Vauxhall Monaro VXR 500 | PH Auction Block

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…