SL/R 8000 "LITRE-8" Torana - Street Machine Magazine 40th Anniversary

As Street Machine celebrates is 40th year in publication we're taking a look back at a couple of the iconic cars that featured over the years. Here's Howard Bell's awesome SL/R 8000 Torana.
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[@mikenolan3060]

I remember this car as a younger fella still looking mint

[@timburary]

Me too mate, I still dream about this car

[@bbkingwasthegreatest711]

Remember this too, not a car you forget, great to see it is still around, have to admit I thought they guy was some sort of drug dealer or something to be able to afford what he did at the time.

[@Steve-ul8qb]

Yeah na, yeah na, yeah na,

[@dansheard230]

me too mate. loved it then... still wild

[@MrWeareone777]

Same. I drew this car on every class room table back in the early 80's. This and the XU-1 👍

[@jeepnutscotty]

When i was a teen all my mates had a Countach poster on their bedroom wall, i had a poster of LITRE-8

[@markhills3922]

I had both the Countach ( US black and white cop car with woman officer) and LITRE-8. Great to see the car still alive!

[@hyster16t]

@@markhills3922 my mate had the cop car poster too👌

[@pauledwards9416]

You need the countach poster

[@MafiaboysWorld]

When I saw this beast for the first time I was a teenager and fell in LOVE! Great to see it still alive in 2021. 🥳👍

[@nickcOfficial]

You sir are a ledgend! I remember having a poster of this car in my room as a young lad as I’ve always had a love for Torana’s. Owning one my self now it’s amazing still seeing this car around

[@HhhwwwAjababskaj]

Still remember the first time I saw this in the magazine. Jaw dropping

[@penelopebrown6764]

Great to see Mr Bell still owning this fine piece of Australian motoring history

[@FantsyPants]

Being the original owner is a rarity in itself, great job on such a classic.

[@themelbournecarscene3397]

Way ahead of its time, even back then.. Perfectly built. A real, genuine enthusiast. Kudos to you

[@k9-unit-australia275]

I haven’t seen this beast in years. I used to drool over this car when I was a teenager. Im still drooling now. Lol

[@macksmith6084]

i remember seeing this car at the 92 summernats still got photos of it. What a BeAsT

[@adow77]

Nice to see that it goes round corners too!

[@rozzag73]

WOW!!!!!! What a blast from the past.

[@NickTaylorRickPowers]

I could listen to this guy all day

[@Iainkellyis]

What an absolute legend, and what a car! Mega props to Howard, and to SM for embracing their history

[@dattoman]

What can I say... Mr Hollywood. I remember the first time (think it was the first time) I saw the car in the flesh when Tiny and I came out to your place in Kellyville. That would have to be nearly 20 yrs ago. I expected to meet the ultimate bogan ... but was surprised. Your a top bloke Howard,... and the cars not too bad either. Still looks the goods.

[@TheMasterMoto]

What a legend of a bloke and beast. This is a great story of Pride and Joy

[@tomforrest1076]

Ha, this was the first hero car I remember from my youth. So glad to hear it's still with its creator and is as good as it was 40 years ago. One day I may even see it in person.

[@adrianrichardson233]

Wow, it’s great to see the old girl thriving still, I’m also in the old poster club, and remember looking at Litre8 for hours. I’ve now got some Toranas too! Still love your car Howard!, what a great story!

[@adssmedo7376]

she was a pin up girl when i was a young fella ,,,great to see it still around

[@paulstanford3063]

This car inspired me as a teen and is still in my top ten iconic builds . Great to see .

[@SYNiCST4]

Another fine issue I had as a young teenager. A credit to the owners for their passion 30 years on! Love to see more 'where are they now' videos from our world class Street Machine history.

[@jman4652]

I remember buying this MAG with this car on it back in the day. And a sandman panelvan with the best airbrushing artwork ever, a few months later.

[@blairread4414]

Still got street Machine magazine with this legendary torana 👍

[@JamieBroughton70]

I remember seeing this on a trailer in Albury parked at pizza hut still got the pix.great memories amazing car way ahead of its time back then.

[@dons1932]

What a character. Eccentric guy, makes perfect sense he'd build that car that way. Blast from the past!

[@glentight]

Glad to see this car still going. A Blast from the past this one, a little reconnection with my youth.

[@dgc474]

I had this car on my clip folder for school I cut pictures from your mag and contact over them Such great memories If the car was registered back in the day it might not be here now

[@RT038]

What a weapon I remember my hk monaro it used to go through the fuel, Its true driving a old muscle car makes you young again. Nice car love it 😊👍

[@victorbitter583]

Nice one. There was a bloke from Eden in the mid '80s who had a SLR8000. His name was Mick Harris. He;s dead now. He used to drive it to Vic and do burnout out the front of one of the cop shops across the border and then race back home again laughing like a lunatic. R.I.P. Mick. He also had a brand new HQ in the shed that had 12 k's on it. He grew the best pot this side of Amsterdam too. cheers.

[@rustedratchetgarage6788]

I think you mean slr5000

[@victorbitter583]

@@rustedratchetgarage6788 One of us is mistaken and it's not me.

[@A.R.C.77]

Brings back the good old times

[@pup_harris2934]

I had a poster on my wall as teenager, I’m 34 now an still love that car

[@st170ish]

The epitome of Aussie Streetmachine right there... can remember having to stand back at a show just so I didnt dribble on it.

[@dougharrison7844]

I remember this car so hard, of all the cars ever in Street Machane back in the days I bought it religeiosly, this was the one.

[@brettsalter3300]

Hope this beautiful and seemingly well loved machine, brings you many many more years of motoring joy, no matter what engine you have in at the time.

[@brittenv1000]

Love seeing the history and hearing how it progressed.

[@FlatBrokeAdventures]

Thats an awesome car. I had a genuine LH SLR5000 when I saw this on the cover of SM and just went WOW. Now I still go WOW

[@Aaron.13]

Sounds like a genuine nice bloke with a nice car!

[@hairyscary8511]

Remember seeing it SM years ago and a cool car is a cool car no matter when it was built or how its evolved

[@Hezath]

Great piece! Howard is a gem in our scene, and this car just doesn't get any less awesome as time goes on.

[@broncpal4244]

Bloody great to see.....in every respect.

[@LurkMoar101]

Yes please. I remember seeing this in one of the old SM mags as a 20 year old. Instantly had plans for a 454 HZ PeeVee after seeing this, but alas, she never got past being a 355.

[@grumpyaussie9255]

I remember seeing this car on the showroom floor at Performance warehouse Dandenong back in 1991 blew my mind with the custom build quality back then

[@madrx2]

The first street machine mag I ever purchased as a kid had this car in it, absolute fav feature car of all time! It's aged so tastefully too! Well done.

[@jeffreyrice3141]

I remember it well... Glad to see it's still alive and kicking... Anyone remember the Green Mk2 Escort (DMT-351) (Summernats)

[@glensgraphix]

Great to see this car still around and still getting used.

[@dustyrhodes1320]

I still have that street machine mag of Howards torana first appearing on the cover. Its still in mint condition. If memory serves it was a Keith Black motor that went in it. Could be mistaken.

[@howardbell4253]

KB BB Chev

[@cupslinga]

Still one of the most inspiring builds

[@Trevor7727]

yes, I recall the original article in Street Machine…an awesome bit of gear….

[@vlfreak]

beautiful car and a testiment to the passion, way back then. i remember it well, the engine was ground breaking at the time 👌 (got all the mags from 80 to 2000 still too!)

[@hanniballecter922]

Always regarded this Torrie as pinnacle of perfection as a kid reading that Street Machine issue over & over =wanted my SLR to be red or mandarin ,but got a blue one 🙃 (still dreaming 4 a big block car)

[@4familyman]

Love it! And owner is a true car guy. Humble and enjoys that other people enjoy his creation. Great vid

[@mickholgate3347]

I remember seeing this car at Summernats, was awesome then and even more awesome now.

[@markc1456]

always remember this car for the big block keith black motor! from a rotary guy i loved this car back 30yrs ago! just a killer its not road registered

[@bvward]

Classic! Reminds me of the Chevy Monza V8's we had here in the 'States in mid '70's to 1980...

[@5thgearouttahere]

They share some styling cues. Check this one out mate kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6KwZ6CVmKqLgc0 Torana A9X Bathurst

[@bvward]

@@5thgearouttahere Thanks, Mate! Impressive provenance for a race car...

[@5thgearouttahere]

@@bvward Glad you liked it. Special indeed

[@bvward]

@@5thgearouttahere kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHe3nap3oZV-obs I was thinking of these as well...

[@5thgearouttahere]

@@bvward Totally, like NASCAR on Europe's oldest circuits, no complaints from me 😁🏁

[@joelmcdonald81]

I remember as a kid thinking this is pure genius! Made me think you could fit any motor in any car!

[@matthartley7333]

Thanks for the memories buddy

[@bryceybigcashews5888]

Absolute beast of a car…. And a gentleman of the game.

[@realaussiemale567]

A unique Aussie muscle car that should be held up as an example of what can be achieved when you want something special.

[@aussieausdeutschland4245]

The OG Pro-Tourer, Howard Bell was a man ahead of time with his influential build. I loved it when it first appeared in the magazine.... The Yanks only cottoned onto this winning formula at the turn of this century...

[@LRogan520]

What a great guy nice interview, with such a iconic car, we all knew that car back in the day...was a household name.

[@markissboi3583]

that 1 car a Torana i once owned Magic times in 80s

[@waltercardillo2273]

I love your car. My cousin and I both had yellow SLR 5000's when we were young engineering cadets. I owned an LH and cousin owned an LX. I wish I still had mine now.

[@ytthecommunistplatform.2675]

I was at the summernats when he boight it out there . Did the nats for nearly 2 decades . Ah this interview brings back decades . He shlould get it engineered now and drive it on the streets .

[@robertpullin6182]

Influenced a lot of young men back in day me included .glad to see it still looking so sharp

[@Tk-ou9ec]

This is bloody noice! I’ve always had a soft spot for toranas but after seeing this I’ve definitely got a hard spot!😂

[@ClunieGarage]

Thanks for sharing mate. This Torana will go down in history, so cool!

[@fullboost]

Great video guys .

[@STREETMACHINETV]

Thanks guys 👍

[@tomanycooks]

what a cool guy. good on him 👍🏻

[@daviddews9100]

This is one of my favorite street machine s

[@ZLAKLR20B]

love this car, my favourite SLR, the owner seems an awesome bloke too.

[@andrewperry605]

I remember that edition, cool that is the same car

[@mathewsmith7654]

What a fkn classic Aussie Beast!!!

[@kochstevens3210]

that thing's gunna roar..

[@glenmitchell517]

I remember seeing this car Summernats awesome car 😎

[@vigilante351]

Extremely iconic and well looked after car!

[@moffja]

"Oh, there is still a lot of affection for the car still" - Yes, yes there is. It was such an iconic beast of a car. I pored over the pages of those articles in my youth - I still have both of those issues nearly 30 years later... It's great to see it is still around and gets driven in anger :) Enjoyed hearing more of the background to it - nice work Howard & Street Machine.

[@shannonheraud_tuf253]

Such a bloody awesome beast, THE best Torana ever built 👌👌😍😍😍

[@jimclarke1108]

Perfect Torana

[@iansutton3176]

What a truly magnificent machine!

[@danielbrealey2924]

This was such a hero car from my childhood! Great vid guys

[@jackmehoff1840]

Farrrk....there is a blast from the past

[@petesmitt]

With that power, the flexy Torana body definitely needs that full roll cage to stiffen the structure.

[@howardbell4253]

It also has welded in RSJ subframe connectors, very little flex.

[@iporcupinetree]

Well, SLR5000 school kid in year 11 1993 the top jocks had them... Rev them up the school road there was HQ Monaro, replica SLR5000 VL Berlina turbos... Ford XB hardtops even GTHO... What a time to live these things were once affordable

[@MrClemmo13]

Wow that’s some big monster! Looks amazing. Love it!

[@BUZDRIFT]

Those wheels, you deserve a fkn applause, finally see decent 3 piece wheels on a Aussie car, Yes they're either Billet Image F40's pr the crazy option of legit $25,000 Speedline wheels! Fkn love em!

[@codebasher1]

The only thing missing is a nice 8-7-1 Weiand supercharger... 😁😁😁😁 This brings back memories when I built a 400 small block into my Holden. I still regret ever selling that car. 🤥🤥

[@TICKFORDXR6]

I might be a Ford man but you gotta love a Torana.

[@jonathon_bradford]

What a top bloke!

[@farvatron]

Bought a new SLR500 in his early 20's and never needed to sell it, must be nice being rich! lol

[@spiritlevelstudios]

Drives an 8 litre V8 and can afford to put fuel in it. Total baller.

[@brucebird133]

@@spiritlevelstudios even worse these days

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Awesome as always loved it brother cheers KC Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🤝🇦🇺🏅🥇🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@timburary]

I still dream about this car!! Fuckin muscle man!!

[@sheridanblackley9394]

What a cool bloke and cool car

[@mickrose3799]

Love this car. Had these magazines back in the day. But the SS badge on the grill triggers me so hard.

[@janeblogs324]

You don't support the naz i's??

[@mickrose3799]

Lol well no, but that’s not what I had in mind.

[@nigelmayer8061]

Old skool people, cool.

[@nasdaussie84]

Nice, I have the magazine this car is in.

[@stinkfinger1942]

Still a beautiful build!

[@AlistairLattimore]

Great looking car, excellent video!

[@DannyBoy-zj9ed]

good stuff

[@keepitmashed7402]

love the car it's awesome

[@ultimateadventuresblog6564]

as soon as i read, slr8000, i knew what this vid has in it :)