Holden LJ Torana GTR-XU1 Review

Overall Rating

fast as man i have a big block fully worked turbo 350 with shift kit and noooooooooosssssssssssss!!!!!!!!! handles great, nice mags

nothing

i got over 270kph in my 1974 Holden lj torana GTR-XU1.

Members' Comments onnos boy or the mad holden kid.'s Review

• "Torana Mad". on 11th Aug 2002

  Sorry guys... I disagree with some of the things that you mentioned about the GTR XU-1 Torana. I too love this car but belive that a true XU-1 runs best with one of the few "bathurst special" engines that was developed for it, not a 350. Having power is one thing, but truely understanding your car is another. If you are lucky enought to own a genuine XU-1, take care of it... They are becoming rare, very rare. Most of them have been in accidents and are not repaired/restored to their former glory. Enjoy your driving fellas...

• who. on 28th Aug 2002

  Ok this other guys right, sort of. They are getting rare and old so best to keep them in original condition. Heres where he's wrong a turbo 350 ain't a chev v8 turbo it's a kind of transmission so he hasn't changed the engine mate

• Nick. on 19th Sep 2002

  i think your'e both wrong... the guy who wrote the review sounds like he dosent know what he's talking about. "a fully worked turbo 350" i'd say he's making it up and that he had heard somewhere about a turbo 350 and thought it was a turbo chev engine. So sorry mate your not fooling me!

• Timma. on 2nd Oct 2002

  You guys r all wrong. He's trying to say that he has a worked big block (engine), and a turbo 350 (automatic transmision)

• dan. on 4th Oct 2002

  look the bottom line is that if it is indeed a genuine XU-1 then he does not deserve the right to own it, because any mods to a car that is rare as rocking horse poo is disgraceful. Those cars are icons of the best era in motoring in australian history so putting anything other than the factory gear in it (no matter how hard to find ) is simply stupid. We can only hope he hasn't done any irreversible mods so if a true fan gets hold of it he can restore it to it's former grace, beauty and image.

• Rhian. on 8th Oct 2002

  Interesting....
  Whatever he's done to his XU-1, he's got his dates wrong to start with. 1973 was the last year any XU-1's were made. And, the only one's they made in 73' were the 150 Bathurst models. I've done a lot of research into this, because I have one; a 73' Bathurst. The 5th of 150. I've had it for 18 years now and it's been in storage for roughly 17.5 of those years. I've got the original sales paper work and researched much of it's history. I was even in contact with the original owner when I was still living in Aust..
  
  If you want some good info on the XU-1's, get the book by Fiv Antonio. It's an outstanding book on the history of the XU-1.
  
  Just out of curiosity, anyone have any idea what mine would be worth? Very original, in great condition.

• boob. on 12th Oct 2002

  Yeah to the American with the XU-1. If it is a true Bathurst Models it's worth big dollars you could get anywhere from about 40,000 if it's in excellent original condition.

• Nat. on 15th Oct 2002

  Hi. I'm 18 years old and i have a true LJ "Bathurst Special" GTR-XU1 and i think that whoever wrote this review does not deserve to have a car that should only ever be owned by someone who is going to keep it original. This car is a work of art and should never ever be modified from its original state. Mate, if i were you i'd sell it to someone who has a passion for toranas and deserves to own one.

• petey. on 28th Oct 2002

  C'mon $40,000 for a genuine bathurst model. Get real. My brother owns the bathurst original xu1 in one of the torana performance mags.no. 150. He's owned 3 original xu1's but only 1 bathurst 73' xu1. He has it immaculately restored to original specs. He will be lucky to get $25,000 for it. Maybe your confused with a original bathurst A9X. He is currently selling his original vk ss group 3 brockie. Immaculate condition, completely original. Brockies signature of authenticity. $35,000 ono Email: xu1xu1xu1@hotmail.com for details

• dude. on 7th Nov 2002

  My missus just bought a 73 bathurst special GTR XU1 ( genuine ) that had been stored for around 10 years cos it kept shearing off flywheels . Without the original motor, new paint, and minimal alterations ,we practically stole it at a grand price of $2000 its a nice girls car wot do yus rek ?

• SUTHO. on 18th Nov 2002

  HOW OLD IS THIS KID I MEAN HE SOUNDS LIKE HES TWELVW YRS OLD AND DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE

• Barry Gavin. on 17th Dec 2002

  As soon as you modify an "original" by changing the motor, suspension, wheels etc is ceases to be original and then becomes "was original" or "modified original" For all special models like GTRs or XU-1s, please leave them alone or "restore" them to their former glory and "original specs" Thank You........Barry.

• John A. on 16th Jan 2003

  In an article in the Dec 02 Unique Cars mag about the Torana XU1 gathering at Bathurst , the author reckoned that there were less than 400 genuine XU1s still in existence . If this were true , then surely owners of any existing ones left would be better off keeping their cars as close to factory standard as possible . They will only become rarer and more valuable as time goes on .

• Rod. on 20th Mar 2003

  i think every one who wrote in about this comment actually lost the whole point its a great car and we should all enjoy them for what they really are a nice handling punchie little car my lj might not be an original xu-1 but i love it.

• LJ TEEN. on 15th Apr 2003

  I'm eighteen years of age and i'm looking at buying a another LJ torana in very good condition but this guy has just wrecked an AUstralian icon what was he thinking. Sure that "THING" that he has created may go faster then the REAL GTR XU1 keep the genuine, *GENUINE* YOU IDIOT

• DAMAGEinc. on 17th Jun 2003

  Im 18 and im looking to buy a 2 door manual UC torana hatch. im gona bomb out the engine, put sik mags on it, fattest exhaust ever, run 25 pounds of boost and NOS. then im gona paint it black and put 2 fat red GT stripes down the middle. it may not be original but itll be JOY!

• KJ. on 1st Aug 2003

  Well I own three Torana's, they are as following:
  
  1977 A9X Torana-fully restored
  
  1972 GTR XU-1 LJ Torana-fully restored, I have the one that brockie drove in the 1972 Bathurst Race, so yoou guys don't know what its like to own a real pure bread racing car!
  and.........
  
  1974 L34 Torana
  
  I had these car's valued and the 1977 A9X was worth AUD$44,750 thats about $19,000 pounds to you guys. The 1972 GTR XU-1 was worth AUD$35,000 that about $15,000 pounds to yo guys.
  the 1974 L34 is worth AUD$39,900 that about $17,000 pound to you guys.
  So.........just to let you know, all of these cars are worth alot more money if they ARE kept in ORIGINAL condition!
  Trust me, I know!
  cheers KJ

• robin01 on 25th Aug 2003

  I just purchased a GTR original without motor for $1500. It is pink, but it has the original bathurst drop tank and some other factory bathurst stuff done to it, I Have always liked the GTR's but I'm not a huge Tori fan, I bought it cause I thought it was cheap. Im actually into HSV's and I drive a VS Maloo. What I was wondering, Do I decrease the value of the car if I paint it another GTR colour like Taormina Aqua metallic? Oh, the other thing I want to ask, This GTR has been raced at Bathurst and NEVER registered. Does that mean its worth more money?

• LC70GTR on 25th Aug 2003

  "Strike me lucky".
  That sounds like a great find and in fact the colour is probably "Strike me Pink". The moment you take away a "classic" cars originality, the re-sale price will drop. The paint code number on the tag on the right side of the radiator should match the colour of the car. If you have the race history ie. CAMS log book, then this will increase again the value of the car. Keep it as original as possible and it will always keep its value at its highest. My car is a 4th month 1970 "Monza Blue Metalic" LC GTR with its original 2600S motor and Opel gearbox. Keep the faith, keep'em original. Kind Regards.......Barry.

• LC70GTR on 25th Aug 2003

  If you want to sell, please let me know and I am sure I can find a buyer for you.
  Kind Regards........Barry.

• robin01 on 27th Aug 2003

  Thanks Barry I wish I had your colour car, Im not to impressed with strike me pink, Getting the cams books is difficult, I have rang holden in melbourne and they don't keep records on LC's.
  I know the chass number is LC14733B. I'm starting to feel a little like magnum PI investigating this thing.

• LC70GTR on 27th Aug 2003

  G'day Robin01.
  please email me, bazlyncoota@yahoo.com.au and I might be able to help you with a few things for your car.
  Kind Regards...........Barry.

• wozzar on 7th Sep 2003

  Hey robin01,
  
  from what I can see in Fivs book, the strike me pink code is 13891, but that was under 1972. Not too sure if its the same code for 69-71?

• michael obrien on 28th Sep 2003

  KJ who did the valuations on your cars? Your A9X is a hatch I pressume with extremely low KM, an unusual colour and in perfect original condition?

• torana man on 4th Jan 2004

  hey kj or jk im 19 owned gtr and a slr5000 I was lucky to 15000 for my gtr and my slr is only about 19 or 20000 who did your cars??? and as for you brock lj dont think so pull the other one you must be well off to have got that as his 72 car is in a shop??? and all his rally cars he still has...so? tell us the truth. and the yellow lj is a 1972 gtr look-a-like and the picture is off the gmh website

• maeve on 12th Jan 2004

  Each to his own, but I do agree that these cars should be kept as origanal as possible. I am at present negotiating on a 72 lj gtr xu1, the car is origanal except for recon engine with new yella terra head,origanal block,origanal triple carbs,108,000 mls,factory orange.I would appreciate any input on value as I am unsure.

• LC70GTR on 12th Jan 2004

  G'day maeve.
  You said "72 lj gtr xu1, the car is origanal except for recon engine with new yella terra head,origanal block,origanal triple carbs,108,000 mls,factory orange."
  I say, the more original, the better the price. As long as there is no other mods then I would value it between 13Gs and 16Gs. That's a big gap but what is the paint work like, how worn is the mechanicals, how good is the upholstery.
  If the rest of the car is good, then possibly more like 14 to 15Gs.
  If it was a Bathurst car, then a bit more. The highest price I have heard of and it was a Bathurst car and in concourse condition, was 25Gs.
  At the moment, if you have to get parts and or original fixtures, then be prepared to have a good bank manager.
  Check all of the tags and make sure they are right and match up. Make sure the VIN number on the inside left guard matches the one on the tag just adjacent to the wiper motor and that the trim and paint codes are right.
  Hope this helps, Kind Regards........Barry.
  My car is a 4th month 1970 Monza Blue LC GTR.

• ljtorrie on 17th Jan 2004

  I think that all the stuff that is in the torrie should be taken out and put in some for recycle rubbish and shipped off to the japs. keep it australian please!

• clarkmauger on 19th Jan 2004

  hello. I and live in NZ. I am confused with the models of the toranas. The torana i am looking at buying is a 4 door with a straight 6 2.8L I think. It has S written on the side. Is this model a lj? This torana is totally origonal except for mags. The torana is in mint condition. do you reckon $NZ4,000 is a good price?

• LC70GTR on 19th Jan 2004

  G'day clarkmauger.
  If it has the egg crate grill and three separate square tail lights then it is an LJ. Just check on the VIN number on the inside front left guard near the carby and it should have LJ then numbers then an A or B etc which denotes where it was made. Send the tag info which can be found on the one near the wiper motor, left and right side of the radiator. The one on the right of the radiator will also have on it the trim and paint code number. Is it a 4sp or auto. 4sp will give it the higher price but at 4Gs I think it is a little too high. email bazlyncoota@yahoo.com.au or go to http:www.gmh-torana.com join the site (its free) and you will get a lot of help. It is the best site for Torana lovers. You can also buy/sell etc and ask tech questions and ask also for a price check like on the car you are interested in or even just for part prices,
  Kind Regards......Barry (LC70GTR on Torana forum)

• torana on 28th Feb 2004

  Hey everyone! I just got a UC Torana,nothing on it is original at all..but it sure as hell goes hard. It has a supra 5 speed gearbox, custom made front and rear made spoilers, elecronic ignition, fully worked 202. flat top pistons, tripple webers, stage 2 cam shafts, chrom-moly rings,The lot!! but it had a large dent in the back corner...so quess how much I picked her up for???
  1500 bucks...thats rite 1500...so I knocked out the dint in a mater of a few hours, a bit of nikki as a skim surface, and then new tail light..Nobody knows the diference!!!not a spec of rust anywhere at all..and some mad exratactors, tyhat realy gives it a realy nice bark (; You just got to watch her at the lights because she spins out everywhere haha, limited slip diff..the lot.....and I reakon its the best buy in my life !

• flame rod on 10th May 2004

  Hey fellas I think that keeping Toranas original is a load of rubbish, I own 2 73 lj xu1 Toranas one of them has a Ford 3.0 litre injected V8 in it, it runs smoother, is more reliable and really packs a punch. The other one my 16 year old boy uses out on our farm as a paddock hacker, she does good burnouts mate has a few dings but otherwise is completely original.

• buckos on 29th May 2004

  Would you guys please post reviews on the bathurst 73 xu1 with any information, I would be grateful, thanks chris.

• trueholdenboy on 7th Jun 2004

  Hey Torana fansive just got myself a 72 LJ and I want 2 to get it resprayed. What colour should I get it done and is it worth making it a xu-1 mock up. David

• LC70GTR on 8th Jun 2004

  Sorry Flame Rod but you are wrong about not keeping a GTR/XU-1 original. The originals fetch better prices. You can cruise past me in my fairly original Monza Blue LC GTR any time you like but I sure know which car that people will admire the most and it ain't no Torana with a Ffffffford motor in it.
  To Bucko, go to www.gmh-torana.com and you will get all the info you want on any model Torana.
  Great site, great bunch of blokes and gals.
  Regards..........Barry or LC70GTR on the Torana forums.

• LC70GTR on 8th Jun 2004

  As a PS to that last post go to www.members.cardomain.com/lc70gtr Check out my wee beastie, some police LC GTRs and some very cool V8 LH & LX Toranas.......Regards....Barry.

• danmark on 2nd Aug 2004

  72 73 lj xu1 wanted
  must be original excellent cond all numbers must match,original extractors preffered.top dollars paid please contact mark @ danmark@iprimus.com.au nice to see a place to go to communicate with torri lovers keep it up.any info would ba appreciated