Third generation Holden Torana

1 third generation

1.1 lh
1.2 lx

1.2.1 lx sunbird
1.2.2 a9x option


1.3 uc

third generation
lh

march 1974 had first new torana body, arrival of larger mid-sized lh series, produced in four-door sedan style only. despite larger external size, car relatively cramped mid-1970s standards. resembled other gm products of generation, notably opel ascona. unique in that, following addition of four-cylinder option in may 1974, same body style available choice of inline-four, inline-six, or v8 engines, specifically, 1.9-litre opel four, 2.85- , 3.3-litre holden red sixes, , 4.2- , 5.0-litre holden v8s. low-compression versions of fours , sixes available export markets.

exports philippines occurred, sold holden 1900 .

the 5.0-litre engine reserved sporting lh torana sl/r 5000 sedan. special build derivative of sl/r 5000 bathurst-intended l34 option , of 263 built, higher-compression engine stouter components more power , durability in competition use. notable external feature of l34 bolt-on wheel arch extensions, designed accommodate larger racing rims , tyres.

the l34 option, first seen in 1975, proved fast , successful, yet fragile, in australian touring car racing. superseded evolutionary a9x option made available in lx torana series in 1977. a9x delivered standard 5.0, used l34 motor in races developed repco lh sl/r 5000 h.o. l34. a9x version of torana had larger 10-bolt salisbury differential disc brakes , had option of borg warner super t10 four-speed. hardly cars delivered super t10 option, in effect immortalized a9x pretty stock car better differential , suspension. lh torana in l34 form won famed bathurst 1000 touring car race peter brock , brian sampson in 1975 , bob morris , john fitzpatrick in 1976, l34 motor being fitted a9x, in effect winning car, well.

according holden dealer team boss harry firth, holden chose have v8 engine in sl/r 5000 developed repco on dyno led massive oil surge problems on race track , had number of teams, including hdt, suffer numerous engine failures in both testing , races in 1974. firth believed using same v8 engine had developed stillborn v8 gtr xu-1 have solved problem, hdt had cured oil problems, holden ignored warnings.

prototype wagon , hatchback versions of lh torana built, never reached production. overall, total of 70,184 lh toranas built. few special models of lh built, sporting plus 4 , g-pak models. plus 4 arrived in september 1974 , attempt move few more of slow-selling four-cylinder models. g-pak, first seen in february 1975, received 3.3-litre inline-six. both came four-speed manual, sporting instrumentation, , disc brakes in front.

new zealand assembly got off troubled start. general motors new zealand, still had wide four-cylinder vauxhall viva/magnum line on sale, had planned 2850 6 s model bench front seat , three-speed column manual shift , 3300sl bucket seats , four-speed manual or three-speed trimatic floor shift.the new zealand government, though, imposed 60% sales tax (a post-first oil crisis measure) on cars engines on 2 litres gm launched lh in mid- 74, , few of each built. lh withdrawn temporarily , relaunched months later opel 1.9-litre i4 , floor-shift manual or automatic (sl only) gearboxes. six-cylinder toranas never again built in new zealand , rare imports after this. gm new zealand built few unique local sports special editions, changes cosmetic.

lx

the mildly facelifted lx series arrived in february 1976. cosmetically, obvious changes replace lh s rectangular headlights round headlights, side window surrounds changed body colour black, , front holden badge enlarged. two-door hatchback body introduced alternative four-door sedan, although 1,897-cc opel unit not offered in new body style. after introduction, in july 1976, lx subjected performance-reducing engine modifications comply new mid-year emission regulations (adr 27a). power outputs (from on specified in kilowatts, part of australia s metrication programme) changed as:

173/2.85: 118 hp (88 kw) 78 kw (105 hp)
202/3.3: 135 hp (101 kw) 82.5 kw (111 hp)
253/4.2: 185 hp (138 kw) 120 kw (161 hp)
308/5.0: 240 hp (180 kw) 161 kw (216 hp)

lx sunbird

when lx torana introduced, featured choice of four-, six-, , eight-cylinder engines. in november 1976 four-cylinder torana revised , relaunched holden lx sunbird. reflecting new emissions rules, power opel-sourced engine down 76 72 kw (102 96 hp). point, four-cylinder models marketed sunbirds , six- or eight-cylinder models toranas. original lx series sunbird single-trim range, four-speed manual , three-speed automatic transmissions. there minor trim differences compared torana, notably grille (with vertical bars) , distinctive chrome wheel covers. marketed four-door sedan , three-door hatchback, unlike short-lived four-cylinder lx torana. introduction of sunbird coincided first attempt holden add handling package range of cars. introduction of radial-tuned suspension (rts) began lx sunbird sedan , hatchback , lx torana.

a9x option

during 1977, lx series had development of limited-build high-performance option aimed @ winning in australian touring car racing, , in particular @ annual bathurst 1000 touring car race. a9x option available on 5.0-litre v8-powered slr 5000 sedan , ss hatchback models. a9x visually resembled l34-optioned lh model, addition of rear-facing bonnet scoop designed increase airflow engine bay (carburettor) produce maximum power in motor racing applications. a9x package varied old l34 in road form in whilst engine not modified, a9x nevertheless had special mechanical features such rear disc brakes, heavy-duty axles, , heavy-duty 10 bolt differential.

after being rushed group c touring car racing, peter brock gave a9x dream debut winning 1977 hang ten 400 @ sandown. however, after put torana on pole position, a9x lost debut bathurst race in 1977 ford falcons of allan moffat , colin bond. a9x package refined , proved dominant during following 2 seasons of touring-car racing in australia. drivers peter brock , bob morris victorious in 1978 , 1979 australian touring car championships, respectively, , a9xs shared peter brock , jim richards won 1978 , 1979 bathurst 1000 s. in show of a9x s superiority, brock , richards won 1979 race record 6 laps, brock setting touring-car lap record on last lap of race.

overall, total of 65,977 lx toranas produced holden.

an a9x sold @ auction $260,000.

uc

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.