Holden Torana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Holden Torana
Manufacturer	Holden
Successor	Holden Camira
Class	compact car

The Holden Torana was a car produced by General Motors Holden (GMH), the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'to fly'. It had its origins in the British Vauxhall Vivas of the mid 1960s. The first Torana (HB) appeared in Australia in 1967 and the final model was phased out by 1980.

Contents 1 HB Torana 2 GTR-X Torana Coupe 3 LC–LJ–TA Torana 3.1 LC Torana 3.2 LJ Torana 3.3 TA Torana 4 LH–UC Torana 4.1 LH Torana 4.2 LX Torana 4.3 UC Torana 5 Torana TT36 6 External links

[edit] HB Torana

HB
Production	1967–1969
Engine	1.1 L I4

The first Torana model was a facelifted Vauxhall Viva and featured a two-door body, 12 inch (305 mm) wheels and a lethargic 1.1 litre four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed gearbox.

In 1968, the '69 Torana' was released, sometimes called the HB Series II. The model line up included a 4-door Sedan. The 4 door variant was developed in Australia.

A 'sports' model was also released, called the 'Brabham' Torana, named in honour of the well-respected Australian race-car driver, Sir Jack Brabham. The irony of this car was that it was fitted with a standard motor, denying the car of its sporting pretensions.

[edit] GTR-X Torana Coupe

GTR-X
Production	Initially 1970 (2 built but never released)
Engine	186  in³ I6

The Torana GTR-X was Designed during the LC development, and was going to be released alongside the new LJ models, the GTR-X has a wedge-shaped body with XU-1 components under the fibreglass body. It was planed to use the Holden's 186S engine, fit it with triple SU carburettors, and denote it the "186X", but it was believed that the LJ Torana XU-1 202ci six, with the M21 four speed transmission would be a better production version.
The 186X would be used in the LC XU-1 models until the dawn of the 202ci six The GTR-X looks a lot like the Mazda RX-7, the instrumentation in this car included speedo, tacho, electric clock, ammeter, as well as oil pressure, fuel, water temperature and engine vacuum, all mounted in a aluminium dashboard. it weighs in at 1043kg and has a top speed of 210 km/h. The GTR-X would have been the first Holden fitted with four wheel disc brakes.

When GMH Released a promotion about The GTR-X they said "it is aerodynamically designed. Its long, sleek hood is accentuated by a low wedge-shaped grille. The body line sweeps up at the rear to an elevated tail light assembly. Simplicity is the keynote. It is achieved by concealed headlights, sharp windshield rake, recessed parking and turning lights, and flush petrol filler access and door handles. Front and rear bumpers assume the contour of the body. To identify the car the GTR-X identification is contained within a crisp black and orange stripe running parallel to the rocker panel".

The Torana GTR-X was never developed by Holden as a concept, even thought brochures, photography and promotional films where produced to show how serious they were to put the car into production, however they were unable to justify the high cost of putting the GTR-X into development given the size of the population in those days.

[edit] LC–LJ–TA Torana

[edit] LC Torana

LC
Production	1969–1972
Engine	1.2, 1.6 L I4 130 export motor,138, 161, 186 in³ I6

The next generation of Toranas (LC) appeared in 1969 and were available with either a four or six cylinder engine. The inline six had a capacity of 138 in³ (2250 cc). The six-cylinder cars had a slightly longer nose to accommodate the larger engine, and offered a choice of three and four-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed Trimatic automatic transmission. The Torana was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1969.

Body styles were either two or four doors, and were offered in S or SL trim. Bench or bucket front seats were also an option, along with disc front brakes. A more-powerful 161 in³ (2600 cc) engine was made available soon after the model's release in the more upmarket SL and sporting two-door GTR. In 1970 the first genuine performance Torana, the GTR XU-1, was released for an assault on the Bathurst 500 motor race. It added a 186 in³ (3 litre) six cylinder engine fitted with three Zenith Stromberg CD-150 carburettors, cast iron headers, a performance cylinder head and camshaft and an Opel four-speed gearbox. This car featured a rear spoiler, guard flutes, wider steel rims, full instrumentation and front disc brakes as standard.

At this time GMH also experimented with a true sports car, the GTR-X, which featured the 186 engine and numerous components borrowed from the Torana, but in a low-slung two-door fibreglass body. Only a couple of examples were produced for evaluation, and the project was subsequently shelved.

[edit] LJ Torana

LJ
Production	1972–1974
Engine	1.2, 1.3, 1.6 L I4 138, 173, 202 in³ I6

In 1972, the LJ Torana was introduced to bring the Torana range into line with the larger HQ Holden series. Many components were shared, and essentially this model was a facelifted LC, with the major changes limited to the choice of engines. While the base level 2250 remained, the 2600 was replaced by a 2850 cc (the base engine in the larger HQ Holden sedan) and an optional 3300 cc engine. Gearbox choices remained the same across the range. The 3300 engine was also fitted to the LJ XU-1 Torana, again with three carburettors and a new close ratio 4-speed Australian made transmission.

The LC and LJ Toranas were also sold in New Zealand, but only in 6-cylinder form, likely due to the Vauxhall Viva being sold there too.

[edit] TA Torana

TA
Production	1974–1975
Engine	1.2, 1.8 L I4

In 1974 the LJ was replaced by the larger LH Torana (Ford Cortina sized) series. To fill in time before the March 1975 release of the Holden Gemini T-Car, the short wheelbase 4-cylinder (1.2L, 1.8L) LJ models were facelifted into the stopgap Torana TA. This car was sold, in both two and four door forms, alongside the larger LH Torana until the Gemini was announced.

[edit] LH–UC Torana

[edit] LH Torana

LH
Production	1974–1976
Engine	1.9 L I4 2.85, 3.3 L I6 4.2, 5.0 L V8

Early 1974 saw the first completely new Torana body with the arrival of the larger LH, which deleted the two-door option. Despite the larger external size, the car was relatively cramped by mid-1970s standards. It resembled other GM products of its generation, notably the Opel Ascona.

Trim levels were S and SL for the sedan, available in virtually all configurations: 1.9 (from Opel), 2.85, 3.3, and 4.2 litre engines. The SL/R was available with the 3.3 litre six cylinder engine with an optional 4.2 litre V8 or the 5.0 litre V8 also called the SL/R 5000. A further option for the SL/R 5000 was the L34, only 263 built, with a unique engine and other improvements to improve durability in competition use. This model raced in Australian touring car racing until superseded by the A9X option. A wagon Torana was considered, and while there was a prototype built, it never reached production.

[edit] LX Torana

LX
Production	1976–1978
Engine	1.9 L I4 2.85, 3.3 L I6 4.2, 5.0 L V8

The facelifted LX arrived in 1976, primarily to embody engine modifications to meet recently-introduced emission regulations. Engines were again offered in four, six and eight-cylinder configurations, and a two-door body re-appeared as the Hatchback—in modern terms a liftback with a sloping rear end—in SL (3.3 litre six) or SS trim (all options: 3.3, 4.2 and 5.0). The 1,892 cc Opel unit was not offered on the Torana hatchbacks, though it was made available with the Holden Sunbird, which was spun off from the main Torana range as the four-cylinder variant in 1976. From this point, Holden could no longer claim that the Torana was the only car in Australia with the choice of a four-, six- or eight-cylinder engine.

The first attempt by Holden to add a handling package to its family sedans saw the introduction of radial-tuned suspension to the LX range.

For 1976, the LX Torana Plus 4 sedan was offered. This had body-coloured bumpers and black decals. While it had sporting pretensions, it was powered by the four-cylinder unit.

The LH and LX series also saw the development of limited-number high-performance vehicles aimed at the annual Bathurst 1000 race. These included the L34 four-door (from September 1974 through the 1975 model year) and A9X hatchback and Sedan (1977) Toranas that featured high-performance 5 litre V8s, special gearboxes (A9X option only), suspension modifications, rear disc brakes (A9X only), heavy duty differential assembly (A9X only) and larger diameter wheels.

Peter Brock & Brian Sampson won the Bathurst 1000 in 1975 in an LH L34; Bob Morris & John Fitzpatrick won in 1976 in an LH L34; Peter Brock & Jim Richards won in both 1978 and 1979 in an LX A9X.

[edit] UC Torana

UC
Production	1978–1980
Engine	2.85, 3.3 L I6

The introduction of the UC Torana in 1978 saw the demise of the V8 engines. The greatly rationalised choices were now the 2.85 litre six for the S and SL sedans, or the 3.3 litre inline six for the SL sedan and hatch (automatic only).

There were at one point design ideas of a five-door hatchback version of the UC, which had a similar side profile to the Rover SD1 and rode an extended wheelbase, although they never got past the clay modelling stage.

There was also a UC SL/T hatch turbo model built. Only three cars were made, they were basically a 3.3 litre engine and four-speed manual with a small NGM Turbocharger and SU carburettor fitted.

But by now the Torana was too similar in size to the more modern Holden Commodore, and it was soon dropped from the Holden range in 1979. Sunbirds continued through 1980 with the 1.9 litre Starfire (based on the 2.85 litre six) replacing the Opel unit.

For a while at least, there was talk of further extending the Torana/Sunbird's production life beyond 1980, with a facelifted 'UD' model, of which prototype models of the sedan and hatchback were actually built - featuring frontal styling similar to the Opel Ascona B. However, due to the car itself being outdated when compared to the Japanese opposition (notably the Chrysler Sigma and Mazda 626), and that Holden themselves were to release a Commodore 4-cylinder, its production never eventuated.

It was replaced by the 1982 Camira, Holden's version of GM's front wheel drive 'J-Car' world car, though for two years, the Commodore Four with the 1.9v Starfire unit occupied this segment.

[edit] Torana TT36

In 2004, Holden released a sporty five-door concept car called the Torana TT36 (TT = Twin Turbo; 36 = 3.6 litre V6). The model was said to début a new platform for General Motors and previews the look of the 2006 VE Commodore. In terms of size, it was marginally bigger than the BMW 3 Series on the outside, though considerably roomier inside with BMW 5 Series rivalling interior space.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] External links

• Holden Torana info page
• Holden Torana GTR XU-1
• Holden History Site
• NSW Torana Club Website - Includes Torana History & Specifications
• article about the TT36 concept car