In America we had the death of the muscle car in the early 1970s due to the combined efforts of the insurance industry, the onset of emissions controls, and a shift in tastes from fast and flashy to toned down and luxury themed. In Australia, however, the government went completely nuts in 1972 and basically stood on the throats of the manufacturers. A journalist named Evan Green wrote an article that announced the coming of the “160 MPH Super Cars” (homologation cars to be eligible for the pre-runner to the Bathurst 1000 race at Mount Panorama). All three companies (Ford, Holden and Chrysler) were indeed putting some hot rides together, like the GTHO Phase IV, the Torana GT-R XU-1, and a hotter Hemi-6 and possibly 340-powered Valiant Charger R/T and that did not sit well with the governments, especially New South Wales Transport Minister Milton Morris. The pressure of the government caused all three manufacturers to back down and set Australian performance cars back for quite some time. Which makes the 1977 Holden Torana A9X such a surprise…to American eyes, it looks like a damn stout Monza coupe with Vega bumpers and the right amount of attitude. Sure, the fender flares and functional cowl scoop are pure 1970s, but they are the good side, and the rumble from the Holden 308 mill back up the callouts and the paint. Now considered one of Australia’s motoring gems, the fact that the A9X was ever produced is a miracle unto itself. Check it out!
Someone has been playing Forza 6 too much lol
Oh look – a Chevy in disguise!
Actually it looks quite good and as its what you would class as a “compact” it must have a stonking power to weight ratio,
But a Chevy by any other name is still a Chevy!
nope, you’d be wrong there. GM/H (Holden ) produced vehicle , uses Aussie 308 which is not related to Chev motors.
What a conglomeration of parts. The Pontiac Rally II wheels set it off. Not sure about all the riveted on body parts though….
Can you please post a version of the video with sub-titles………….
not riveted, bolted on.
Managed to see a Torana at Drag Week 2015, I think its a good looking Aussie car.
Man that exhaust sound good.
Sweet car!