Peter is a ‘photographic observer’ living in Australia. Today’s collection of photographs from Peter is a very interesting assortment of photos that he has taken in Australia and the US. I appreciate how Peter shares his perspective on the hobby in both Australia and the US.
Peter caught me off guard when he sent me these photos and then asked, “What is their popularity these days?” I immediately went to Bring a Trailer (BaT), searched for the Pontiac Solstice, and was very surprised by what I found! I had assumed that all Pontiac Solstices were convertibles, but I was mistaken.
Peter’s first photo features a 2007 Solstice currently for sale in Australia at an asking price of $55,000. This is a one-owner car with 13,100 miles. It was purchased new in August 2008, imported to Australia in February 2010, and is the only Solstice GXP in the country. This left-hand-drive vehicle is currently registered in Western Australia under Class A, with no right-hand conversion required. The car is finished in Pure White with a black interior and a black convertible top. It is powered by a 260-hp, 121.9-cu in, Ecotec four-cylinder engine, equipped with a dual-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Slowing this beauty down are disc brakes in all four-corners. At the time, this engine had the highest specific output by cubic inch of any General Motors car, at 2.1 hp per cubic inch.
The next three photos were taken in Redondo Beach in 2009 by Peter. While Peter was photographing the cars, the owners noticed him and offered to sell him their vehicles. According to Peter, the first car in the photo—the silver vehicle—had not been driven for some time and, in the worst case, could have been no more than four years old.
To answer Peter’s question. The Pontiac Solstice was produced from 2005 to 2010, with a total of 65,724 units manufactured. Of those, 64,458 were convertibles, and 1,266 were rare coupes. Additionally, between 20 and 40 ultra-rare EDAG aftermarket Pontiac Solstice hardtops, also known as ‘Shooting Brakes’ (station wagons), were produced using convertibles as the base. I do not believe I have ever seen a coupe, nor have I seen an EDAG hardtop. EDAG (EDAG Engineering Group AG) is an international engineering services company that designs and develops solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors, with a focus on mobility, industry, and the public sector. As of March 2025, auction data from BaT shows that between 2018 and March 2025, 142 Solstices were listed, with prices ranging from $4,650 to $62,500; 22 remained unsold. On BaT, 142 cars were listed for auction. Of these, 22 were not sold, while 120 were successfully auctioned. Five cars sold at high prices, ranging from $42,500 to $62,500. The remaining 115 cars were sold at lower prices, ranging from $4,650 to $37,750, with most selling for around $22,000. The cars featured below are all finished in Mean Yellow.
Peter found this animal roaming the streets of Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. In his words, “If you had seen it, you wouldn’t forget it.” This 1972 Fury 4-door hardtop was transformed into a topless convertible and is finished in a pink and black zebra print, with a matching interior and rally wheels painted to match. As a point of reference, the 1972 Fury, or any American automobile of that era, did not include a convertible in its lineup. I have to agree with Peter, as he said, “If you had seen it, you wouldn’t forget it.” Do any of you remember it?
This story and these photos of this 1968 Holden HK GTS 327 Monaro Coupe were sent to Peter by a friend. Not many years ago, Peter photographed similar discarded vehicles in fields, in nearly the same condition as this one.
This 1968 Holden HK GTS 327 Monaro Coupe is finished in Picardy Red with a black GTS racing stripe and a black interior. It is powered by a 250-hp, 327-cu-in Chevrolet V8 with a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor, mated to a 4-speed manual close-ratio transmission with a limited-slip 3.36:1 rear axle. Slowing this beauty down are power-assisted front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. The independent front suspension consists of unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, and tube shocks. The rear suspension is a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and tube shocks.
The Holden HK Monaro was produced from 1968 to 1969 with a total production of 15,637 units, including 1,192 GTS 327 Coupes. The MSRP of the HK Monaro GTS 327 Coupe was $3790.00 Australian dollars (AUD). It had a top speed of 136.6 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.58 seconds.
The car was bought new by a Bundaberg, Queensland, sugar cane farmer for his wife and was used as a family car until 2006, when she passed away. It was stored in a shed, covered in corn sacks, until his passing in late 2021. It was sold for $200,000 AUD in May 2022. Although quite faded, with minimal rust, the family knew it was rare but did not expect it to fetch such a high price.
The 1968 Holden HK Monaro GTS 327 Coupe was a highly sought-after Australian muscle car, known for its powerful 327-cubic-inch V8 engine, distinctive GTS cosmetic package, and racing success, including a victory in the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 at Bathurst. The Holden HK Monaro GTS 327 achieved the legendary results of finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in Class D, based on purchase price (in AUD).
This model rarely surfaces for sale, and with this car being 100% complete and original, it is estimated that with a $100,000–$150,000 restoration, it could be worth upwards of half a million in showroom condition, depending on the market. With only around 1,000 left in the world, it sparked significant interest at auction, with more than 400 inquiries from every major Australian city and even as far away as Bangkok. I found it amazing that a car in this condition, yet so rare, reached $200,000 and could be worth as much as half a million in restored condition.
Peter and I want to thank you for riding along and hope that you enjoyed this latest collection of Bits and Pieces from Peter in Australia.
Frank