neal
wizard in black
RETIREDTrapped
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A torana is an absolutely MINT car.
I've got a 1971 LC torana, like this:
http://www.toranagtrxu-1.com/pic/hottest.jpg[img]
Have you ever heard of the racecar driver "Peter Brock"?
Yeah, that's what he drove, and -won- in... an LC torana.
The history of the torana:
October 1969
GMH introduce the LC Torana range which consisted of eight LC variations in both two door and four door models, four and six cylinder and auto and manual transmissions. The name Torana comes from a Aboriginal word meaning 'to fly' and owes it origins to a small car called HB Torana which was introduced in May 1967, the design taken from the English Vauxhall Viva already on sale in Australia.
With the buyer having the option of S and SL, for the enthusiast there was the sporty GTR as part of the range and was not available with auto transmission, with its bold color range which included, Linamint, Yellow Dolly, Plum Dinger, and Lone 'O' Ranger. A number of badges and stripes, plus a set of "gills" on each front guard to give it a shark - like look. The GTR was fitted with 161S engine producing 125 brake horsepower (b.h.p) and (93 kW) at 4800 rpm and 150 lb/ft (248 Nm).
With further modification the progression from a quick GTR to GTR XU-1 full on racer wasn't complicated as most of the hard work had already been done. When it was finally released in August 1970 it was revealed to be the out and out racer that Harry Firth wanted, although most observers doubted its ability to take on the Falcons at Bathurst.
The XU-1 was initially raced at Sandown in April 1970 as a sports sedan, but its first appearance on the track in series production racing came at the Sandown 250 in September 1970. Although Bond finished second to Moffats Falcon, however it did prove a point, down about 25% on power to weight in comparison to the Falcon, but it had durability when needed. The longer the race went the better its chances, by using less fuel, less wear on tyres and less of everything than its competitors.
BATHURST 1970
The XU-1 big test arrived when it lined up for Bathurst 1970 in which the Holden Dealer Team had three cars driven Christine Cole/Sandra Bennett, Peter Brock/Bob Morris and Colin Bond going (solo). There was other XU-1 raced by privateers which included Don Holland/Linsday Little, Spencer Martin/Bob Martin and John Keran/Klyde Hodgins all racing in class C, against a pair two barrel Pacers driven by Daug Chivas/Graham Ryan and Leo Geaghegan/Nick Leddingham. The Falcons Phase 11 still outright favourite to take the race.
Colin Bond set the pace during practice for the Toranas the fastest time of 2 min 54, this put him near the front grid. He also surprised many doubters by crossing the start- finish line ahead the Falcons in the one HDT car for the first time in the race, but was soon hauled in by Moffat with Brock moving into second place after Bond dropped out with faulty carburettor. Brock too suffering similar problems when a starter motor after a pit stop.
Only two XU-1s failed to finish the race but apart from Holland/Little with (129 laps) who took the Torana to a class D and third outright and Garth/Hall with (128 laps) none were within three laps of Moffats Falcon.
BATHURST 1971
Early in 1971 Holden released a number of bulletins outlining a number of modifications devised by Harry Firth, HDT manager and in September that year, a limited run improved LC XU-1s dubbed the 'Bathurst Specials', which included new high lift-camshaft, new pistons improved cylinder head, revised carburettor needles, stronger and relocated lower control arms, revised spring and dampers, baffled sump, new oil pickup point, baffled diff housing and fuel tank, thicker front discs and heavy duty clutch. The engine output was now 180 bhp (134kW), 800 revs higher at 6000 rpm.
For Bathurst a total of 13 XU-1s lined up for the race. There was two HDT Toranas, with Brock and Bond going at it alone. Bruce McPhee , Tony Roberts and Mick Brown also going solo. The other duo's were Don Holland/Brian Foley and Bob Jane/John Harvey. While for Ford it was Allan Moffat and John French who posted the two top times in practice with Brock the fastest of the Toranas back in fifth 7.4 sec behind Moffats pole time.
After lap one the fastest Torana was Bond back in 11th place who was to lose a lap after coming together with Kevin Bartletts GT- HO. Both Colin Bond and Peter Brock had turns leading class D but it was apparent that any outright challenge to the Pase 111s was out of the question. Moffat, Barnes/Skelton and McKay went on to take first, second and third outright, with Bond in fourth and Brock fifth. Although it was a disappointing result for Holden they did however gave a pretty good season. During 1971, the XU-1s were very successful in rallies, hillclimbs, rallycross events. With Bond and Brock winning the inaugural Manufacturers Championship for Holden beating the more fancied Falcons. Bond winning the 1971 Australian Rally Championship in the HDT XU-1 Torana.
1972
March - The XU-1was released on the same day as the rest of the LJ range, it didn't get much attention in the press, only to say that it was an addition to the GTR. It was basically a refinement of the LC based on the HQ from 1971, with similar front grille, separated headlights and three-piece tail-lights. On the inside it had a identical steering wheel as the HQ, ignition switch, steering locks and door astrays, restyled instrument panel, re-designed seats which offered more comfort.
The XU-1 incorporated a number of high performance changes, which increased its bhp to 190 at 5600rpm. It featured two functional spoilers, one under the nose for greater lift and direction of air to the breaks, the other on the rear boot lid compartment for downward thrust. The biggest revision was the installation of the 202 cubic inch (3310cc) six, which was stroked version of the previously used 186 engine. It also featured larger 175 CD-2S stromberg carburettors, a 10.3 :1 compression ratio and the close ratio M21 gearbox as standard equipment, which was a redesign of the three speed unit used on the HQ with fourth gear where reverse used to be and reverse now sitting in a separate housing at the rear of the box.
With the cancellation of the XU-2 project by Holden, Ford with its GTHO phase 4, Chrysler also scrapping its V8 Charger due to the 'Supercar' controversy, CAMS set about changing the touring car regulations for 1973 and dispensing with Series Production altogether, which meant that all three manufactures had to use a variant of what they had raced previously. The XU-1s recieved a number new bits which included heavy duty springs, warmer camshaft and a lightened flywheel, plus the Bathurst 308:1 diff , the XU-1 would now be pushing 140 mph (225 km/h) down Conrod Straight. The biggest asset to the XU-1was the addition of the Globe Sprintmaster wheels which proved to be the difference in the first round of the Manufactures Championship at Adelaide with the XU-1s finishing 1-2-3, with Colin Bond scoring the top spot, and Peter Brock in second just 18 sec behind. The third place XU-1 going to local Stewart McLeod.
However the results were reversed at Sandown with Ford finishing 1-2-3, (Goss, Gibson, Carter) after they too received their Globes (15 in Daytona star design intended for the Phase 1V), with Tony Niovanni's XU-1in fourth. The HDT XU-1s suffering blown engines due to a supplier problem.
BATHURST 1972
Apart from the three main contenders for the title, Holden, Ford and Chrysler, there would be another factor that would play a major role in the outcome of the race. The great equaliser- the rain, and lots of it making the race a lottery. The Falcons filled the first two rows, the first Torana being that of Peter Brock in fifth spot on the third row ahead of Leo Geogheghan's Charger. There was a number XU-1s driven by privateers including Don Holland Bob Forbes, Bruce McPhee and Bill Brown plus a couple of GTRs.
The rain enabled the Torana's and the Chargers to keep up with the Falcons with the lead changing several times during the course of the race when the leaders pitted with problems. The wet weather took its toll on cars, with Bond's Torana and Gibsons Falcon both rolling at the top of the hill in separate accidents. Moffats also spun out after some intense pressure by Peter Brock , who eventually took the lead. Moffat was also penalised one minute on two occasions for starting his car before refuelling was completed, he also suffered a puncture late in the race all but ended his chances of taking line honors.
Brock was also penalised for the same pit infringement as Moffat late in the race, but by that time the gap was too great and went on to win the race, and was the only driver to complete the full 130 laps in what was the first of many Bathurst wins for Peter Brock.
1973 - Touring Car Championship
The opening round of the Touring Car Championship saw the works Falcons of Allan Moffat take the win. While Peter Brock was establishing himself as HDT's leading driver coming in second ahead of John Goss who was in third in the XA hardtop and Bob Jane 's XU-1in fourth.
The second round was a touch controversial with Bob Jane entering his Camaro which he had been competing in the Improved Tourers. He beat Allan Moffat to the finish line only to find himself excluded for running a car which didn't comply with eligibility rules. (25 identically similar cars must have been imported into Oz to be eligible to race).
Brock was also involved in some controversy, with the onset of rain causing Brock and others to pit for a change of tyres. As he and the others were not on the grid when the one minute board went out, he was deemed a non- starter. The end result was Ford first and second (Moffat and Gibson) with Ian Geoghegans R/T Charger followed by the XU-1 of Graeme Blanchard.
By the time Sandown was around Allan Moffat looking odds on to take the championship. He won again, the best placed Torana was that of Bryan Thompson in fourth place. Brock and Moffat shared the front row, with the Falcon away first. They had some close dices until Brock ran out of petrol.
Halfway point in the championship, with Brock and Moffat sharing the front row, which Brock blew and allowed Moffat and several other cars to pass. It was a tough fight back by Brock to fight back to second and cling to Moffats rear bumper only to finish second to the Ford driver just 0.6 seconds behind
Brock finally got his win on a circuit normally dominated by Fords. With new selection of tyres by HDT boss Harry Firth helped put Brock on pole position. But again it was Moffat who got off the line first with Brock slipping back to sixth after some dicey moments trying to pass Geoghegan's Charger. He fought his way back to challenge Moffat for the lead which saw them swapping the lead no less than 12 times which thrilled the crowd, Moffat eventually slid off handing the lead to Brock who went on to win.
Brock continued his good form scoring another win in his XU-1, but the race was remembered for the excitement centered around Moffat who's car was stolen from the local dealership where it was kept overnight. Having set the pace with his car, he had to start from the back of the grid after Murray Carter kindly loaned his GTHO. Moffat finished in second place in a amazing drive from the back of the grid. Two other XU-1s of John Stoopman and Tony Niovanni also finishing in the points although both were well behind.
Moffat again lead the start and maintained the lead until the half way point in the race eventually losing the lead to Brock who went on to win ahead of Moffat. Bond making his only ATCC appearance for the year in third ahead of Gibson and the XU1s of Bob Morris, Lakis Manticas and Brian Thompson. Later Brock was later disqualified after post-race scrutineering revealed the XU-1 had oversize manifold castings. The incident ensured Allan Moffat and Ford of the Touring Championship even though the last round was still to be run.
The last race turned out to be a XU-1 feas, with Brock winning from Bob Morris XU-1by three seconds followed by Ian Geoghegans Charger, with Don Hollands XU-1 in fourth. The final Championship score read Allan Moffat with five wins and 80 points, Peter Brock with three wins and 57 points.
1973 Manufacturers Championship
The Championship got underway in the worst possible way for the XU-1s without the appropriate tyres being available allowing the Falcons to a 1-2-3 finish, Fred Gibsons new XA ahead of Kevin Bartlett in ex John Goss car followed by Allan Moffat. The only XU-1s to finish from the eleven starters was John Harvey in fifth place and Ray Thackwell seventh and Stuart McLeod in eight.
The Falcons looked to set to repeat feat in the Sandown 250 with Moffat and Gibson early leaders. But this time the situation was reversed with the Falcons coming to grief with Gibson suffering a puncture, Moffat with a blown engine and a third Ford works car driven by Ian Geoghegan losing a rear wheel.
This left the XU-1s of Brock and Bond in 1-2 finish and were the only two to complete 130 laps followed by three Falcons, with Niovanni and Morris and McRae next in XU-1s.
Bathurst 1000
Apart from the new rules, the Australian Racing Club announced that the Hardie Ferodo would be run 1000 Km or 163 laps of the Bathurts circuit. With XU-1 being developed by the HDT to the limit that the new rules allowed, it was no surprise to see Brock sharing the front grid with privateer Ford driver John Goss with a time of 2 min 33.4 sec, Brock one second slower with 2 min 34.5 sec.
The race was full of dramas and John Goss the clear leader after four hours of racing collided with Bruce Stuarts GTR which had rolled forcing Goss to pit for repairs but eventually retired with radiator damage. By the time Goss retired the Brock/Chivas XU-1 took over the lead with Bond in second and Moffat in third.
Then came more drama which would decide that Brock/Chivas XU-1would not be in contention for line honors. In an effort to get "Max Laps" and finish the race with only one more pit stop for fuel, but somebody miscalculated and the car ran out of fuel and the rest is history. Moffat went on to win the race with Brock in second after demon driving, with Bond in third after suffering a puncture late in the race ahead of the XU-1s of Jane and Johnson.
Although beaten at Bathurst the HDT XU-1s went on to win the Manufacturers Championship with wins in the last two rounds at Chesterfield 300 at Surface with a 1-2-3 finish, and Phillip Island was another XU-1 walkover with Brock and Bond leading a group of XU-1s which filled the first five positions.
1974
The first half of 1974 would be the last hurra for the XU-1 as GMH's main front line weapon as the new LH model SLR 5000 and the full race version, the L34 would take over from the XU-1.
But the XU-1 still had plenty of life in it and continued winning in 1974 and beyond that in some cases. There would be no more XU-1s built by GMH and its factory and HDT Racing concentrating on developing the SLR 5000 although the XU-1maintained its competitiveness by winning the South Pacific Series with Brock emerging at the top of the point scores with two wins and two seconds.
Brock also won at Oran Park ahead of the XU-1s of Scotty Taylor and Jim Hunter; at Surfers Brock beat Dick Johnson's XU-1 into second place; at Sandown Brock was second again sandwiched between the Falcons of Goss and Murray Carters Falcons; at Adelaide he was second again ahead of the XU-1s of John Stoopman and Rod McRae.
The other major non championship series was the SUN - 7 at Amaroo and Collin Bond once again emerged the victor from the four rounds and becoming the Amaroo expert with Bob Morris in a Ron Hodgson backed XU-1 his main opposition.
1974 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC)
Peter Brock won the 1974 ATCC using both the XU-1 and SLR 5000, although most of the work was done in the XU-1. He won at Symmons Plains by a lap Allan Moffat and a hored of XU-1s, he also won at Calder carrying the new colors of the new sponsor- the Marlboro Dealer Team. Brock won ahead of Bob Morris and the Falcons of Carter anfd Moffat.
Sandown saw the Falcons dominating with Moffat and Carter ahead of the XU-1s of Brock and Morris, Brock bounced back at Amaroo with a close win ahead of Morris, Bond, Holland, Hunter and Forbes all in XU-1s.
Moffat withdrew from competition on a winning note taking the win at Oran Park to head for the USA to do some testing on a Falcon he was planning to race at Bathurst. Brock finished second and virtually seal his first touring car championship despite mechanical problems. This race also saw Allan Grice debue the new SLR 5000, it ran near the front early in the race until braking problems eventually causing it to finish fourteenth.
Surfers Paradise saw Peter Brock making his first appearance in the SLR 5000, and putting it on pole, which he went on to win from start to finish cementing the championship with one more race to go. The XU-1s still showing they were a force, especially in the hands of Bob Morris finishing second, Dick Johnson in third, Graeme Adams and Bob Forbes in fifth and sixth all in XU-1s.
Brock did it again at Adelaide in the SLR 5000 from start to finish with Bob Morris second in the race and the championship in the XU-1 with Carters Falcon in third followed by three XU-1s of Niovanni , McRae and John Lewis.
1974 Australian Manufacturers Championship
By the start of the championship most leading Holden Teams switched to the newly homologated race version of the SLR 5000, the L34. An exception to this was Bob Morris who stuck with the XU-1 due to its reliability, the L34 already very quick but suffering engine failures. But the writing was on the wall for the XU-1.
Adelaide saw the best placed XU-1, that of Neil West finishing sixth; at Sandown Bob Morris/John Lefflers faith in the XU-1 enabled them to outlast all L34s to finish second behind Allan Moffat while other XU-1s finished fourth, fifth and sixth.
BATHURST
A wet Bathurst was dominated by V8s, which saw Goss/Bartlett Falcon take the chequered flag. The highest placed XU-1 was that of Bob Stevens/Graeme Adams in fourth, five of the eight XU-1s failed to finish among them Bob Morris /John Leffler.
The last two rounds of the championship saw the XU-1s finish on a high with Barry Nixon-Smith and Charlie Obrien finish second and third, while XU-1s filled fourth, fifth and sixth at Phillip Island mainly due to non appearance of the leading teams.
This was to be the last horra for the XU-1 apart from the few which did carry on in 1975 and were generally outclassed by the ever improving L34s and a few leading Falcons. One area which the XU-1s remained undisputed kings in 1974 was in rallying, with Bond taking his HDT car to his third national championship in four years and the Torana's fourth in a row. But from 1975 this too was coming to a slow end with XU-1s rarely in the front running at national level.
In a short three and a half year career, which had yielded one Bathurst win, one touring championship, four rally championships, three manufacturers championships and a number of individual races and rallies
neal
wizard in black
azal
love is the answer
RETIREDTrapped
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yeah, but america is ass.
It's all about "The Rice" these days, fucking japanese cars with turbos and neon lights, and boom boom boom soundsystems.
My car is over thirty years old, it LOOKS better than their fibreglass cars, it was a hell of alot less expensive. It's actually FASTER than their rice burners (care of my mods
), and hell, it's a goddamn torana, nothing is as cool as toranas.
It's all about "The Rice" these days, fucking japanese cars with turbos and neon lights, and boom boom boom soundsystems.
My car is over thirty years old, it LOOKS better than their fibreglass cars, it was a hell of alot less expensive. It's actually FASTER than their rice burners (care of my mods
), and hell, it's a goddamn torana, nothing is as cool as toranas.
neal
wizard in black
RETIREDTrapped
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they look nothing like a mustang, and that is a total insult.
A torana is a HOLDEN.
a mustang is a FORD.
FORD IS DEATH.
While america where producting cars that were three metres wide, eight metres long, weighing in at 9 tons and generally looking like shit, australia was producing toranas... think of it that way.
America is AIDS>
A torana is a HOLDEN.
a mustang is a FORD.
FORD IS DEATH.
While america where producting cars that were three metres wide, eight metres long, weighing in at 9 tons and generally looking like shit, australia was producing toranas... think of it that way.
America is AIDS>
azal
love is the answer
RETIREDTrapped
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azal
love is the answer
I just want this thread to get to the 3rd page so I don't have to scroll your huge and massively uninteresting car article anymore.
I really don't care what a Holden is but humor me anyway.
I really don't care what a Holden is but humor me anyway.
neal
wizard in black
mustang fastback isnt all that big. check the car from 'gone in 60 seconds' thats 129879 times nicer than a friggin torana.
-neal
-neal
RETIREDTrapped
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I can post it again, in every thread on the nevermore forum is you like?
okay, first of all, torana's were released THIRTY years ago.
And second of all, MY torana would absolutely slay it. I've got a turbo rb30 out of a skyline in it... mustangs are AIDS dude, and they aren't particularily fast.
Just because it's red, doesn't mean it's fast.
neal
wizard in black
well its a 69 mustang in the movie. that would make it 30 years old as well. i think new cars are ugly anyway.
-neal
-neal
neal
wizard in black
im just saying that your torana doesnt look like a high performance sports car. more like a typical 70s 'economy' styled car.
-neal
-neal
PlatypusJesus
A Dead Sun Serenity
On the Holden thing, we just call it GM. General Motors. And GM is shit. Not the shit, but shit. Anyway I don't care how fast the car is, how fuel efficient is it?
neal
wizard in black
RETIREDTrapped
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Fair enough, i tend to disagree tho.
There's different model's of torana too dude, i prefer the original looking ones without the useless scoops and spoilers etc... but if you want sports, then This is THE sports car of the 70's:
Now, another thing. Torana's don't do "Miles per gallon", they do "Kilometres per gallon", and in fact, if i'm not mistaken, it's measured in Litres now. But you're all americans, stuck in the 1940s, so you wouldn't understand that
The funny thing is, i actually own a torana, i'd BET my torana on the fact that none of you will own a mustang.
They are fucking expensive as AIDS, and totall worthless.
bow before the torana!:
PlatypusJesus
A Dead Sun Serenity
I don't want a mustang or a torana. I'm happy with my small single cab 97' ford ranger. It gets the job done and takes me to and from school, so I am happy.
I love every single album emperor has produced. I listen to John Fahey and old blues/jazz stuff as well. I never once implied that music has to conform to a specific genre for me to like it. Apparently my opinion just dosent meet everyone's standards here.
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