Classic ATCC / Bathurst Holdens

[JRW]

Holden Monaro GTS - The Lion's first legend...

In 1968, the Great Race at Bathurst became the Hardie-Ferodo 500, and in response to Ford's 1967 Bathurst victory in the V8 Falcon GT, Holden entered the all new Monaro GTS 327 Coupe. It was based four-door HK Kingswood family car, yet was developed as an affordable high-performance V8 coupe which could win Bathurst.

The Bathurst-bound production racer had a 327c.i. Chevy-sourced V8 (hence the 'GTS 327' name) which enabled it to outperform the smaller engined 302c.i. Falcon GT's; claiming a popular maiden victory for the Monaro and Holden's first ever Bathurst win.

For the following year, Ford entered the first of its' legendary Falcon GT-HO's; the Phase One, powered by a 351c.i, Windsor V8. Holden upgraded the GTS 327 Monaro to the GTS 350 (obviously with the uprated 350c.i. Chevy V8). The new GTS 350 Monaro, at the hands of Colin Bond, was once again able to hold out Ford to claim another famous victory.

The car below represents Norm Beechey's famous 1970 ATCC (Australian Touring Car Championship) winning, Shell sponsored, Holden HT Monaro 350 GTS...

DOWNLOAD HERE

[JRW]

1974 saw the launch of the third-generation Holden Torana sedan, available with a choice of inline 4, inline 6, or V8 power. The 5.0 litre Holden V8 was reserved for the sporting LH Torana SL/R 5000 sedan.

A special build derivative of the SL/R 5000 was the Bathurst-intended 'L34 Option', of which only 263 were built, incorporating a unique engine block and other improvements for durability in competition use. The most notable external feature of the L34 was the bolt-on wheel arch extensions, designed to accommodate larger racing rims and tyres.

The L34 proved to be fast and successful, yet fragile, in Australian touring car racing. It was eventually superseded by the evolutionary A9X option made available in the LX Torana series in 1977. The LH Torana in L34 form won the famed Bathurst 1000 touring car race with Peter Brock and Brian Sampson in 1975 and with Bob Morris & John Fitzpatrick in 1976.

It's that 1976 Morris/Fitzpatrick car depicted below, skinned again on a[/FONT] '69 Camaro.


DOWNLOAD HERE



-

[GMH HOLDEN]

Thanks for helping the Generals men get into cartown

[cruizer]

great designs... love it!

[simonchio]

very nice!

[sagland]

I used the Chevy Nova for a Torana thought the front looked more like a LX Torana. I cut and pasted bits off of your 69 Camero skin. Was wondering what you though. Originaly used a Ford Pinto but looked a bit droopy and felt wrong useing a Ford for a Holden lol.A9X1.jpg

[78er]

really,really cool stuff dude

[Bhiv90]

wow.. love both designs!

[KhRiizZ]

I think i gonna buy a camaro just for That Design !!

[Tim Edwards]

i bet your begging for car town to get cars like these

[daniElWest]

Nice work! Cool stuff!

[Toddster]

Have to admit that you do awesome work.

[RocknSlant]

Really cool again. Love those Holdens. Too bad we don't have in Finland any of them.

[Toddster]

A few ideas for you to have a go at. The 86 Chikadee commodore was a great looker as were any of brockies mobil commodores.

[coolm4n]

Nice Pic and story,,