wellington, New Zealand with the owner's book pack, a spare wheel, and a single key.
