768 replies to this topic

[xu2308]

LJ V8 was a Full on Production Car, 200 in first batch and a batch of 150 to follow, were only two weeks off Production when GMH pulled the Pin on it.

[N/A-PWR]

It is amazing,

 

how GMH pulled the pin on all the Great Prototypes hey Al. 

[xu2308]

Well they did it on the 427 Monaro as well :(

[N/A-PWR]

Good Point Al,

 

I wonder who is pulling their strings?

 

 

I have even emailed them about Badging a GTR-X reproduction,

 

and got a reply of Holden will not participate. 

I loved the 'Game is Over' at Bathurst 2002

Edited by NA-PWR, 21 August 2015 - 12:24 AM.

[xu2308]

Oh yeah I forgot about the Fantastic GTR-X as well, that is a Car that should and could be a Kit Car in a Cobra type mind set, Harry Firth GTR-X Kit Car like a Carroll Shelby Cobra Kit Car, they should of did that for Harry back in the day, Harry could of got that going and be a great tribute to the Icon.

 

AL

Edited by xu2308, 21 August 2015 - 12:29 AM.

[N/A-PWR]

I still think to this day,

 

that it was the GTR-XU2 V8 Torana,

 

but reading has destroyed that. 

Our Mate Harry was the Best. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit:-

 

I must add,

 

that, that drawing looks like an LH in disguise somehow. 

Edited by NA-PWR, 21 August 2015 - 12:41 AM.

[xu2308]

Yeah

The V8 LJ was Harry's Baby

But I like the idea of a Harry Firth GTR-X Kit Car, hope others do.

 

AL

[N/A-PWR]

I am in.

 

 

 

Edit sorry:-

 

427 GTR-X. 

 

 

F or F

 

 

Were there 8 Torana Models in Production.

 

       ( this Question will be huge.)

Edited by NA-PWR, 21 August 2015 - 12:58 AM.

[xu2308]

Only 3 GTR-X  as far as I know ?????????? but 8 would be fantastic

[N/A-PWR]

I stuffed up,

 

3 GTR-X/s were made. 

 

 

 

Were there 8 Off -the-LineTorana Models made?

 

 

you know, TA,HB, LC, LJ, LH etc

Edited by NA-PWR, 21 August 2015 - 01:08 AM.

[yel327]

Those are Series Dave. Models are like LH Torana SL sedan, LX SS hatchback etc.

[S pack]

GMH was also planning to option the 253 V8 for lesser model LJ Torana.

 

Fect or Fuction.

[xu2308]

Fact I reckon dave

[yel327]

Byron

 

just going off what is in Norm's book and Dr Terry's book.

 

I had a look through my service bulletins and couldn't find anything. If you have to, can you tell me the group and date please?

 

cheers

Mick

 

Mick, found it. The Bulletin is dated 25/10/78 BUT it does say from 1/9/78 the Q sequence will reset to 1001 and a Z used. However this has to mean that engines completed from this date (or this predicted date) at the Fisherman's bend facility would be Z prefix. However I can guarantee you that they don't start to appear in cars that I have recorded until at least 6-10 weeks later. Unfortunately Service/Warranty reports finish mid June 1978 otherwise we could find some by their 4 digit numbers. It is also possible given the nature of the schedule and how engine numbers appear all over the place that the odd Z will appear earlier especially for high volume engines like a 202HC. Engines were supplied to each assembly plant according to the schedule, but the assembly plants appear to open the crates and dress them in a random fashion so the odd one could conceivably be found in earlier cars.  

[Shiney005]

F71 was a suspension option in the 70s.

 

Fact or Fiction?

[Dr Terry]

OK, I reckon that there were only 7 different series of Toranas built. They would be HB, LC, LJ, TA, LH, LX & UC. Some might count HB I & HB II separately, but these are really only sub-series. Also there was to be the UD series, but this was canned before production commenced.

 

XU2 !! We've been thru this more than some people have had hot dinners, but IMHO the production V8 LJ was to be called the Torana GTR XU1 Series 2, although some factory people also mention the name Torana GTR XU1 V8. Some back then & even more these days, use the term GTR XU2, but these were only ever un-official at best. XU2 was to be used for the LH series.

 

On the subject of the Holden V8 itself, it may have been influenced in a few areas by some existing GM V8 designs, i.e. Chev, Pontiac, Cadillac etc. etc. but in reality it was a clean sheet design, not sharing any great resemblance to any of the US engines. BTW all of those engines are 90º V8s, none are 60º.

 

Dr Terry

[xu2308]

Phil Zmood

Design Drawing of LJ XU2 308 Torana

Proves that they were Tinkering with the Name XU2 and as Leo said at The Torana Tough Book Launch, that he and he only Had Photos of LJ V8's with XU2 Decals on them.

 

Attached Files

•  XU11 308.jpg   44.43K   2 downloads

[Shiney005]

V8(?) LJ mock up with XU1
L34 mock up with XU2
SL/R mock up with XU2



 post-2453-12714566810984.jpg   101.06K   1 downloads

 XU-2.jpg   11.38K   0 downloads

 xu2_0.jpg   27.9K   0 downloads

Edited by Shiney005, 21 August 2015 - 11:01 AM.

[Dr Terry]

Phil Zmood

Design Drawing of LJ XU2 308 Torana

Proves that they were Tinkering with the Name XU2 and as Leo said at The Torana Tough Book Launch, that he and he only Had Photos of LJ V8's with XU2 Decals on them.

Yes, but the only places you see any mention of XU2 in official GM-H literature, is the well known early LH parts catalogue with the location drawing of the XU2 decal on the front guard & the various option lists & features books that list PO XU2 is being the identifying option code for an LH SL/R5000. Also there is the pic of the pre-production yellow LH XU2 on the styling department's turntable.

 

As I said, this discussion has been regurgitated numerous times on this forum, with everyone still holding their own viewpoint !!

 

Dr Terry

[yel327]

The same XU2 decal on the front guard is in the LH Service manual too Terry.

Styling stuff is just styling stuff as Terry says. Old Man Emu people will straight away think of the styling pictures of the early 350Z concept, but that isn't what was supposed to be OME. You might argue too Al that that styling drawing is XU1 series II or XU-11. It is different to XU2 if you think about it.

[xu2308]

There is the Design Drawing By Phil Zmood I posted up, clearly says XU11  (XU2) above the Flutes plus 308 Decal as well and Leo the Styling Guru says he has photos of LJ V8 with XU2 Decals on them, he is the only person that has them, Harry Firth says the name for the V8 LJ was not done at Cancellation. So I would never Rule out the XU2 Name for LJ V8, and Phil Zmood is doing a Design Drawing with XU2 on a LJ Car.

Roman Numerals 11   is 2 is how I see it

 

AL

Edited by xu2308, 21 August 2015 - 11:57 AM.

[N/A-PWR]

Dr Terry is correct,

 

 

 

As long as the Sunbird of 1980 isn't a series.

[Dr Terry]

Roman Numerals 11   is 2 is how I see it

 

AL

 

Roman numerals for 2 is II (upper case i x2), not 11.

 

Dr Terry

[crabba67]

The picture Laurie put up is a clay model of a LH torana yellow only a model,The XU2 stickers was for the LJ V8 first printed in the middle of 1972.

cheers

Attached Files

•  xu2 stickers.jpg   59.19K   0 downloads
•  xu2 stickers 2.jpg   86.37K   0 downloads

[xu2308]

Ray Borrett said the Big XU2 Decals were made for LJ Torana. Phil Zmood Drawing Design XU11 is XU2, that is how I Read it.

And those that were at the Torana Tough Book Launch, all heard Leo say he and he only has Photos of LJ V8 Torana with XU2 Decals on them.