History of the LJ Torana

Overview

Though the LJ Torana simply looks like an LC with a different grille and split tail lights, there's a lot of changes under the skin.  It is more refined in its suspension, steering and carries quite a few safety features such as a collapseable steering wheel and column, soft internal sun visors and heat restraints on the front seats.           The four-cylinder engine range was initially 1200, 1300 or 1600cc; later the 1600 was stroked to 1760cc.  The bigger fours have an overhead camshaft, while the smaller are old-style overhead valve units.  Again, the fours are of limited interest to the street machiner and installing a six is a lenghy exercise.           Six-cylinder engines with capacities of 2250 and 2850cc were carried over from the LC range, but the BTR scored a 3300 unit from the big HQ Holden.  From february 1973 the stock 3300 motor was offered as an option on all Torana sixes.  Even in unmodified form it had a stack of grunt so is well worth looking at for a low-budget daily driver.           In Bathurst-bound GTR XU-1 form, the 3300 motor received a substantial power upgrade.  That included a strengthened block, 1-.3:1 compression pistons, a different cylinder head with better gas flow and a lumpier cam profile.  It was all fed by triple 1 3/4" CD2-S Stomberg carbs.  The engine sump was fined for better cooling and the oil pickup was modified to let it suck oil under the highest raceing G-forces.           Constant improvements were made to the XU-1, usually aimed fair and square at the raceing scene.  The last of the line, built from September 1972, had fine-spline rear axels for greater durability.  The classic shape of the 13x6" Globe Sprintmaster wheels was introduced and the design of the exhaust headers was further improved.           The choice of transmissions on the LJ was identical to that on the LC range except that some export models had an Opel four speed in place of an Aussie four speed.

Specific Model Information

Holden body identification plate: attached to lefthand side radiator panel assembly. Holden VIN plate: attached to righthand side radiator panel assembly. ADR compliance plate: attached to righthand side of ledge under bonnet. MODEL                  CODE                BODY              ENGINE Torana                   82211              two-door          four cylinder Torana S                82411              two-door          four cylinder Torana Deluxe        82411              two-door          four cylinder Torana S                82469              four-door         four cylinder Torana Deluxe        82469              four-door         four cylinder Torana SL              82611              two-door          four cylinder Torana Deluxe        82811              two-door          four cylinder Torana Deluxe        82869              four-door         four cylinder Torana S                82311              two-door          six cylinder Torana S                82369              four-door         six cylinder Torana SL              82569              four-door         six cylinder Torana GTR           82911              two-door          six cylinder Torana XU-1          82911              two-door          six cylinder Transmissions: -Four-cylinder; four-speed manual or three-speed automatic, all are floor change. -Six-cylinder; three-speed manual column shift; three-speed manual floor shift (export only) -XU1; four-speed manual floor shift; three-speed automatic floor or column shift.

TA Torana

The story of the smaller Torana's ends with a whimper rather than a bang.  When the bigger LH Torana was launched in March 1974 GM-H was anxious to keep a presence in the small car market until the launch of the Gemini in March 1975.  So the company did a minor rather untidy, facelift of the four-cylinder LJ and called it a TA Torana.  It featured two versions of the 1300cc engine and one of the 1760 OHC.  All other details are the same as the LJ four.

The Torana XU-2

GM-H seriously considered building a V8 Torana XU-1 - or an XU-2, as it may have been called in 1971 and 1972.  Some prototype 5 litre XU-1's were built and Peter Brock is said to have tested them at Holden's Proveing Ground at Lang Lang and to have driven one down Conrod Straight at Bathurst in a secret test.  Among other features, the car was rumored to not have one but two 77 litre fuel tanks.  Thats an amazeing 154 litres in total!           The supercar scare of 1972 killed the XU-2 stone dead.  Though a five litre Torana was built in LH and LX form as the SL/R 5000, it was a bigger and heavier car than the XU-2 would have been, making it slower and less nimble.  If only...