LC Torana

The LC (Light Car) Torana boasted a new two or four-door sedan body shape, longer wheelbase, redesigned cabin and upgraded platform.

Once again a 42kW 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine led the range, with the 52kW version slotting inside the S and SL.

Holden also very successfully filled the gap left by the 1963-’65 EH sedan with the introduction of the long-nosed six-cylinder LC range, boasting a three varieties: a 71kW/163Nm 2.25, and the SL’s 85kW/213Nm and racy GTR’s 93kW/203Nm 2.6 (161cu) engines.

The lesser of the three came standard with a three-speed manual column-shift gearbox.

Much of this car’s appeal came from the compact and lightweight body powered by the torquey classic Holden “red” sixes.

The GTR is now a true Aussie classic. Its worked 2.6 engine featured dual-throated carburettors, twin exhaust manifolds, higher-lift camshafts, and a low-restriction air-cleaner for more power (but slightly less torque), for a 0-400m sprint time of 17.2 seconds on the way to a 170km/h-plus top-speed.

Other modifications included heavy-duty suspension with an anti-roll bar, front disc brakes, wider wheels and tyres, and full instrumentation.

But the ultimate GTR is the honed XU1, a Bathurst race-car inspired sports sedan featuring a worked 119kW/244Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Released in July ’70, it could crack the 0-400m mark in 16.1 seconds.

In July ’71 a rather lifeless 60kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine joined the range, while the 2.6-litre models became the long-lived 2.850, producing 88kW of power. Deluxe replaced ‘S’ models.

In all 74,627 LCs were produced.