RARE GMH LION ZZ/Z GEMINI

AUSTRALLIA'S BIGGEST SELLER, A CAR OF THE YEAR AND BATHURST WINNER, THE GEMINI SPAWNED MANY LIMITED EDITION MODELS LIKE THE ZZ/Z

- MARK HIGGINS/CLIFF CHAMBERS

There aren't many Holden Geminis left these days, due to the ravages of time, rust and racing, but over a 10-year period, Holden made almost a quarter of a million of them.

Born out of the '70s oil crisis and the need for more fuel-efficient vehicles, the first-generation Holden Gemini was built exclusively at Holden's Acacia Ridge plant in Queensland, from 1975 - the year Australia got colour TV - to 1984.

The Gemini was Australia's best-selling car in 1975 with a starting price of $4026 and over its journey, picked up Bathurst class wins and a car of the year gong.

Over its decade in production, the Gemini was available as a sedan, coupe, van and wagon, initially with a petrol and later a diesel engine option, across six model designations TX, TC, TD, TE, TF and TG.

The TX was the first Gemini and came as a four-door sedan in two trim levels, S and SL, and a two-door SL coupe.

It had a 63kW 1.6-litre SOHC four-cylinder engine with a crossflow alloy head and breathed through a single twin-throat carburettor. The gearbox choice was a four-speed manual or three-speed auto. It came with 13-inch wheels and had front disc brakes.

Offered as an option on the TX was the ‘Fashion Pack’ with its plaid-seat and door trims.

March 1977 saw the debut of the TC range sporting a new grille, a silver rear panel along with a new ventilation system. The ‘Fashion Pack’ option was again offered and upgraded to include steel-belt radial tyres, a front stabiliser bar, as well as the snazzier trim.