The Torana had already taken the fight to V8-powered Falcons in the early days of Group C before it received a boost in power with the LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34.
Ford ruled Australian touring cars in 1973. Allan Moffat had won the Australian Touring Car Championship in the Falcon GTHO Phase III. He upgraded to XA Falcon GT Hardtop at Bathurst and duly won the first Great Race run to 1000 kilometres.
Holden needed a response. And, after being the David to Ford’s Goliath with the six-cylinder LJ Torana GTR XU-1 in recent seasons, it joined Ford in racing a V8 with the LH Torana SL/R 5000.
The LH Torana SL/R 5000 road car was released in March 1974 and looked quite different to its predecessor, with its longer, wider and heavier body reflecting the beefed-up engine.
The race-going version debuted in April 1974 and was raced by Peter Brock in the second half of that season, helping him to secure the drivers’ title.
This story is from the December 2018 - January 2019 Issue 108 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.
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This story is from the December 2018 - January 2019 Issue 108 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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