UC Holden Torana

the introduction of uc torana in march 1978 occasioned demise of v8 power , cessation of sporting sl/r variant in torana range of cars. uc series featured modernised frontal appearance , new interior dash layout. torana rationalised choice of 2 equipment levels , 2 six-cylinder engines, 2.85-litre , 3.3-litre. deluxe pack option allowed uc torana sl compete ford s te cortina ghia, comprised laminated windscreen, tinted side , rear windows, intermittent wipers, radio/cassette player, cloth trim, sports instrumentation, , bumper overriders. while v8 discontinued in uc, factory sanctioned dealer option of turbo offered. called uc sl/t. these ordered through suttons in nsw, 1 known ordered through zupps in queensland. these produced in mini production run of 5 cars , 33 built. 1 known exist today ordered through zupps.

holden sunbird (uc) sedan



holden torana (uc) sl hatchback

the holden sunbird updated uc specifications , continued sell 1.9-litre four-cylinder car, sharing body architecture uc torana sedan , hatchback. uc sunbird expanded 3 trim levels: base (manual only), sl, , sl/e. did in new zealand, assembled, particularly in fleets, competed ford cortina , variety of japanese models. sl/e trim available in new zealand. ucs had square headlamps , smoother front end. lx , uc sunbirds fitted 1.9-litre opel engine. later uc models had locally produced 1,892-cc starfire 4 engine installed australian-produced versions of toyota corona , in four-cylinder versions of holden commodore. . sluggish motor crudely cut-down version of long-running holden six-cylinder engine. hatchbacks deleted in 1979, leaving sedans 1980 model year. last sunbird built in september 1980. sunbird replaced four-cylinder version of holden commodore, before arrival of natural, albeit smaller, successor, holden camira, 1982.

at 1 point, design consideration given five-door hatchback version of uc torana, had similar side profile rover sd1 , rode extended wheelbase. idea never got past clay-modelling stage, in part due impending introduction of gm v-car, commodore.

after release of vb commodore in november 1978, became clear gm-h torana similar in size when compared more modern holden commodore. result, uc torana dropped holden range in 1979. uc sunbird continued through 1980 new, locally manufactured 1.9-litre starfire engine (based on 2.85-litre six) replacing imported opel unit.

for while @ least, talk of further extending torana/sunbird s production life beyond 1980 occurred, facelifted ud model, of prototype models of sedan , hatchback built - featuring frontal styling similar opel ascona b. however, due car being outdated when compared new japanese opposition (notably chrysler sigma, datsun bluebird, , mazda 626), holden decided on easier route introducing starfire engine vc-series of commodore sedans , wagons.

ultimately, title of four-cylinder mid-sized holden taken on in 1982 camira, holden s version of gm s front-wheel drive j-car . however, starfire engine did remain available 2 years in vh-series holden commodore, , continued fitted vk-series in new zealand.

just on 55,000 uc series toranas , sunbirds produced.