The most famous Holden Monaro is not a race car, but one involved in a disaster where 12 people perished and occurred 48 years ago today.
On the evening January 5, 1975, many commuters were making their regular cross between Hobart and its suburbs via the Tasman Bridge when bulk carrier Lake Illawarra collided with several pylons as it travelled up the Derwent River.
This collision resulted in a span of the bridge collapsing onto the bridge and into the river as four cars fell 45m down to the river.
In all, 12 people died including seven crew from the Lake Illawarra and five occupants from the cars, which fell from the bridge.
A famous photo in Australia’s history resulted from the disaster as two cars were left perilously hanging with both front wheels falling off the edge, one was a Holden HQ Monaro of Frank and Sylvia Manley.
“As we drove on the bridge, we were up there a little way from the lull of the main road when Mr Jones passed me and next thing the lights went out on the bridge,” recalled Frank.
“The next thing, we spotted the white line was missing and Sylvia said ‘Stop! Stop!’ I replied, ‘I can’t’ and I went a little bit sideways because the bridge went.
“When we were hanging over the car was swaying. Sylvia said ‘put it in reverse,’ and I said ‘bugger reverse! Get out.’
“I stepped out and grabbed the headrest because I had nowhere to stand because the bridge had gone.”
And guess what?
Frank still has the Monaro, which remains his pride and joy in storage where it comes out only if someone wants to view it.
Of course the Tasman Bridge was rebuilt and can be travelled on now, but its collapse sparked lots of disruption for the people of Hobart.