Only one choice

[HK1837]

Sorry Byron but I can't swallow your reasoning at all. The cars came down the same production line and were sold through Holden dealerships and nowhere else.
They simply take a production model and tart it up. I have no issue with people calling a GTO a Monaro because essentially that is what it is. By your reckoning every Torana is a Vauxhall.

While I'm no fan of HSV "improved" Holdens (because I have never like the styling) they as much of a Holden as any other model.
I feel you are placing too much importance on a stick on label and missing the bigger picture.

I ain't missing any picture, that is how it is. They are meant to be seen as and are regarded as a different vehicle just like GMC and Chevrolet. Not all Holden dealers sell or service HSV either. By such reasoning a Pontiac GTO is a Holden, and many Pontiacs and Buicks are Chevrolets as there is probably as much in common between a late 60's, early 70's Pontiac Firebird and a Camaro as there is between a HSV GTS coupe and a Monaro. I doubt you'd find many people in the US outside of those with zero interest in cars that would call a Firebird a Camaro and vice versa. Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 are built in the same facility as well, and they also most likely have more in common than a HSV does with its base vehicle. Yes you can buy parts branded Holden or HSV that cross pollenate, but the same goes for Lexus, every part I have bought from Lexus for our RX350 (oil filter, air filter etc) all come in Toyota branded boxes.
In the end the manufacturer in this case Holden, in other cases GM, Toyota, Ford, Mazda market and intend for their vehicles be it a Calais or Clubsport or '70 Firbird or '72 Camaro or 2013 Ranger to be seen as the vehicle it is branded as. No-one sees a Kia as a Hyundai, same deal.

Is this a Holden?
NOVA.jpg

Is this a Toyota?
COROLLA.jpg

They were both built side by side at GMH's Dandenong facility.

[Innuendo]

Is this a Holden?
NOVA.jpg

Is this a Toyota?
COROLLA.jpg

They were both built side by side at GMH's Dandenong facility.

They are both Holden's. Sticking a different badge or even a compliance build tag doesn't change a thing.
I don't get confused with Ford stickers on Mazdas or Toyota badges on Holdens etc. They are what they are.

Happens outside of the auto industry also. Camera lenses are something I know. Samyang makes lenses and they get rebadge into dozens of names. But they are all Samyang's.

A Monaro badged as a Pontiac GTO is still a Holden Monaro with a nose change. It's just a little disguise for the US market and doesn't fool this Australian into believing it a Pontiac.
As much as if Holden were to place a Monaro badge on an imported Camaro wouldn't confuse a Yank into thinking it was a different car (actually it just might confuse some Yanks).

Badge sharing is one thing, actually forced and imposed by Australian government at one stage. Improving/modifying a production Holden doesn't make it a different make.