XU1 V8 HDT TORANA PROTOTYPE Replica - Pt 2 Ron Klein GM Holden Collection

[@666theninja]

RIP Ron, Great Replica of the Yellow HDT LC XU1 V8 Prototype that Harry Firth put together in very late 1971 at HDT HQ in Queens Street. GMH Engineering Fitted the 308 V8's into the Three LJ GTR Torana Prototypes, One was Orange, One was White and One was Strike me Pink. Orange one was Stolen and never recovered and the Pink and White ones were Sold.

[@georgewinters3191]

I was lucky to be at Bathurst in the pits as a 16 yo when Colin Bond was trialling a v8 Torana in the xu1 body. He let us have a look over the vehicle, from memory that vehicle had the motor set back and the firewall had been modified to sit in the bay. Colin said it was because they were still testing handling. He fired it up while I was there and the sound was unbelievable with unrestricted exhaust. The vehicle wasn’t been raced , it being trialled. Made my day as a young fella.

[@666theninja]

That Car would be the HDT LC XU1 V8 Beast Mark 2 that has the F5000 Engine in it and not the Yellow HDT LC XU1 V8 Prototype that had Vic rego number KSN116 on it that Raced and Won a Sports Sedan Race at the 1972 Easter Bathurst

[@georgewinters3191]

@@666theninja thank you for the info, as I say I was 16 at the time and was totally in awe of this vehicle, and yes it was when they held races at Easter .

[@666theninja]

Holden Engineering used to Call the Three XW7 V8 LJ GTR Prototypes: 'The Good', 'The Bad' and 'The Ugly when they were at GMH Engineering at Port Melbourne. That was the Three LJ GTR V8's nicknames.

[@PhilipShand]

I had an ex-Bathurst LCGTRXUI for a time in '75.At the same time a friend had an XUI with a 308 & Saginaw box. It went like it wanted to kill its occupants.The only problem was it hated corners,with the body shifting badly when cornering hard. A Panhard rod tamed it to a great extent.It was truly a missile in that you really took aim at where you wanted to end up.Awesome but frightening.Mine was quick but the V8 embarassed me.

[@odenttraipser5833]

Never had the pleasure of driving an XU-1 but when I wrote off my '74 SLR5000 I replaced it with a '74 GTR with 3300 motor. In many respects, the GTR was much more pleasurable to drive then the SLR. A boot full of accelerator and a handful of opposite lock and she drove perfectly. The SLR was great though :-) Wish I still had it now, it would be worth a fortune :-)

[@CalaisRider]

GOOD-ONYA-MATE. It was all in my young days, so I remember them well. An amazing vehicle. I was born in 1957.

[@alexleinhardt4062]

So sorry to hear about Ron’s passing 😔. Many thanks for the video, fantastic.

[@fknows1]

nice to see a XU1 with the original Stromberg's on it

[@markscott2360]

Ron you were a Legend,I didn't know you but your passion for car's was unquestionable RIP

[@gazza9481]

Heard tell that some fella in Darwin squeezed a RT-E49 spec 265 into an LJ Torrie. Apparently when he first squashed the pedal to the metal the body twisted and popped the front and rear windows.

[@KennyHall06]

Underrated KZbin Chanel. Love what your doing Aussie cars all the way 👊👊

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Much appreciated!

[@Tonyclifton-q4f]

Glenn seems like the type of fella you could tell anything,he makes people feel very relaxed ,great interviewer

[@davehad-enough2369]

Just great to see those cars - Ron was a lucky guy to be able to accumulate them and enjoy them.

[@stephenhayston4314]

I've owned 3 XU-1s and have run them all to maximum speed of around 125mph the thought of doing 160+ in one would take big balls

[@tezzrterry7485]

The bump steer would be dangerous, LH's are bad at 150mph.

[@StuFletch68]

I had a V8 LJ, a guy called Craig Walkem help me build it, it had koni's shocks and heaps of castor dailed into it, i had it doing 170 mph across the hay plains, (not the best road even in the late 80's) the motor is lower down and further back in the car, they were made for a v8! i had gtr's and XU1's but didn't come close for stability. btw the v8 added 15kgs to the car a 202 trimatic came out of it, to be fair it had steel rims with the 6 and globes with the V8!

[@davidburne9477]

@@StuFletch68 You didn’t live in Port Lincoln at one stage? I got passed in my hot 173 LJ on the way from Adelaide by a V8 LJ. Bloke and I had a good chat at Cowell. I knew something was coming when I was sitting on the old ton and there was this car coming up from behind really quickly.

[@davidburne9477]

Steve, what about the gaps between top of the window frame and the body on the 2-doors! At 110mph I could put half of my hand through the gap if you had the windows up.

[@michaelnugara1]

Wow how sweet were those XU1s. Love the red one. Absolute mint. Rip Ron

[@jasonmorahan7450]

I remember in the 90s when a few LJ's started appearing around the drag strips fitted with V8s but it was fairly short lived, they had a specific characteristic of mounting the lane barrier on launch since they didn't have either the wheelbase or structural reinforcement for enough stability in that kind of racing, another chassis choice for the same engine could be a fair bit quicker and more controllable. Also remember an article from the time mentioning the decision to can the XU1 V8 came ahead of the supercar scare and was about chassis concerns also, essentially the conclusion at a very early stage was a complete chassis redesign since the amount of modification to make the combination work competitively would amount to approaching the same thing anyway. One prototype had its V8 replaced by a stock 202 and became the daily driver of a Holden executive before the legislation and CAMS changes hit, infamously identifiable by its relocated fuel filler and a larger tank instead of the single one under the rear plate, iirc it was track style dual fillers or lift boot to fill or something. That got bought by someone else many years later who retrofitted a 308 back in with a Trimatic and that was the car that article I was reading was about, apparently the auto helped preserve diffs and drivability. Stock engine but still described as a bit of a monster to drive.

[@GODEES77]

Must’ve filmed this a while ago, Ron passed away in June 2019. Nice touch at the end. May he Rest In Peace

[@noelgibson5956]

Gosh you're kidding! What a remarkable fella. Oh well........he followed Holden to the mighty one above and is driving them up there......... making lots of noise I bet!!😃👍

[@GODEES77]

@@noelgibson5956 sadly Ron died in motor vehicle accident driving his beloved 911

[@noelgibson5956]

@@GODEES77 Terrible news that. I'm lost for words.

[@KennyHall06]

@@GODEES77 that’s so sad, what a nice guy 😢

[@backyardbangers1012]

I shed a tear for him. But wonder where all his cars are now?

[@darrenwalsh6965]

What a stunning collection, and what a great series this is...well done.!

[@stevenowen4150]

I own an August built 73 ex pigger XU-1. They had a few mods that the normal XU-1 didnt have. Different castor n camber on the front end and some body strengthening mods. It handled. At low speeds it was a piggy little thing that jumped from side to side but still stayed on the right side of the road. It started to handle nicely at around 60 mph and just got better the quicker you went. It had a 2.75 diff in it and it would rev to 7000. Anyone in Perth would know Whelshpool hill. I had her reving at 7000 going down that. Dont know the maths, 7000 with a 2.75 but it was way way past what the speedo read to which was 220.. The normal 73 XU-1 was the exact same car as what the 72 Bathurst model cars were. Same camshaft, same dizzy advance etc, same suspension geometry set up. It was built in Adelaide and i bought it in 1986 and owned it ever since. I have a V8 in it now but it has lost fun ness that the little 202 with three gobs had. It does get alot better fuel economy though. Hasnt been licensed for 20 years now, it just sits in the shed. Time to do a rebuild on her and enjoy the nicest handling car iv driven. And Iv driven alfas, SS Commodores, A9X Torries and late model GT Falcons. Nothing handled at high speed 200 kph plus round long corners like the XU-1 does. The A9X was a much heavier car than the LJ, so imagine how quick one with a race preped 308 as in A9X motor, would have been. Alot quicker than an A9X i lmagine.. They be like a go cart on steroids.

[@donaldhollums3278]

No matter where it’s made at or who it’s made by; the rumble of a V-8 always sounds great.

[@gmac7929]

Modern v8's sound like crap.

[@stevenyoung7277]

Another great installment Looking forward to the next episode 👍

[@steveskrobot9496]

WoW! The 5Litre LJ Torana would have meant a whole new meaning of 'Giant Killer'

[@barryphillips7327]

I am a Ford fan, always will be, but the XU2 nice, BAD ASS, sounds tough mean, also love that XU1 that is real nice!!

[@SPOOKSTR]

I owned an LJ with a 308 in it back in the early 90's. It went like a scalded Cat in a straight line and handled like a Dog on lino through the turns.

[@conchrisafis2617]

Awesome videos what a humble great enthusiast he is what am amazing collection of cars only in our dreams we get to see and drive these machines. Keep them rolling 😎

[@johncunningham4820]

That ORIGINAL , Red XU-1 is totally GORGEOUS . Yes . They were light and nimble . And Power to weight was VERY good at the time . FAST car to this day .

[@davidb0126a]

I'm not sure which is more entertaining - the car or you driving it! 😜😜😜

[@backyardbangers1012]

Brock did race in one in rallies on the dirt overeas somewhere. Theres pics of him in the Marlboro hdt v8 lj 20 ft in the air under a malboro banner. Indua

[@666theninja]

Harry Firth and Peter Brock went to Macau in Hong Kong and Raced a Yellow LC HDT XU1 Torana it wore the Vic Number Plate KSA302 and there is a Video of it on KZbin on that Macau Race, Look on KZbin for it. Only time in the Early HDT Days that Peter Brock went overseas in a HDT Car. Now Harry Firth went to South Africa and Raced a car over there, nothing to do with HDT, Harry later on was trying to Get GM South Africa to Buy the V8 LJ but they went with the Chevy Firenza that had a Chevy V8 in it and a Muncie 4 Speed and raced that instead. They made 100 of the Chevy Forenza V8's.

[@Kingmick58]

Glenn. Mate. I could see your fingers itching. Tops mate.

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

It’d be great to get Larry Perkin’s perspective on this car, and the original prototype.

[@666theninja]

Larry Perkins talks about the V8 XU1 Prototype in the Australian Muscle Car Magazine when they did the V8 XU1 Story with Harry Firth. Larry tested the car on open speed highways back when some States had open speed on there highways in the early 1970's. Larry hit 6500rpm in top gear in Harry's Yellow LC HDT V8 Prototype and was doing over 160MPH in the car. Mad Days

[@area51isreal71]

Bloody supercar scare. Imagine Bathurst 1972 with this beast up against the just as stillborn Phase 4 GTHO XA Falcon. There is enough evidence now to show that Chrysler did consider a 340 Charger, but decided to go with the E49 instead. It would have been a fascinating slugfest between the three of them. The Torana with it's light weight and V8 power, the Phase 4 with the XA's more slippery shape and increased grunt or the Charger with it's big six and triple Webbers and it's new four speed gearbox. Who would have won the day? Who knows. One thing is for sure though, Harry Firth was an absolute genius with the ability to turn anything that GMH produced into race winners. The HT Monaro development , XU-1, L34 and A9X Torana's were his brainchild. A lot of credit has been given to John Sheppard who replaced him as HDT boss and that is well placed. But it was done with both the resigning of Brocky and the A9X which Harry Firth developed in the first place.

[@area51isreal71]

@SunnyCoaster Would have been a fun time mate. Harry Firth raced the LJ V8 undercover and reckoned it had the goods. Howard Marsden thought that the Torana would be fragile and John Ellis had the Charger well sorted out with morphing of the E38 into the E49. The Chargers always showed reliability and had that on their side. It would be interesting to watch the surviving Phase 4 GTHO, replica of the V8 LJ Torana to Harry's specs and an E49 to do a lap each around Bathurst. I know one lap would not tell the entire story but these gems are too precious to go a full on enduro. I would be probably wrong but I think the Torana would be the winner with the Falcon second and the Charger third. Of course that means nothing. Over 500 miles in 1972 it could have been any of the three. Bloody shame we never got to see it.

[@johnd8892]

Harry earlier developed the first XR Falcon GT into a racecar before it hit the track. Sometimes needing to convince Ford to spend even less than a dollar to make things reliable. Lucky a Ford exec was in the car when some thing broke at the You Yangs proving ground. Ford lost a huge asset with the Harry Firth blow-up.

[@area51isreal71]

@@carsonj1 Yes, the article has been reprinted. Evan Green went on to race a P76, work for GMH and channel Seven as a commentator at Bathurst. You would think he would have known better wouldn't you? Milton Morris, he was the N.S.W's transport minister at the time and made it a political issue following the newspaper report. Only the E49 Charger escaped and had it's debut race at Oran Park the day of the newspaper report. It went like the clappers, passed every Torana and hammered John Goss's GTHO only to come second by the width of a cigarette paper. After that it went nowhere. Chrysler terrified of Morris's threats to cancel Government contracts saw them abandon racing so any E49 at Bathurst in 1972 had no factory backing. Holden and Ford continued with factory backing, but obviously just as terrified by the threats, they canned the cars they had planned and ran the old ones. Such a bloody shame. It would have been quite a race. That V8 XU-1 would have been brutal with all that performance. Reliable to with Harry Firth's hand in it. The Charger would have been fast and reliable, it had already started racing. The only unknown is how good of a job Howard Marsden did on the Phase 4. Bloody shame we never got to see it all happen.

[@jimmartin9704]

1972 Bathurst would of been a interesting race that's for sure with all of the latest muscle cars, although everyone forgets about the rain and wet track. With little to no race experience ( a couple of 5 lappers don't really count) the LJV8(XW7) would it had been like Rons????? I think the E49 would of been there at the end????? Pitty Harry might of been a genius in knowing how to sort a car out but most people could only work with him for a few years then would leave ??????? Wonder why

[@MrGoblin60]

Sorry to read from the comments that this bloke has died. Love these Aussie classics but as I've gotten older (wiser?) I've come to accept that the super specials (Phase IV, XU-2 etc) would have been dangerous packages as the handling and brakes weren't up to the power. Still, it's tantalising to wonder what might have been.

[@666theninja]

The V8 LJ Torana had no Handling or Brake Problems as Harry Firth and Holden Engineering had worked hard on sorting the V8 LJ out, the Production Car was going to have New Front Disc Brakes and New front Calipers plus new Heavy Duty Coils all round and New Heavy Duty Shocks all round for far better Handling than the 6Cyl LJ XU1 Torana. So it was up for the Power. The Phase 4 would of been the car with Brake Problems.

[@scottjohnson-hi8oj]

young perkins had the privilege to take it out on a date hey harry ? minus a few scratches the next morning back in the workshop. built 3 v8 gtrs but the v6 vn engine was perfect for this conversion .

[@JohnLee-mq4hk]

There was a Holden GTRX proto type advertised in local papers back in 1973 but never came to fruition.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

I recall seeing a similar thing, the illistration was a wedge shaped coupe,red maybe ?

[@jimmartin9704]

Also another one called the Hurricane. It was pretty out there for its time

[@vicbittertoo]

cool !!, I had a drive of a torana LJ with a 308 fitted in the early 80s, not licensed as a v8, had a statesman narrowed diff and bigger front discs, pop riveted metal around the transmission firewall area, etc !!!, went like stink :)

[@keithwilson1554]

A rumour going around at the Time is that the Toranas would have bigger tanks for Bathurst and would hadveFuel caps either side in the rear pillars. In the late 70's in Sydney on Canterbury Road outside a Garage I did see a Torana just like that but no idea who owned it.

[@666theninja]

What Colour was the One you seen on Canterbury Road outside a Garage ???

[@keithwilson1554]

@@666theninja So the one i saw was somewhere between yellow and light orange so long ago hard to remember exactly.

[@michaelcinar1452]

Excellent video well done

[@brucestorey3400]

The Torana that never was. Nonetheless, Brocky showed the Torana's credentials using just a 3.3 litre six against Ford's 5.8 litre V8. One minor issue with the car in this video. it's an LC Torana. The V8 XU1 would have been based on the LJ.

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

This car is based on the LC prototype they built and raced briefly.

[@jimmartin9704]

You really felt the speed in a hot 6 let alone a V8 in one of these, not surprised to hear about the diff n box. Weren't there strongest parts

[@johndunstan3875]

I miss my LC Torana. I wish I had never traded it.

[@TheSunnybunny2000]

Xu2 at Bathurst would of blown the field away especially with Brock behind the wheel

[@GTFORDMAN]

not necessarily remember he did say that he was breaking gearboxes and snapping axles before he changed them to the very much stronger Ford units, also the SLR Toranas also needed a few generations to stop snapping axles and chewing gearboxes

[@mattmatty4670]

How cool is this bloke .

[@Evvzt]

Best channel 💙💆🏽‍♂️🦁

[@scottmuller]

Love it mate

[@barrymorphett8610]

Take the Torana ( Torantula) to Bathurst for a test ( thrash).

[@3800TURBO]

Harry put a 253 in first. They swapped it out for the 308 a little later. Needs to get rid of the Monza seats and put something more authentic.

[@nigel900]

Beautiful! 👍🏻

[@poppa5289]

Your not lucky Glen you deserve it 👍.

[@ThunderAppeal]

They put V8's in those things. Sheeet.

[@anthonyaucote2820]

The Salamanca red 8/72 xu1 is a rebody,i looked at it before Ron got his hands on it.

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

308ci block + Ford Y block V8 crank gives you a genuine 383ci

[@colinmunro7337]

It's amazing what fits in what,there's another I didn't know about,thanks Max.

[@StuFletch68]

13 inch wheels! WOW

[@lomasck]

Only once ever did I have the chance to buy a XU1,It was rebuilt fully $5000.Yellow & around 1988. Evan then I thought if it was original Yes but rebuilt Nar not good enough.

[@ianmccaul721]

Xu2 was for the L34. The V8 Toranas were LJ not LC.

[@andrewknowles2552]

drove a replica mid 70 had to near remove the engine to change plugs

[@johnhutchinson9714]

I had a 307 in an LC, no plug problems.

[@fxbull9229]

YEH MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andrewlewis1528]

Spewing you didn’t take the Vk for a spin

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

A VK Group A is on our feature drive 'to do' list for sure! :-)

[@hamiltonjetsportassociatio4407]

Such great Story, very nostalgic

[@GTFORDMAN]

remember bathurst is an endurance race not a sprint race & he did say that he was breaking gearboxes and snapping axles before he changed them to the very much stronger Ford units, also the original had 13" rims so that means smaller brakes which is fine for a light 120mph 6 banger but a heavier 150mph rocket all of a sudden those small brakes are left wanting, and dont also forget the SLR Toranas also needed a few generations to stop snapping axles and chewing gearboxes and when Ford went from the 302 to the 351 it also snapped axles and chewed gearboxes it took a few generations to iron out all the bugs and, so yes it would have been a quick car but a reliable one?

[@jimmartin9704]

I can remember reading an article when Howard Marsden was being interviewed, yer he was convinced both the toranas and charger's would of had brake, gearbox's and diff problems running the v8s

[@666theninja]

'Pftt' Ford Fans have no idea the Work that went into the V8 LJ Program by Harry Firth and Holden Engineering, First up they Had New Front Disc's and New Front Calipers for better stopping power and the 308 V8 was only 22KG Heavier than the Red 202 6Cyl Engine any way and the 6Cyl LJ XU1 never had any brake problems any way. A new 2.78 Detroit Locker Diff was made for V8 LJ and Brand New Sprintmaster Wheels were Designed for V8 LJ, they were a lighter wheel and better cooling wheel, Also the XW7 308 V8 was a 300HP V8 and Harry Firth tested the Yellow LC HDT XU1 V8 Prototype at the 1972 Easter Bathurst in a Sports Sedan Race and Won without a Problem, Also tested at A.I.R Race Track at Adelaide and at Calder in May 1972 plus Open Highway Testing By Larry Perkins as well without a Hitch. Harry made up a Brand New Sump for V8 LJ that had no Problems at all unlike the LH Torana 308 Engine that Repco did for Holden and Harry had to fix that up during 1974 as Holden used the Repco Sump and not Harry's special sump he made up for V8 LJ.

[@jimmartin9704]

@@666theninja I'll sleep better at night knowing all of this. Don't know about only 22kg but all looks good on paper as the phase 1 did, but 20 laps in.. oh no Bondy best time was 2:39.6 3:8 seconds slower than a phase 3 Was racing against alot slower cars Biggest problem was his race was a huge 5 laps, about 125 less.mmmm

[@GTFORDMAN]

@@666theninja and holden fans seem to forget that this is bathurst where production cars race not lemans where you can race prototypes! so just because the prototype had lots of bells and whistles doesnt mean the production version would have it

[@666theninja]

@@GTFORDMAN The Production Version was getting it ALL, As there is a 79 Page Parts List for the XW7 V8 LJ Torana that List all the Goodies that the 200 Factory Cars were getting so the Car could Race at Bathurst 1972, the Cars were only Two Weeks off Production when Holden Canned the XW7 V8 LJ. The 200 Aug-Sept 1972 LJ XU1's that were Built got the V8 XW7 Sprintmaster Wheels, Brocky had them on the 1972 Winning Bathurst Car if you go look.

[@johnfrancis6010]

Put 5 or6 speed tremec see mal wòod Warwick theybo bolts up to top loader gear box 4 speeds mate

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Should have been left as it should be. Near standard 308 with the M21 and banjo diff. As they would have been sold. And if used properly work fine. Top loaders are totally unecescary. And a NINE INCH gunker screws up the rear suspension as they do not fit!

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

That's how it was when he bought it but it spat them all over the road continually, much like the L34 did in its racing days using the same drivetrain. You are correct though, although super tough, that big heavy 9 inch changes a cars behaviour dramatically in a circuit racing application and also takes power away through drivetrain losses to turn it. Even an aluminium center can help great deal with the 9 inch or a lighter rear end like the 80's VL Turbo Borg Warner is also a nice choice, but a pain for ratio changes.

[@666theninja]

The 308 V8 was not standard at all, they were 300HP 308 V8 and they had a 2.78 Detroit Locker Diff as well, the XW7 V8 LJ parts list has the Engine Parts Listed and they were not a standard 308 V8.

[@tobysemler]

Malcolm Turnbull has really let himself go.

[@tomwareham7944]

I want one

[@backyardbangers1012]

There were 6 built. 3 disassembled and 3 sent to South Africa to compete in rally championship

[@666theninja]

There were Only Three LJ GTR V8 Prototypes put together by GMH Engineering, Orange, White and Strike me Pink were the Three LJ GTR Colours. The Orange one was Tendered in Feb 1975 by GMH Port Melbourne the other two were Sold as well.

[@backyardbangers1012]

@@666theninja and where are you getting this info?

[@666theninja]

@@backyardbangers1012 Feb 1975 GMH Tender Sheet and from a Ex GMH XW7 Engineer that worked on the Three LJ GTR V8 Prototypes.

[@backyardbangers1012]

@@666theninja so what about the ones that went south Africa and brock raced one in there rally championship? I have photos of it airborn under a marlboro banner. Marlboro sponsors all over torana to. And theres the write up that went with it stating what is was n who driving etc

[@backyardbangers1012]

@@666theninja how do i know your not just making that up to be rite???? I know what i know is fact and you will have a impossible time convincing me differently

[@garyallen8680]

Better in breaks better fuel economy than the falcons. Brock drove one an ran out of fuel so thr extr large fuel cell was born

[@backyardbangers1012]

They were all 308. Not 253. And the one and only actual xu2 prototype was a weird silver mazerati looking thing that looked nothing like a holden

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

You're not think of the Hurricane concept car are you? Story is there were several Torana based prototypes and possibly all but one or two were crushed. I think one may have slipped through the cracks and gone to a GM employee in the day. Lots of different stories kicking around.

[@backyardbangers1012]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines nah im not. It was xu2. It was all in holden books i got from my dad when i was kid. So 30 years ago. And yeah theres alot of Chinese wisper stories around

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

@@backyardbangers1012 , that's interesting because the official code name for the LH Torana project was actually XU2 at one point and I saw early prototype images with XU2 decals on the front guards. I must investigate further. :-)

[@backyardbangers1012]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines cool. Let me know what you come up with🤔👍

[@666theninja]

@@backyardbangers1012 The GTR/X Torana is the Car with the Long Nose you are thinking of, it was Silver then painted White and Holden still own one, One of the Ex GMH Engineers bought one of the GTR/X Torana's from Holden and his Family are doing it up as the Owner passed away a few years a go, But his Family are Sorting it out now. Go Google the GTR/X Torana. The GTR/X Torana is a Different Beast to the XU2 Torana's.

[@garyallen8680]

Here's a guy which knows what he's talking about. V8 XU-1 DIDNT EXIST! It was as he said an XU-2 PROTOTYPE

[@lookingoverhell3448]

check out my gtr build on my y tube channel , slr 5000 has just been completed no vid on that yet ,

[@crunchytheclown9694]

Ford parts make holdens better, nough said

[@twinphill900]

I'm a Holden fan, but what you say is true. Diff, gearbox....enough said.

[@Kingmick58]

Crikey mate. Just on to this story. 4 mins ago. What you say is true.

[@velocityjet1884]

A Torana on steroids , the steroids are the ford parts

[@tedburnard841]

Would love to know why a Saginaw or Muncie was not used in lieu of the Top Loader

[@chargerwoh]

Mmm ...torqueflight & Dana diff you can keep your Ford driveline thanks but they make great engines

[@atrothe]

It would have been a straight up death trap. A very dangerous car. Unstable, twitchy with poor brakes.

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

At high speed they'd have been be a bit of a handful off the showroom floor I'm thinking. Only for the brave!

[@666theninja]

Nooooooo the XW7 V8 LJ Torana the Production Car was Getting New Front Disc's and New Front Calipers and for better Handling it was Getting New Heavy Duty Coils all round and New Heavy Duty Shocks, It's in the Holden Engineering 79 Page Parts List for XW7 V8 LJ. So not a Dangerous Car unless you were a very Poor Driver.

[@jimmartin9704]

I tend to agree with you, use to feel the speed in a 6 cyl. doing 130 let alone 160 to 170. Then only drum brakes on the back Good luck

[@666theninja]

@@jimmartin9704 was getting new brakes, it's in the XW7 V8 LJ Holden Engineering Parts List. :)

[@jimmartin9704]

@@666theninja I know the quality of the brake systems in early 70s so unless it was 4 wheel discs, unfortunately history shows us they would of been crap like all makes :)

[@roscoau]

What a load of bullshit! XU2 except, except....

[@mattangrave8478]

Just Bullocks mixed with facts 😔

[@pauliemorris5467]

Hopeless mate show people that power you talk more than you throtle