582 replies to this topic

[WhiteA9XS]

the almighty torana A9X hatchback !!! not only did it dominate at bathurst in its day it won by 6 laps and brock smashed the lap record on the last lap ...

good debate guys !!!

[REDA9X]

aCTUALLY bROCK WAS 6 LAPS IN FRONT in the L34 when it expired, and Brock told two different stories as to why the car expired, Harry always told the same story, thats how it goes when people tell porky pies...

So, whats the most expensive road going L34 and what did it go for?

[REDA9X]

Well, I know the first A9X hatch made sold for $350,000, and I have heard of another selling for more than that....

[yel327]

I personally think Toranamech and RED have covered all this.
I still think you are looking at 2 different eras in history, like trying to compare a Phase 3 HO with an XC 2 door GT..different eras, different configerations and engine specs...one was almost to the max of acceptable road/public sell of the floor specs.....the other was a detuned slug that was woken up with allowable Group C parts available after market.
I love them both...
1974-77 L34 was King.
1977-80 A9X was King as the ongoing development of the L34.
The argument will never reach a conclusion.
R

I gotta say Rory has summed up my feelings perfectly. People compare the two as they are both Toranas, but in reality an A9X road car probably has more in common (purpose wise) with a VC HDT than it does with an L34. Comparing L34 directly with A9X is like comparing a VC-VK pre GroupA Brock with a VL GroupA.

[unclefestal34s]

when Brock's car retired in the 74 and he was still leading the race even after his car was packed in the back off the truck...rory you make some good points...THE A9X HATCHBACK in race trim is and was in my opinion the ultimate torana from that era...the L34 won bathurst with the most fragile running gear and is a testament to the drivers from that time who raced them...

[kudu]

So, whats the most expensive road going L34 and what did it go for?

That almost sounds like you are saying that the sale price dictates how good the car was? However we all know that the price a car sells for does not necessarily equate to the quality of the car, theres a lot more to it than that.

[REDA9X]

Just asking the question, price means nothing, god only knows what really drives the prices anyway, I own 2 other cars much rarer than an A9X or L34, doesn't mean I will get the sort of money they command.

[yel327]

No other Holdens mean as much as an L34 Torana.

The rest are just a mode of transport to get to the shops.



Craig

Big call! Could be true too, except for 4 x pesky numbers - 1837. And a few special cars that carried them (one particular one in Shell Yellow).

[toranamech]

Mmmm, seems to be the debate is more about what cars you own or race histories

if we base the debate on how it left the factory:

L34, great engine, pre emmisions ADR's, M21 does the job if not flogged, Banjo diff, not really sure what they were thinking, the HQ v8's already had the Salisbury. So for an average joe blow owner great bang for buck, but in stock form an RPO83 would just smoke you, add the high output pack, then we have a car that car really get up and go, much better handling, brakes and looks than the SLR5000, the reality is possibly the fastest 4 door production car in the world at the time.

A9X, Smog gaylord engine, nanna HZ kingswood donk, thermofan was the saving grace as well as a functional hood scoop, M21 as per above, but there was the option of the T10 ex dealer, Diff very nice salisbury and four wheel disks, RTS front end, plus the availability of the Hatchback shape.

To look at history, see how many privateers and road registered cars featured in many races of the mid 70's and did well, really great bang for buck the L34 , unfettered by smog rules and just a camshaft and exhaust swap would at least get it going well.

By the mid 80's the existing ones had had more hits than the beatles, more people in them than madonna and were mostly 350 chev's toploaders 9 inches and chromed dragways or Centrelines with radial t/a's, just due to they were still cheap fun and the druggo / bogan on HP / got me payout, element had them, so many clean original examples were destroyed. I used to buy the boganised ones and sell all the non original junk and restore back to original, it was profitable and very rewarding to see them back on the road looking as per factory, in the late 80's the buyer were some bloke in their 40's who really just wanted what they couldn't afford when they were younger, a bit like now but without the stupid price tags.

The A9X was a better road car, full stop, just easier to live with as far as reliablity, as anyone who has had one on a hot day, that bonnet scoop really does vent everything into the cab below 60, but work above that, the only other alternative for vehicles was the XC cobra with the option 77 pack, much the same grand tourer. The HDT/Holden marketing engine was in full swing by then, the the A9X really got the public awareness, so prices were always higher and the standard of owners was a bit better, so many more prime examples remain today. The Hatchback A9X is still one of my favourites to this day, but that is purely from viewpoint of looks.

Collectable rarest toranas due to numbers surviving , L34 with high output pack and 3.08 (gu4) diff, Brisbane Built 73 Bathurst LJ , A9X hatchback with T10 and 3.08 diff.

But nowdays just due to pricing, the original cars will never be belted along at 260, get raced at every little hillclimb and trackday, loaded with mates for a weekend away blokezone cruise, blasted through mountain roads, all the real fun part of owning these cars.

[yel327]

exactly.

I believe toranamech's discription is the answer to my earlier thread re: L34 possibly being the most collectable australian road production vehicle!!!!!!

You are forgetting the HK GTS327 and HT GTS350. So whilst the argument will always rage about the L34 vs the other Toranas, possibly making the L34 the most collectable TORANA there are still other road going Holdens out there that may be more collectable including the above 2 x Monaros.

Playing Devil's advocate and say comparing the L34 at release and the HT GTS350 at release:

L34 had bigger brakes, bigger/better suspension than it's base (say standard SLR5000). The HT GTS350 manual had compared to it's base (say the 307 HT GTS - only available as an auto): bigger brakes, better suspension including bigger sway bar and rear radius rods.

L34 had more potent engine than standard SLR5000. HT did also ie 350 vs 307.

L34 had high output "pack" available. HT GTS350 had a "Bathurst upgrade pack". For GTS350 the upgrade got you special lightweight slotted rims, mods to air cleaner, mods to radiator supprt for brake cooling and for extra cost 186 cast double hump fuellie heads. Plus someother bits and pieces.

GTS350 also had over the 307 GTS: big tank, dual exhaust, Saginaw.

So most of the stuff that makes the L34 almost unique in Holden history also applies to the HT GTS350. Note that like the XU-1's some of the "Bathurst" mods became standard on later GTS350's and as time went on some of it became standard on other Holdens (like the bigger brakes became standard on HG).

All of this was good enough to allow the HT GTS350 to become a very effective race car and dominate the GT-HO's of the day on the road and the track in many instances. Power wise the standard GTS350 was reported to be more powerful and quicker than a standard GT-HO, although if the HT and HG continued as the race weapon they most defintely would have struggled against the phase II and III.

None of that though lessens my personal respect and ideas about the L34, I'd love to have one and would probably choose one over an A9X 4-door (I'd love an A9X coupe as well!).

[Litre8]

Playing Devil's advocate and say comparing the L34 at release and the HT GTS350 at release:

That can be a dangerous habit.......

[yel327]

Yes I should have held my tongue and kept quiet! The discussion is L34 vs A9X and should probably stay that way.

[GML-31]

I am surprised this topic keeps going, be more fun over a bbq and a beer

[wot179]

At the risk of death,I can categorically state here in this thread on this Torana forum,that no better looking car than a silver mink HK GTS with red trim has ever been produced by Holden.



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