1973 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 (ex-HDT Rally Car) Sedan

Description

With the introduction of the LC Torana range in 1969, Holden’s Competitions Manager Harry Firth quickly recognised the future of touring car racing lay in the smaller, lighter and ultimately more reliable Torana rather than the big, thirsty Monaros. Based on the sportiest model in the range, the GTR, the XU-1 had its Bathurst debut in 1970 with three Holden Dealer Team entries and several privateers to do battle with the Falcon GT-HOs. With promising results in 1970 and again in 1971, Holden released an updated XU-1 based on the LJ series Torana for 1972, with revised frontal and rear styling plus a number of interior components lifted from the new HQ range. Mechanically, the XU-1 was used to homologate various components like heavy-duty springs, revised camshaft and lightened flywheel. Equipped with new Globe Sprintmaster wheels and a 3.08:1 diff, the Toranas were now capable of touching 225km/h down Conrod Straight. At Bathurst in 1972, the wet weather and driving genius of Peter Brock combined to defeat the mighty GT-HOs in the Hardie Ferodo 500 and the XU-1s went on to win the 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship, earning the “Giant Killer” reputation along the way. A proven winner at circuit races, the XU-1 also competed successfully in rallies, hillclimbs and rallycross events in the early 1970s. Officially HDT began competing off road with the HT Monaro in August 1969, with Barry Ferguson and Tony Roberts both campaigning new LC Torana XU-1s in 1970 alongside Colin Bond’s Monaro GTS 350. The XU-1 won four successive Australian Rally Championships, Bond and his navigator George Shepheard taking the laurels in 1971, 1972 and 1974 and Peter Lang teaming up with co-driver Warwick Smith in 1973. Even Peter Brock tried his hand on dirt, proving virtually unbeatable in the supercharged GTR known as “The Beast” in Rallycross events.