Holden Torana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Holden Torana | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Holden |
| Parent company | General Motors |
| Production | 1967–1979 |
| Successor | Holden Camira |
| Class | Compact car |
The Holden Torana was a car produced by General Motors - Holden (GM-H), 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 series) appeared in Australia in 1967 and the final model (UC series) was phased out by 1980.
Contents |
[edit] First generation
[edit] HB Torana
| HB | |
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| Production | 1967–1969 |
| Body style(s) | FR coupé |
| Engine(s) | 1.2 L I4 |
Introduced in May 1967 to replace the HA series Vauxhall Viva in the Australian market, the first Torana model was a facelifted HB series Vauxhall Viva (pictured here, to the right). It featured a two-door body, 12 inch (305 mm) wheels and a 56 bhp 1.2 litre four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed gearbox. A Borg-Warner Model 35 three speed automatic transmission was optional. Drum brakes were fitted front and rear, with power assisted front disc brakes optional.
In early 1968 a "Series 70" engine option was added. This engine had a higher compression ratio, a higher lift camshaft, and a single CD Stromberg carburettor, which boosted output to 69 bhp (51 kW/70 PS). Power assisted front disc brakes were standard when this engine was used, and the automatic transmission option was now no longer available with the standard 56 bhp (42 kW/57 PS) engine. A 'sports' model was also released at the same time called the 'Brabham' Torana, named in honour of the well-respected Australian race-car driver, Sir Jack Brabham. The Brabham Torana's engine was based on the Series 70, but twin CD Stromberg carburettors with sports air cleaners were fitted. Together with the low restriction exhaust system, this boosted the power to 79 bhp (59 kW/80 PS). The Brabham also included wider wheel rims and red-wall tyres, power assisted front disc brakes as standard, different badging and black body accents. Automatic transmission was not available on this model.
In September 1968, the '69 Torana' was released, sometimes called the HB Series II. This featured locally made body panels, replacing the imported bodies of the original HB. The model line up now included a 4 door sedan which was developed in Australia. A collapsable steering column was now fitted, together with a new recessed instrument cluster, new indicator switch, and new steering wheel borrowed from the contemporary full-sized Holden. These local components replaced the previously imported Vauxhall items. A consequence of using these local components was the loss of the stalk operated headlight dip switch and horn. The dip switch ended up on the floor, as was the case for full-size Holdens. Dual circuit brakes were now standard on all models, though power assisted front disc brakes were still optional with the standard 56 bhp (42 kW/57 PS) engine. The Brabham Torana was still available, in two door form only. It now included a sports steering wheel similar to the contemporary Holden Monaro GTS, full instrumentation, different badging, and different black accenting. The HB Torana continued until late 1969. Total production was 16,318 with imported panels and 20,243 with the locally manufactured bodies.
[edit] Second generation
[edit] LC Torana
| LC | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1969–1972 |
| Engine(s) | 1.2, 1.6 L I4 130 export motor,138, 161, 173, 186 in³ I6 |
The next generation of Toranas (LC) appeared in October 1969 and were available with either a four or six cylinder engine. The inline six had a capacity of 138 in³ (badged as the '2250'). 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 all new and available in 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 engine (badged as the '2600') was made available soon after the model's release in the more upmarket SL and in the two-door sports model, the GTR, as a 2600S with a two-barrel Stromberg WW carburettor. Later in production, the 161ci engine was replaced with a larger 173ci version (badged as the '2850') which also made it into the last of the LC GTR cars in two-barrel form.
In 1970 the first genuine performance Torana, the GTR XU-1, was developed by Holden along with Harry Firth of the Holden Dealer Team for competition in popular Series Production racing series in Australia as well as in off-road rallying. However, the main purpose of the Torana GTR XU-1 was to keep Holden competitive against the big and powerful Ford Falcon GT-HO V8s in the Hardie-Ferodo 500 (Bathurst) endurance race that is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Australian motorsport.
The LC Torana GTR XU-1 was equipped with a 160 brake horsepower 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 manual gearbox. This car featured a rear spoiler, guard flutes, wider steel rims, full instrumentation and front disc brakes as standard. The Torana GTR XU-1 proved to be a 'pocket rocket' both on the road and track, as this lightweight, high-performance sports coupe' had an excellent power/weight ratio. It soon gained huge popularity in Australia, being an ideal race car in all forms of motor sport, especially Series Production touring car racing and rallying. It successfully replaced the V8 Monaro GTS 350 as Holden's frontline track race car in 1970, winning many touring car and rally events, but for the famed Bathurst 500 mile race which Ford won in 1970 and 1971 with its XW Phase Two and XY Phase Three Falcon GT-HOs respectively.
[edit] LJ Torana
| LJ | |
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| Production | 1972–1974 |
| Engine(s) | 1.2, 1.3, 1.6 L I4 138, 173, 202 in³ I6 |
In February 1972, the LJ Torana was introduced to bring the six-cylinder Torana range into visual association with the larger HQ Holden series. Many mechanical components were shared, and essentially this model was a facelifted LC, with the major changes limited to the choice of engines. Whilst the 2250 and 2850 engines carried over, the 3300 engine (known as the 202 in the HQ range) was adopted as the engine for the latest LJ Torana GTR sedan. Gearbox choices remained the same across the range.
A race-bred version of the 3300 engine was also fitted to the LJ Torana GTR XU-1, producing well over 200 brake horsepower. By now equipping the XU-1 with the 202ci engine and larger 1.75in CD triple carburettors, as well as a new close ratio M21 4-speed Australian made transmission, this gave the nimble XU-1 the power boost it needed to seriously challenge the powerful Phase Three Ford XY Falcon GT-HO, which had won the previous 1971 Hardie-Ferodo 500 production car endurance race held annually at Bathurst.
In the somewhat wet 1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500, the lightweight HDT Torana GTR XU-1 was able to finally claim victory against the heavyweight GT-HO, driven solo for 500 miles at the hands of Peter Brock. This would be the start of the 'Peter Perfect'/Torana legend, and the first of five Bathurst wins for the Torana in its colourful ten year racing career at Bathurst.
Holden also developed a 308ci V8-powered version of the GTR XU-1, often referred to as the GTR XU-2, but the car never made it past the prototype stage. This was due to the 'Supercar Scare' of 1972, which involved vast political pressure being placed upon Holden, Ford and Chrysler to abandon their proposed specially-built 'Bathurst Supercars', such as the XU-2. This was the result of a media frenzy that was reporting against these soon-to-be released "bullets on wheels" available to the general public. In effect, all three manufacturers bowed to this pressure, and Holden would postpone its introduction of a V8 Torana for two years until the release of the slightly larger LH series Torana in 1974.
A total of 81,813 LJ Toranas were built by Holden in Australia, with some exported to New Zealand, but only in 6-cylinder form, likely due to the similar 4-cylinder Vauxhall Viva being sold there as well.
[edit] TA Torana
| TA | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1974–1975 |
| Body style(s) | FR coupé FR sedan |
| Engine(s) | 1.2, 1.8 L I4 |
In 1974 the six-cylinder LJ Torana was replaced by the new body six and eight cylinder LH Torana (Ford Cortina sized) series. To fill in time before the March 1975 release of the four cylinder Holden Gemini GM world T-car, the short wheelbase 4-cylinder (1.2L, 1.8L) LJ models were given a basic facelift incorporating a body colour plastic moulded front grille assembly and revamped rear light lenses. This car was released in February 1974, in both two and four door forms on the Australian market only, as the TA Torana.
[edit] Third generation
[edit] LH Torana
| LH | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1974–1976 |
| Body style(s) | FR sedan |
| Engine(s) | 1.9 L I4 2.85, 3.3 L I6 4.2, 5.0 L V8 |
March 1974 saw the first completely new Torana body with the arrival of the larger LH series, produced in four door sedan style only. 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. It was unique in that, following the addition of a 4 cylinder option in May 1974, the same body style was available with a choice of inline 4, inline 6, or vee 8 engines ... specifically, 1.9 litre Opel four, 2.85 and 3.3 litre Holden sixes, and 4.2 and 5.0 litre Holden V8s.
The 5.0 litre engine was reserved for the sporting LH Torana SL/R 5000 sedan. A special build derivative of the SL/R 5000 was the Bathurst-intended 'L34 Option', of which only 263 were built, incorporating a unique engine block and other improvements for durability in competition use. The most notable external feature of the L34 was the bolt-on wheel arch extensions, designed to accommodate larger racing rims and tyres.
The L34 proved to be fast and successful, yet fragile, in Australian touring car racing. It was eventually superseded by the evolutionary A9X option made available in the LX Torana series in 1977. The LH Torana in L34 form won the famed Bathurst 1000 touring car race with Peter Brock & Brian Sampson in 1975 and with Bob Morris & John Fitzpatrick in 1976.
A wagon body of the LH Torana was experimented with in prototype form, but it never reached production. Overall, a total of 70,184 LH Torana's were built.
[edit] LX Torana
| LX | |
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| Production | 1976–1978 |
| Body style(s) | FR hatchback FR sedan |
| Engine(s) | 1.9 L I4 2.85, 3.3 L I6 4.2, 5.0 L V8 |
The mildly facelifted LX series arrived February 1976, and was shortly thereafter subjected to adverse engine modifications in order to comply with new mid-year emission regulations (ADR 27A).
Engines were again offered in four, six and eight-cylinder configurations, and a two-door hatchback body was introduced as an alternative to the four-door sedan. The 1,897 cc Opel unit was not offered in the Torana hatchbacks. In November 1976 the Torana 1900 was relaunched as the Holden Sunbird. [1] The introduction of Sunbird also co-incided with the first attempt by Holden to add a handling package to its range of cars. The introduction of 'radial-tuned suspension' (aka RTS) began with the LX Sunbird sedan and hatchback and then the LX Torana.
During 1977, the LX series also saw the development of another limited build high-performance option aimed at winning the annual Bathurst touring car race. This was the 'A9X Option' that became available on the four door SL/R 5000 and two-door SS hatchback in 5.0 litre V8 form. The A9X cars visually resembled the 'L34 Option' of the LH series, but with the addition of a rear-ward facing bonnet scoop that was specially designed to force air into the engine to produce maximum power in racing conditions. The A9X package varied from the old L34 in road form in that whilst the engine was not modified, the A9X nevertheless had some special mechanical features such as rear disc brakes, heavy duty axles and a heavy duty '10 bolt' differential.
After being rushed into racing service, the untried Torana A9X ultimately lost its debut Bathurst race in 1977 to the Ford Falcons of Allan Moffat and Colin Bond. However, the A9X package was soon refined and proved unbeatable during the following two seasons of touring car racing in Australia, claiming both the 1978 and 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship titles and the Bathurst 1000 km races of both years.
Overall a total of 65,977 LX Toranas were produced by Holden.
[edit] UC Torana
| UC | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1978–1980 |
| Body style(s) | FR hatchback FR sedan |
| Engine(s) | 2.85, 3.3 L I6 |
The introduction of the UC Torana in March 1978 saw the demise of V8 power and the cessation of the sporting SL/R variant in the Torana range of cars. The UC series featured a significantly modernised frontal appearance and a completely new interior dash layout. Torana was now rationalised to a choice of two equipment levels and two six-cylinder engines, the 2.85 litre and the 3.3 litre. A 'Deluxe Pack' was an option that allowed the UC Torana SL to compete with Ford's TE Cortina Ghia ... this comprised laminated windscreen, tinted side and rear windows, intermittent wipers, radio/cassette player, cloth trim, sports instrumentation and bumper overriders.
The Holden Sunbird was also updated to UC specifications and continued to sell well as a 1.9 litre four-cylinder car, sharing its body architecture with the UC Torana sedan and hatchback.
There was at one point design consideration of a five-door hatchback version of the UC Torana, which had a similar side profile to the Rover SD1 and rode an extended wheelbase. The idea never got past the clay modelling stage, probably in most part due to the impending introduction of the GM V-Car, the Commodore.
After release of the VB Commodore in November 1978, it soon became clear to GM-H that the Torana was too similar in size when compared to the more modern Holden Commodore. As a result, the UC Torana was soon dropped from the Holden range in 1979. The UC Sunbird continued through 1980 with a new locally manufactured 1.9 litre 'Starfire' engine (based on the 2.85 litre six) replacing the imported 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 new Japanese opposition (notably the Chrysler Sigma, Datsun Bluebird and Mazda 626), Holden decided on an easier route by simply introducing the 'Starfire' engine into the VC-series of Commodore sedans and wagons.
Ultimately, the title of four-cylinder mid-size Holden was taken over in 1982 by the Camira, Holden's version of GM's front wheel drive 'J-Car'. However, for another two years, the 'Starfire' engine did remain available into the run of the VH-series Holden Commodore.
[edit] Torana concept cars
[edit] Torana GTR-X
| GTR-X | |
|---|---|
| Production | Initially 1970 (2 built but never released) |
| Body style(s) | FR coupé |
| Engine(s) | 186 in³ I6 |
The Torana GTR-X was designed during the era of the LC series, and was seriously considered for production in the early 1970s. The GTR-X had a wedge-shaped fibreglass body featuring a hatchback rear access, and the prototype cars had LC Torana GTR XU-1 mechanical components.
The GTR-X looks similar to iconic sports cars of the 1970s, such as the Ferrari 308 GT4, Lotus Esprit and the Mazda RX-7. It weighed in at 1,043 kg (2,299 lb) and has a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). The Torana GTR-X in production would have been the first Holden car to be factory fitted with four wheel disc brakes.
When GM-H released a promotional brochure about the GTR-X, they said ... "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 highly developed by Holden from concept, and even though brochures, photography and promotional films were produced to show how serious they were in putting the car into production, the company was ultimately unable to justify the high cost of committing itself to production given the size of the Australian population in those days.
One of the prototype GTR-X cars has been recently restored back to its original white paint finish and remains on public display at the Salmon Street offices of Holden in Melbourne, Victoria.
[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 rivaling interior space.[citation needed] It received mixed reviews through out the Automotive Community, with some seasoned Torana enthusiasts disliking the colour and the fact it did not have the 'old school' tough Torana look reminiscent of the 1970's.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, 2002, Page 288
[edit] External links
- Holden Torana .com
- Holden Torana GTR XU-1
- NSW Torana Club Website - Includes Torana History & Specifications
- LH / LX / UC TORANA SPECIFICATIONS WEBSITE- Includes Torana VIN Checker
- Torana TT36 concept car
- Holden Toranas, specs and pics
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