The Holden Torana was a mid-size car manufactured by Holden from 1967 to 1980. Its name apparently comes from a word meaning “to fly” in an unconfirmed Aboriginal Australian language, and the car grew from a four-cylinder compact based on the Vauxhall Viva into a six- and eight-cylinder performance range.
Holden Torana at a glance
| Maker | Holden, Australia |
|---|---|
| Production | 1967–1980 |
| First model | HB, May 1967 |
| HB basis | Vauxhall Viva HB of 1966–1970 |
| HB body | two-door, 12-inch wheels |
| HB engine | 1.2-litre four, 56 bhp |
| Six-cylinder series | LC and LJ, 1969–1973 |
| V8 series | LH and LX, 1974–1977 |
| Racing model | LC Torana GTR XU-1, 1970 |
| Four-cylinder successor | Holden Sunbird, from November 1976 |
| Discontinued | 1979, with the Sunbird following in 1980 |
History of the Holden Torana
HB: a Vauxhall with Holden badges
Introduced in May 1967 to replace the HA series Vauxhall Viva in Australia, the first Torana was a mildly facelifted HB Vauxhall Viva. It had a two-door body, 12-inch wheels and a 56 bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine with a four-speed gearbox; a Borg-Warner Model 35 three-speed automatic was optional. Drum brakes were fitted front and rear, with power-assisted front discs optional. Visually the Viva and Torana differed only in the grille, headlamps, rear tail panel, wheel trims and badging. The HB sedan came as Torana, Torana S and Torana SL, mirroring the Standard, Special and Premier line-up of the larger HR Holden.
A sports option package arrived in October 1967 called the Brabham Torana, named for the Australian racing driver Sir Jack Brabham. Twin Zenith-Stromberg carburettors and a low-restriction exhaust raised power to 79 bhp, and the package added wider rims with red-wall tyres, power-assisted front disc brakes, black body accents and Brabham badges. In early 1968 a Series 70 engine option with higher compression and a higher-lift camshaft raised output to 69 bhp.
In September 1968 came the ‘69 Torana’, also called the HB Series II, with locally made body panels replacing imported ones and a four-door sedan added to the range. It gained a collapsible steering column, a recessed instrument cluster, a steering wheel from the HK Holden, dual-circuit brakes and the Brabham model as a separate XS5 option package with a sports steering wheel and a full instrument set.
LC, LJ and the XU-1
The LC series appeared in October 1969 with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines. The inline six had 138 cubic inches, badged as the 2250, with an optional 161 cubic inch 2600, and six-cylinder cars had a longer 100-inch wheelbase. Changing tack in Australian motorsport, Holden released the LC Torana GTR XU-1 in 1970 with a performance-enhanced drivetrain and handling. From then until the arrival of the Commodore the Torana was Holden’s most successful sports and performance car, with many victories in rallying and circuit racing.
LH, LX and the end
The LH and LX series of 1974 to 1977 added eight-cylinder versions, while four-cylinder Toranas continued throughout the model’s life, later ones being sold as the Holden Sunbird from November 1976. In South Korea the LJ was built locally as the Chevrolet 1700 from 1972 to 1976 and the Saehan Camina from 1976 to 1978. The UC Torana and Sunbird twins arrived before the VB Commodore of 1978 without sports versions or V8 engines, and the Torana was discontinued in 1979, followed by the four-cylinder Sunbird in 1980.
Design and features
- Viva origins: the HB was a facelifted British Vauxhall Viva.
- Brabham option: a 79 bhp sports package named after Sir Jack Brabham.
- Six-cylinder cars: the LC and LJ offered 138 and 161 cubic inch sixes on a longer wheelbase.
- GTR XU-1: the 1970 racing model that made the Torana a motorsport name.
- V8 era: the LH and LX added eight-cylinder engines in 1974.
Holden Torana versions
- HB (1967–1969): Torana, Torana S and Torana SL, plus the Brabham option and model.
- HB Series II (1968–1969): locally built panels and a four-door sedan.
- LC (1969–1973): four- and six-cylinder cars, GTR XU-1 from 1970.
- LJ (1972–1973): the second six-cylinder series, built in Korea as the Chevrolet 1700.
- LH and LX (1974–1977): V8 engines join the range.
- UC (1978–1979): the final series, without sports models or V8s.
The Torana was replaced in the range by the Holden Commodore and its racing role later passed to the Holden Monaro. More cars are in the Holden collection.
Sources
- Holden Torana, English Wikipedia: series, engines, racing, end of production
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