Chevrolet Opala...Brazil's Monaro HK, HT cousin??

[Chevy Omega Brazil]

Hi!

Congratulations for the great forum! I'm a new Brazilian follower (and hopefully a future Calais - here Chevy Omega - owner).

Looking for Holden's history I was very enthusiastic to find that a great Brazilian classic may be related to the Monaros.

The Chevrolet Opala was built here from 1969 to 1992 and just like the first Monaros was derived from the Opel Rekord. I believe the Monaro was wider though, yet the center section looks a lot alike. Ours only had I4 and I6 engines (no V8) and lasted until the late 80's with only cosmetic modifications (the body remained virtually the same).

Judge for yourselves....


1974 Opala SS


1984 Opala Comodoro (our Commodore!)


1977 Caravan SS




1992 4door Opala Diplomata - last production year

[Calaber]

Our HK to HG Monaro's weren't based on the Opel Record - their basis was the equivalent standard Holden sedans manufactured from 1968 to 1971.

There is a family resemblance between the Monaro's and Records, but they were design traits common throughout the GM world at that time.

If you look at the HQ Monaro, it is very strongly reminiscent of Pontiac and Chev 2 door designs around that time, but again, was an indigenous Australian design.

[Chevy Omega Brazil]

Thanks for the input, mate.

The information I overheard here in Brazil was incorrect then. Most Opala enthusiasts believe both the Monaro and the Opala were based on the Rekord.

It's nice to know the real facts, though.


Still, the design traits kind of tie these three projects together quite nicely!

[Calaber]

Your Opala's look much more Chev in origin than the early Monaro. In particular, the Chevelle and the Chevy II.

The body line running along the top of the front guards and flowing through the "hip" on the rear 3/4 panel is typical of Chevrolet at that time. The Monaro had a very similar side window opening (the yellow Opala is very strongly reminiscent of the Monaro design there), but the body line which started at the top of the front guard, faded out under the rear side glass and the 3/4 panel on the Monaro was smooth. There was a flattened flare around the wheel arches on the Monaro which bears no similarity to the Opala. I would say the Monaro was a cleaner design than the Opala but for their day, they both looked the goods.

[AloneFox]

Hello

I have a problem with the water pump, is usually in the opala model

[Sphinx]

You might not get your answer here for your problem, but the guys here http://www.opalaclubcuritiba.com.br/ should be able to answer your question. buena suetre!

[VKCOMMO]

i like the caravan and the ss, they look schmick

[diplo-driver]

wel i,m driving a origanl version of the opala diplomata older cousin

This is the B model and was build from 1969 til 1977
came with a 2800E 6cyl and v8 4.6 or 5.4 chevy engine .