1972 LJ Torana

1967 saw Holden introduce their first small car. Called the Torana, an Aboriginal word meaning 'to fly', it was based on the British Vauxhall Viva. Externally, the main difference between the English HB Viva and the Australian HB Torana was the rectangular headlights found on the English car. The basic Torana was spartan and priced to sell at less than $2,000.

Between 1967 and 1969, 36,561 HB Toranas were produced. The HB Series II followed in September 1968 and was essentially a minor upgrade of the original HB. The LC Torana was released in October 1969 and introduced a longer wheelbase and an all new outer body. The LJ Torana was introduced in February 1972 and again was a face lift of the existing model.

The model line-up was the same as the late LC with four-cylinder engines available in a two-door Torana 1200 sedan and two or four-door Deluxe sedan, while the six cylinder appeared in the Torana S two or four door and SL four door. The hottest model was the two door GTR and the GTR XU-1 was also available. The 3300 option followed 12 months after the original LJ release, in February 1973 and the 1760 replaced the 1600 OHC in October 1972. This unit was a longer stroke version of the same Vauxhall slant four.

Buyers had a wide choice of engines and modifications were made mid model.The twin barrel 2850S was replaced by the 3300 for the GTR, with the 3300 delivered unmodified from the Holden Kingswood. It provided strong torque and performance. The top of the range GTR XU-1 was equipped with triple 175mm CD Stromberg sidedraught carburettors and was tweaked to deliver even more power. It was fitted with the Australian made M21 four-speed transmission. Similarly the XU-1 was continually modified and gained a name on the race track. Colin Bond drove a Torana to victory in the Australian Rally Championship, while Peter Brock won his first Bathurst Hardi-Ferodo 500 in a six cylinder Torana LJ GTR XU-1.

The standard XU-1 had a stronger axle, tubular exhaust headers and 13x6 Globe Sprintmaster alloy wheels. Its engine had a stronger block and pistons, new head casting, bigger cam and boasted 200 bhp. On normal six cylinder cars, the 3300 GTR engine became optional in 1973, further increasing their popularity. The LJ Torana was replaced by the short lived (April 1974 -March 1975) TA Torana.

1972 LJ Torana
Introduced in February 1972.
Models: Torana 4-cyl. two door; Torana S 6-cyl. in two or four door, Torana S or Deluxe 4-cyl. in two or four door, Torana SL 6-cyl. four door; Torana SL 4-cyl. two door, Torana Deluxe 4-cyl. in two or four door, Torana GTR (and XU-1) two door.

Engines
Four cylinder:
-1200, 1200HP, 1300, 1600 OHC, 1760 OHC, 2250 LC, 2250 HC, 2850 LC,3300 LC,3300 HC,3300 XU-.

Transmissions:
Four cylinder:
-Four speed manual floor shift (1600 OHC had reverse lock out),
-Three speed Trimatic floor shift Six cylinder:
-Three speed man column shift'
-Three speed manual floor shift,
-Four speed manual floor shift
-Three speed trimatic floor or column shift.

Total built: 81,453

Source: Just Cars, December 2009, Collectors Issue 166