.. a new A9X Torrie anyone?

... want one of these ? a NEW road version of this?

https://media.drive.com.au/obj/tx_q:...rxqo2w78xvnsnn


got $250,000? yes... well you can! under development, with specs below

https://media.drive.com.au/obj/tx_q:...c-e86866850000





2024 Drive South Hatch Specifications
The first Drive South Hatch will include:


Chassis: CAD-Designed Extruded and Bonded Aluminium, Integrated Chrome Moly Roll Cage/Side Impact Protection

Body: Composite (Glass Fibre) Panels

Engine: GM Performance LS3 6.2L V8 – 320KW, 580NM, Fuel Injection

Transmission: Tremec TR6060 6 Speed Manual or GM 6L80 6 Speed Auto

Differential: Strange 9 Inch LSD with IRS – 35 spline axles

Brakes: Wilwood 320mm rotors with 4 piston calipers front and rear

Front Suspension: 3D Designed Double Wishbone, Tubular A Arms, Coil Over Shocks

Steering: Electric/Hydraulic Power Rack

Rear Suspension: 3D Designed Independent Tubular Multi Link

Wheels: 18x8/9 Koya Forged Aluminium

Interior: Leather Trimmed Front Recaro Seats, Carbon Dash Panel


Attachment 11927



rather interesting if this gets off the ground ..!:bravo:

That looks cool but would be well out of my price range! :shock:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whitels1ss

That looks cool but would be well out of my price range! :shock:

---

so say most of us.... but there is a market out there for cars like this

says he ..... who has 2 mates who sold their circa 1978 A9X 2 doors and made over $300 large at auction!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smitty

so say most of us.... but there is a market out there for cars like this

says he ..... who has 2 mates who sold their circa 1978 A9X 2 doors and made over $300 large at auction!

---

I could think of better things & nicer driving cars to spend $300 large on. :yup:

I have bought, driven & sold plenty of all 3 brands of Aussie muscle cars over my life, (plenty of other brands also, I have bought, owned & sold many thousands of cars):yup:
to be honest I can't see the value in what the market is paying for them these days
compared with far more special & classic cars from the same time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whitels1ss

I could think of better things & nicer driving cars to spend $300 large on. :yup:

I have bought, driven & sold plenty of all 3 brands of Aussie muscle cars over my life, (plenty of other brands also, I have bought, owned & sold many thousands of cars):yup:
to be honest I can't see the value in what the market is paying for them these days
compared with far more special & classic cars from the same time.

---

I sold my HT HTS 350 Bathurst Monaro ( ....manual with large tank) for $4,000 in the mid 70s.
A bit of a special, American Racing mags, extractors minus the middle muffers exhaust and a glorious 8 track system, I thought I got a good deal (trade-in on an early LJ XU1)

I cry every time I see one these days

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smitty

I sold my HT HTS 350 Bathurst Monaro ( ....manual with large tank) for $4,000 in the mid 70s.
A bit of a special, American Racing mags, extractors minus the middle muffers exhaust and a glorious 8 track system, I thought I got a good deal (trade-in on an early LJ XU1)

---

If you gave me the choice of both of those cars to take for a Sunday drive I would pick the HT GTS 350.

I have never been all that fond of the XU1's.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whitels1ss

If you gave me the choice of both of those cars to take for a Sunday drive I would pick the HT GTS 350.

I have never been all that fond of the XU1's.

---

horses for courses... an LJ XU1 would eat a GTS350 up a mountain or winding road, one up.
4 up the GTS would be as quick (weight kills XU1, no torque you see) but the GTS350 was killing
me money wise. It ate brakes, the weekly fill of avgas was not helping plus mine had this HT GTS350 manual
tailshaft issue.. which was corrected on the HG GTS 350. And having driven one of those after
I sold the HT GTS, I am kicking myself on buying the XU1.

I went slightly sideways with cars after joining GMH as they were making A9X Torries at dandenong
and got a company car.. HZ Prem wagon .. 5.0 manual too. And in my spare time, built up
a LJ 4 door that i got for $50 after an engine bay/under dash fire.

One of the blokes I got to know later at GMH Port Melbourne was one called John Shepherd
and he had a shed load of LJ go fast race parts.For little money i got an ex-Bond red6 race motor
(only missing the Webers) Got Ian Tate to do some mods, fitted Webers and had Tatey dyno tune it.
Reckon I had the quickest 4 door LJ on the planet.. even gave it a new paint job and got 12s at Calder

Attachment 11928

Still.. all this happened 40 years ago now and we will never see anything like these again
(no Holden for starters)

Yes, a bit over my price range too, but I guess we've all had a few machines that we wish we still had.
Me?..A9X 4 door, 19000ks, bought & sold for around $13K, & it didn't sell immediately, VK Group A, 7000ks, sold for $26K (still more than I paid!),and there's been a few othere, VL GPA P.P, Director, VN Group A, VF GTSR etc etc, & now I have nothing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHHh2MWt_U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HeCW37TAI

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pickles

Yes, a bit over my price range too, but I guess we've all had a few machines that we wish we still had.
Me?..A9X 4 door, 19000ks, bought & sold for around $13K, & it didn't sell immediately, VK Group A, 7000ks, sold for $26K (still more than I paid!),and there's been a few othere, VL GPA P.P, Director, VN Group A, VF GTSR etc etc, & now I have nothing!

---

arrrh, yes... Martin, but what memories!

in my case the last speeding fine I got was when I had the 1st (and only) GMH press fleet VK GrpA blue meanie for the weekend...
going home Friday, Bent Ave Elwood.. gave it a bit of stick as you do and there is local plod at the New St end checking for speeding traffic.
got Me..! guilty ya honour and a bit more than 10 over. Lightened the wallet with a fine and 3 points lost (but kept the licence)
Memories mate ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smitty

arrrh, yes... Martin, but what memories!

in my case the last speeding fine I got was when I had the 1st (and only) GMH press fleet VK GrpA blue meanie for the weekend...
going home Friday, Bent Ave Elwood.. gave it a bit of stick as you do and there is local plod at the New St end checking for speeding traffic.
got Me..! guilty ya honour and a bit more than 10 over. Lightened the wallet with a fine and 3 points lost (but kept the licence)
Memories mate ...

---

Back "in the day" when I owned my '59 FC Special, lowered, exhaust etc, I was travelling to Calder for a meeting, can't remember what, but as I drove through Keilor (pre freeway) a uniformed Police Officer, waved me down,.....yes, I'd been caught by an amphometer, on the very first occasion they used them! Can't remember the speed or the fine, mustn't have been too serious as I kept my license.

This type of build goes on in the UK

You can get new Mark 1/2 Escort bodies with very powerful engines in them for like 200,000 pounds
Have seen a few road tests on the tube

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amckiwi

This type of build goes on in the UK

You can get new Mark 1/2 Escort bodies with very powerful engines in them for like 200,000 pounds
Have seen a few road tests on the tube

---

I cannot see any value at all in buying any of these for that sort of money,

If I was in the market to buy a BRAND NEW sports type car for that sort of money,

I would personally buy a C8 Corvette instead. :driving:


I have 3 mates with them & I reckon they are an awesome, beautifully made car. :goodjob:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pickles

Back "in the day" when I owned my '59 FC Special, lowered, exhaust etc, I was travelling to Calder for a meeting, can't remember what, but as I drove through Keilor (pre freeway) a uniformed Police Officer, waved me down,.....yes, I'd been caught by an amphometer, on the very first occasion they used them! Can't remember the speed or the fine, mustn't have been too serious as I kept my license.

---

FC Holden ?... eh Martin?
widies, lowered.. aficiando then! :headbang:

back in the early 70s (just got the licence) my cuz Paul went to tech school with a bloke called Alan Hale
and both had an idea... lets have a race to see who can build the BEST FC.. first to the annual HotRod show wins

Paul bought an old FC.... and we started ( see pic outside my place back then and I can tell you fibreglass flares are a pr*ck of a thing to add)

Attachment 11942

We kept going and Alan and Paul kept watch over each others progress but Alan had an advantage. He simply was a better
engineer, fabricator than Paul... plus he had another advantage, a guy he knew called Vic Reilly had just started a paint and panel
shop in Moorabbin.... Bucket Panels (its still there and operating too!)

It was obvious Alan was going to win the race... and he did! he got to the HotRod show first. Did cheat a bit though :evil:
... pic tells the story I think you will agree.

Attachment 11943

Alan finished the FC..... and kept modifying it. Got it registered with a SBC engine, Jag IRS etc.. as the famous black FC225
that has been displayed at lots of shows over the years

Attachment 11944



Oh... and Paul's FC? Never finished it, got married to Jenn.. bought a place in Cheltenham, the usual story.
Sold the shell .. still pretty much in this condition to a mate of Vic Reillys (and never seen since)

Attachment 11945



Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smitty

FC Holden ?... eh Martin?
widies, lowered.. aficiando then! :headbang:

back in the early 70s (just got the licence) my cuz Paul went to tech school with a bloke called Alan Hale
and both had an idea... lets have a race to see who can build the BEST FC.. first to the annual HotRod show wins

Paul bought an old FC.... and we started ( see pic outside my place back then and I can tell you fibreglass flares are a pr*ck of a thing to add)

Attachment 11942

We kept going and Alan and Paul kept watch over each others progress but Alan had an advantage. He simply was a better
engineer, fabricator than Paul... plus he had another advantage, a guy he knew called Vic Reilly had just started a paint and panel
shop in Moorabbin.... Bucket Panels (its still there and operating too!)

It was obvious Alan was going to win the race... and he did! he got to the HotRod show first. Did cheat a bit though :evil:
... pic tells the story I think you will agree.

Attachment 11943

Alan finished the FC..... and kept modifying it. Got it registered with a SBC engine, Jag IRS etc.. as the famous black FC225
that has been displayed at lots of shows over the years

Attachment 11944



Oh... and Paul's FC? Never finished it, got married to Jenn.. bought a place in Cheltenham, the usual story.
Sold the shell .. still pretty much in this condition to a mate of Vic Reillys (and never seen since)

Attachment 11945



Cheers

---

I remember an "Alan Hale",..He was very well known,...did He ever have a connection with HSV?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pickles

I remember an "Alan Hale",..He was very well known,...did He ever have a connection with HSV?

---

yes he worked there for a while (if I remember correctly)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pickles

Yes, a bit over my price range too, but I guess we've all had a few machines that we wish we still had.
Me?..A9X 4 door, 19000ks, bought & sold for around $13K, & it didn't sell immediately, VK Group A, 7000ks, sold for $26K (still more than I paid!),and there's been a few othere, VL GPA P.P, Director, VN Group A, VF GTSR etc etc, & now I have nothing!

---

What a list! I'm too young to have experienced any of those cars new other than the VF, but I have a real soft spot for my old HSV VP Senator 5000i with a built 355ci. Again, too young to buy one new, but it was a really fun car as the second owner. Very slow by today's standards, but good for its time before the LS came along. I couldn't replace that car, but had thoughts of doing a "resto mod" build like this Torana A9X. Instead, I've decided it's best left as a good memory.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red CV8 R

What a list! I'm too young to have experienced any of those cars new other than the VF, but I have a real soft spot for my old HSV VP Senator 5000i with a built 355ci. Again, too young to buy one new, but it was a really fun car as the second owner. Very slow by today's standards, but good for its time before the LS came along. I couldn't replace that car, but had thoughts of doing a "resto mod" build like this Torana A9X. Instead, I've decided it's best left as a good memory.

---

You will go a long way to find something that sounds better than a 355 Holden stroker with a decent sized cam in it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pickles

I remember an "Alan Hale",..He was very well known,...did He ever have a connection with HSV?

---

Did he have a little buddy called Gilligan? :hide:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BLACK 346

You will go a long way to find something that sounds better than a 355 Holden stroker with a decent sized cam in it.

---

I used to get compliments everywhere about the sound of that car. I also used to set off car arms left right and centre if I took it into a car park :D However, I'll make myself very unpopular saying this, but I actually prefer the sound of an LS1. Well, one with the right exhaust/intake combo. Some setups sound terrible. Especially when people make them too loud.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red CV8 R

I actually prefer the sound of an LS1.
Well, one with the right exhaust/intake combo.

---

Blower on top works quite well! :hide:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whitels1ss

Blower on top works quite well! :hide:

---

That was my first thought, gotta love the distinct and addictive sound of a top mount :)

New video from yesterday just popped up.

The 2 previous videos were from 10 months ago...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSaJ2g26cO8

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BLACK 346

That was my first thought, gotta love the distinct and addictive sound of a top mount :)

---

Its funny, I used to be nuts about forced induction, but turbos were my thing rather than blowers. I've owned more turbo cars than anything else. My very first car was a VL Calais Turbo. I actually intended to twin turbo my Monaro when I bought it, influenced by cars like Rob Vickery's Monaro shown below. However, I've now become more of a fan of naturally aspirated power. The sound of a tuned LS1 really floats my boat.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/h...-classic-motor

I much prefer the HQ Monaro Coupe proportions over the the Torana hatch back personally, hands down IMO...

Found this quote below online.


" Peter Brock raced the Bob Jane Monaro in a one off appearance at Calder 15th October 1978 wrapped in a peel off Marlboro colour scheme.

Peter Brock could not practice so started from the rear of the grid so Jim Richards decided to start from the rear of the grid also to make it more interesting. Brock won both races. "


https://i.imgur.com/talyZC7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2MwxwxK.jpg
https://imgur.com/2MwxwxK

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red CV8 R

I used to get compliments everywhere about the sound of that car. I also used to set off car arms left right and centre if I took it into a car park :D However, I'll make myself very unpopular saying this, but I actually prefer the sound of an LS1. Well, one with the right exhaust/intake combo. Some setups sound terrible. Especially when people make them too loud.

---

the main problem ... in my opinion was ppl used the Holden V8 modified exhaust set up on LS1 engines when they came out
and
also thought, BIGGER is BETTER. All you got was an LS1 that sounded like a farting elephant and performed no better

These days, how LSx engines work (different timing/firing pattern etc)has been worked out and yes... the factory (inc HSV)
and some performance exhaust actually work .. and sound good.

Just don't leave the rear mufflers off any of 'em...ok. Farting elephants is the result... just unpleasant

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smitty

the main problem ... in my opinion was ppl used the Holden V8 modified exhaust set up on LS1 engines when they came out
and
also thought, BIGGER is BETTER. All you got was an LS1 that sounded like a farting elephant and performed no better

These days, how LSx engines work (different timing/firing pattern etc)has been worked out and yes... the factory (inc HSV)
and some performance exhaust actually work .. and sound good.

Just don't leave the rear mufflers off any of 'em...ok. Farting elephants is the result... just unpleasant

---

All 100% accurate.

I've never seen a real colour photo of Brocks Marlboro HQ Monaro livery, so the best I could find was of a model.

It really pops in Colour...

Tough as Nails...

:cool::cool::cool:


https://i.imgur.com/dv6dHqf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/f5GvzvU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/803kkw0.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Y06AIhe.jpg

That's a blast from the past ! Had my HQ slot car shell painted in that livery (back in the day).

I watched the videos. Interesting project and I wish much success for having a crack. I think there's a market there. Just a shame he couldn't launch it a year or two ago when the wider muscle car market was crazy. Also a shame he couldn't go with a transaxle.

I've never driven any of the old Monaro or Torana's. So, I can only base my thoughts on looks. I do personally think the HK-HG Monaro is the best looking of the 60s/70s Holden's. It and the XA-XC GT Hardtop are beautiful looking cars when done right. I don't really like Torana's, but the A9X hatch is a hot looking car! My third favourite of the 60s/70s Aussie muscle. You would think that modern driveline, suspension and interior with such light weight, it would be a blast to drive!

The closest we got was the TT36 Torana…. Now that would have been interesting with an LSA in it.