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Published on 24 January 2024

Hi David, A great article and well deserved recognition for the 4cyl Toranas. One has to ask why was Colin Chapman looking at the OHC 4cyl Vauxhall Engine? The answer is he saw it as the exact baseline for what became the 2.0 and 2.2 902 and 907 motors than were used in Jensen Healeys and Lotus Elites. Now with a four valve twin cam head on a 2.3 ltr motor the HC Vauxhall (LJ Equivalent) hosed off the Escorts in their day in the UK. Lotuses go fairly well too boot. Gerry Marshall and Peter Brock drove a 2.3lt 2 door Magnum (LJ equivalent) to 2nd Place in the 1976 Spa 24 Hour Race. That says something. With a 2.3ltr slant 4 cyl stroked to 2.6ltr, with twin cam head, these things pull 250bhp and weigh 200kg less than an XU-1. Peter Brock said that in his opinion the 4 cyl platform was a better balance car than the 6 cylinder. I have owned every model of Torana including the ultimate a 197 Bathurst LC, but I still loved my 4 cylinder.