Barn Find Torana GTR

[boss351290]

Originally Posted by xxx000

GTRs like this were worth around $3500 for many years in the 80s
I've owned a couple of them over the years

I agree. They are actually a piece of sh..it. It’s the fact that they are now very rare that any body gives a sh..it about them.

[Tassie f100]

One of my mates had 1 with a 400 chev slotted into it,when pretty well in a straight line,but was worse than a 6 cyl TC-TD Cortina when a corner turned up.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

One of my mates had 1 with a 400 chev slotted into it,when pretty well in a straight line,but was worse than a 6 cyl TC-TD Cortina when a corner turned up.

Obviously never set up the suspension correctly, the LJ I had with 308 went ok but was a bitch in the hot weather with the engine so close to firewall.
Certainly did not need heater.
I found running & modding the 6 cyl was far better option then having an 8 in the LJ's, they use to go ok for what they are.

[X-AHH]

Originally Posted by lra

Because the Torana started life as an underpowered 4 cyl Vauxhall Viva, blame the Poms strange engineering habits.
I had a LH SLR for 12 months from new. The off set, off centre steering wheel, combined with a foot operated parking brake, along with numerous other annoyances, made it the worst car I have ever owned.

I owned an LX A9X hatchback but can't remember the steering wheel being offset? Perhaps they got it centred for that model. I do remember that it was an absolute pleasure to drive. Sold it to buy a 68 big block Corvette Stingray. What a stupid mistake that was. If I'd only known what the value of that Torana was going to be today.

[au2000]

already bid at $44,000 …. that dust is sure expensive

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by xahh

I owned an LX A9X hatchback but can't remember the steering wheel being offset? Perhaps they got it centred for that model. I do remember that it was an absolute pleasure to drive. Sold it to buy a 68 big block Corvette Stingray. What a stupid mistake that was. If I'd only known what the value of that Torana was going to be today.

I think there are more A9X's around now, than what were built.

Could never see the appeal of the LC LJ's myself.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I think there are more A9X's around now, than what were built.

Could never see the appeal of the LC LJ's myself.

Like the LC-LJ GTR I,m sure there were at least 5 times more of them around than GMH built,presuming the stickers weren’t telling porkies.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Like the LC-LJ GTR I,m sure there were at least 5 times more of them around than GMH built,presuming the stickers weren’t telling porkies.

or XU1.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

or XU1.

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Or Courier Please....2022

Sorry I meant XU1,they seemed to be everywhere,161,s 186,,3 sp manuals,traumatics etc

[CyberWasp]

Put a Barra in it.

[Terror_Tree]

I may be wrong, but wasn't this car heavily based on a British Vauxhall?

[Tonz]

give the man free beers, well done

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Terror_Tree

I may be wrong, but wasn't this car heavily based on a British Vauxhall?

HB Torana with the 4cyl was based on the Vauxhall, my sister had one.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

HB Torana with the 4cyl was based on the Vauxhall, my sister had one.

You are probably the first person who even admits to knowing about the horrible little things

[snap0964]

Jack Brabham put his name to one as well.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by snap0964

Jack Brabham put his name to one as well.

image

I beleive people these days would spend money on a brabham hb. Even if theyre only a small 4 banger. But still, overhyped nostalgia is where the money is at. My brother wrote off an 83 hdt vh commodore when peter brock was alive, insurance payed out 3 grand. Had it been a few years later, that would have been a lot more then that.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

You are probably the first person who even admits to knowing about the horrible little things

Matter of fact they were a good little car in the day and yes I was a Holden man in those days before I came over to the blue oval.

[Sprintey]

Always liked the styling of the HB.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

Matter of fact they were a good little car in the day and yes I was a Holden man in those days before I came over to the blue oval.

Having worked on those things way back when,I put them in the same category as Triumph Heralds and Hillman Imps, poor excuse for cars really.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

I think its a beaut and I hope the new owner recommissions it and drives it like it should be.

For me the little quirks of these old cars, like an off center steering wheel make them all the more appealing. Hell my little Escort has the indicators on the left and after 25 years I still turn the wipers on when entering a corner. It makes me smile every time...

Theres still plenty of cars in hiding no doubt. Just amongst my circle of friends alot of us parked them up when life, mortgages and families started to take priority.
I few of us are on top of that now and are enjoying them again but I know of a HJ LS Monaro in particular thats has almost as much dust on it as that Torana.

yay this!!

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Terror_Tree

I may be wrong, but wasn't this car heavily based on a British Vauxhall?

Yes it is. They had to modify them to fit the straight 6 in it though. Extended the nose etc.

[Charliewool]

Yonks back, I had a FC wagon that I transplanted a Torana 138 red motor & 4 speed aussie into...

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by xahh

I owned an LX A9X hatchback but can't remember the steering wheel being offset? Perhaps they got it centred for that model. I do remember that it was an absolute pleasure to drive. Sold it to buy a 68 big block Corvette Stingray. What a stupid mistake that was. If I'd only known what the value of that Torana was going to be today.

Only the 6 cyl LC and LJ Torana had that stupid off set steering wheel. due to the steering box position I think it was.

I went to buy a LJ GTR back in 1983 as I liked the look of them, but after driving it, no way ! gutless and horrible to drive.

Then I went to test drive a HG GTS308 T Bar, now that drive I still remember and loved it, I was thinking yep I will try to buy it, but I needed $400 more that I did not have, so go back and said yep I will buy it, but some other dude had just bought it, well ! how could I set a deal then, the dealer said you two can go out the back and sort it out if you want, as he was a ex boxer and loved nothing better to see action. now if I had the money I could of taken up the challenge. but some years down the track that dude remembered me and said that that car cost him heaps with getting stung forking out with the engine, auto and the diff, he wish that I had got it.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by snap0964

Jack Brabham put his name to one as well.

image

Look at what the Japs had to offer back in the days of them 4 cyl Holden's, 4 cyl fords were much better than the Holden rubbish.

Look at the LJ 4 cyl Torana to a Cortina or a Valiant Gallant.

I have been in a TA Torana once with a mate driving another mates one, cutting loose flogging the guts out of it. big 1760cc mind.

[roKWiz]

i always thought the Datsun 180 coupe and 2 door LJ were very similar.
I reckon the Japs copied the design.

[.:4:.]

Cars are interesting when it comes to 50 years later. My dads first car was a 67 toyota corona. It was a 2 door. So 4 speed manual, no synchro between 1st and second. Considered jap crap back in the day. He did roll it, insurance did what they dont do these days, they actually fixed it, new roof and painted it british racing green at my old mans request. The second time he rolled it, he was dating my mum, and the car was written off.
But these days, a 2 door 67 corona is sort of desirable. No racing pedigree, 1600cc's of booring, but cool in their own respect.
Some cars for whatever reason create some form of stigma.
Its just one of those things.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

i always thought the Datsun 180 coupe and 2 door LJ were very similar.
I reckon the Japs copied the design.

Nothing alike at all.

I was pointing out how good handling a mates VB 4.2L 4sp Commodore was and this a dude claimed that a 180B was better because it had full IRS I said that he was p ing into the wind having no idea as to what handling truly is.

IRS is only to control the ride, not the handling. unless it's a 928 Porsche.

I said my mate is driving at 10 10ents here buster and his mum has a 3.3L VB but they do not handle like the V8's do, because they lack the power to hang the tail out on demand. not to mention a 180B is not in that league of Performance.

[Fairlane 500]

Bidding currently sitting at $48,250

Here is a link to the auction site.

https://burnsandco.hibid.com/catalog...-west-wyalong/

PS.. The 1961 Tank Fairlane looks like a great old car!

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 500

Bidding currently sitting at $48,250

Here is a link to the auction site.

https://burnsandco.hibid.com/catalog...-west-wyalong/

PS.. The 1961 Tank Fairlane looks like a great old car!

And They're only Pre-Auction Bids The real auction is not for another Month..

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 500

Bidding currently sitting at $48,250

Here is a link to the auction site.

https://burnsandco.hibid.com/catalog...-west-wyalong/

PS.. The 1961 Tank Fairlane looks like a great old car!

That Fairlane looks beautiful. If only I had the money and the space :(