Vauxhall Monaro VXR 500 | PH Auction Block
All Monaros were charming - but never more so than with 500hp...
There’s precious little, really, that PH needs to know about Holdens. We have a thriving forum dedicated to Holden Special Vehicles, bursting with knowledge, enthusiasm and love for the awesome Australians. In all of GM’s decisions over the years, the move to bring Holdens to the UK as Vauxhalls must have been one of the best of them. Affordable, fast and fun, they were - and remain - like little else on the road.
Indeed, the only thing anyone needs reminding of in 2025 is just how rare VXR8s and Monaros now are. It’s almost 20 years since the last coupes came here, and the first saloons landed in 2008. While generally loved by those who did take the plunge, there’s no escaping the fact that both only sold in small numbers here, partly because not that many were ever available; some will inevitably have fallen by the wayside over the years, too. So you don’t see very many for sale. The fact Holdens are such unmistakable experiences could make many reluctant to part; it’s easy to imagine one or two perhaps in collections, celebrations of all things great and V8.
As a little bit of proof to support that, this is the only Monaro or VXR8 offered on PH right now. It’s an auction car of course, with bidding kicking off on Thursday. And get this - it’s a VXR 500. All Monaros are lovable old beasts, whether 5.7- or 6.0-litre, but the run-out special - complete with a supercharged 500hp - really are the most coveted. It’s amazing to think of the fact now, but the 500 was created to shift the last few Monaros hanging around before the VXR8 arrived. So it was cheaper than the standard car (!). A 500hp Monaro was £35,995, which sounds like bargain of the century. Even today, it’s a little more than £60k.
While none of the Monaro’s cheaper bits were addressed with the overhaul, anyone buying a Monaro for the interior ambience was looking at the wrong car. Those who loved it for V8 exhilaration would have been bowled over by the Wortec ‘charger, adding 25 per cent more power to an already potent package.
This is one of the 18 VXR500s believed to have been sold at that giveaway price in 2006. Remarkably, it’s been with the current keeper since the year after; perhaps nothing says what a likeable car this is than 18 years of ownership. Despite its age, just 30,000 miles have been covered, meaning this Monaro looks as good as it ever has. More so, in fact, given how rare they are and how immediately recognisable that shape is. The paint in particular looks really smart; the interior still won’t win any style awards, but has lasted well.
Even better, thousands have been spent over the past three years recommissioning the VXR500 to bring it back to its best. The discs, pads and dampers are new, the steering rack has been replaced and the calipers refurbished, which should help the Monaro feel as good as hoped for. The underside was stripped, cleaned and re-undersealed in 2022 during the recommissioning process and never welded; rust will definitely be something to keep an eye on going forward, along with how much is being spent on tyres and fuel. Before they bankrupt you. But then nobody said Monaros were perfect, after all. It represents a kind of back-to-basics fun that’s so seldom found these days, and is therefore immensely desirable. Get that bidding finger ready…
However, for a 30000 mile car with service history there can be no excuse for the amount of rust that seems to be spewing out everywhere.
I have owned a Monaro for 18yrs, it has also covered over 74000 miles and it’s still rust free. My car was treated when I took ownership at 6000 miles, I’ve also kept on top of the rust protection since, so it can be done.
If I bought that VXR 500 ( I would love one ) it would have to be totally taken apart and restored properly. Cleaning that car and spraying anti corrosion fluid over it wouldn’t fix anything.
Good luck to the seller and I hope the buyer knows what they going to have to sort out.
They are great, driven it a few times and it is properly rapid, apart from the gearchange which is a bit slow, not as intimidating as it sounds, under no illusion it will give you a kicking if you take liberties but it seems a lot more predictable than my M135i was.
36 grand seems a bit ambitious, wouldnt pay that for one, but they are really rather pleasant, can lope along enjoying the racket or get on it and hang on.
People do seem to respond very positively to cars like this.
However, for a 30000 mile car with service history there can be no excuse for the amount of rust that seems to be spewing out everywhere.
I have owned a Monaro for 18yrs, it has also covered over 74000 miles and it’s still rust free. My car was treated when I took ownership at 6000 miles, I’ve also kept on top of the rust protection since, so it can be done.
If I bought that VXR 500 ( I would love one ) it would have to be totally taken apart and restored properly. Cleaning that car and spraying anti corrosion fluid over it wouldn’t fix anything.
Good luck to the seller and I hope the buyer knows what they going to have to sort out.
However, for a 30000 mile car with service history there can be no excuse for the amount of rust that seems to be spewing out everywhere.
I have owned a Monaro for 18yrs, it has also covered over 74000 miles and it’s still rust free. My car was treated when I took ownership at 6000 miles, I’ve also kept on top of the rust protection since, so it can be done.
If I bought that VXR 500 ( I would love one ) it would have to be totally taken apart and restored properly. Cleaning that car and spraying anti corrosion fluid over it wouldn’t fix anything.
Good luck to the seller and I hope the buyer knows what they going to have to sort out.
But that is not the prep you do when you want top money like that, it should be beyond criticism, not spotting rusty wing edges and crusty fasteners, that engine should be mint, not grubby, nothign insurmountable but if I was buying one at that money I wouldnt be expecting to crack out the rust remover and faffingf about with it, that price shouts its perfect, just needs driving, not needs weeks of grubbing around on your back under it to stop it decomposing further.
They are great, driven it a few times and it is properly rapid, apart from the gearchange which is a bit slow, not as intimidating as it sounds, under no illusion it will give you a kicking if you take liberties but it seems a lot more predictable than my M135i was.
36 grand seems a bit ambitious, wouldnt pay that for one, but they are really rather pleasant, can lope along enjoying the racket or get on it and hang on.
People do seem to respond very positively to cars like this.
They are great, driven it a few times and it is properly rapid, apart from the gearchange which is a bit slow, not as intimidating as it sounds, under no illusion it will give you a kicking if you take liberties but it seems a lot more predictable than my M135i was.
36 grand seems a bit ambitious, wouldnt pay that for one, but they are really rather pleasant, can lope along enjoying the racket or get on it and hang on.
People do seem to respond very positively to cars like this.
Well wont help the price one way or another.
Underbonnet is a bit ugly but it's had the brakelines replaced at least, and the worst bits are just a few nasty brackets that could be cheaply replaced.
Of mildly more concern would be the rust in front of the jacking point that could indicate some nastiness hiding under those side skirts, and yeah, the underside does look a little worse for wear than 30,000 miles would have you believe.
It is also missing the sump guard which is a bit odd, it is slightly lower than standard so given the UK's love of central speed humps, I'd be wanting at least some protection for the aluminium sump...
Mine is 600bhp, 76,000 miles and looks in slightly better shape under the bonnet
Underbonnet is a bit ugly but it's had the brakelines replaced at least, and the worst bits are just a few nasty brackets that could be cheaply replaced.
Of mildly more concern would be the rust in front of the jacking point that could indicate some nastiness hiding under those side skirts, and yeah, the underside does look a little worse for wear than 30,000 miles would have you believe.
It is also missing the sump guard which is a bit odd, it is slightly lower than standard so given the UK's love of central speed humps, I'd be wanting at least some protection for the aluminium sump...
Mine is 600bhp, 76,000 miles and looks in slightly better shape under the bonnet
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