Bob Kramer wrote:
> What's a Torana?
A Torana was a car built by General-Motors Holden (GMH is an Australian
subsidiary of the General) in the early 70s through late 70s (?). It was
originally based on the Brit Vauxall, and in the guise of the Torana XU-1
with the Aussie designed 186/202 cubic inch straight six and triple
1.75" Strombergs (yeah, some poor fool on the design team must have thought
Volvos were cool), homologated and was raced with considerable success
against the Ford Falcon GTHO and Chrysler Charger E38/E49. When it became
clear by 1974 that the only way to beat Ford with its Aussie-built version of
the 351 Cleveland, they dropped a locally designed 308 V8 into an all-Aussie
designed Torana, called it the SLR5000 (or A9/X in hatchback form) and produced
a fine little firebreather. Remember, the Torana was not much larger
than a Ford Capri, and weighed far less because of lack of safety and
emissions regulations.....
All in all, while the Brit Vauxall may have not have been terribly exciting,
the Torana from the country that gave us Mad Max proved itself very well in
early-mid 1970s production car racing and rallying. There is a comprehensive
website on this mighty little car at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4452/
Shane Ingate in San Diego
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