UC Torana

The UC was the second facelift of the LH series – and the last of the Toranas until 2004’s TT34 concept was unveiled.

Square headlights returned in a smoother new nose, huge taillights were implemented, along with an all-new cabin featuring a modern dash, conventional handbrake, a bigger boot, new four-speed manual gearboxes and the larger-diff A9X floorpan – to accommodate a new (Salisbury) differential.

Taking RTS further, handling and ride attributes again improved. The V8s also vanished, leading to a 25kg weight drop.

Torana engines were now a 78kW/218Nm 2.8-litre six-cylinder or a 81kW/251Nm 3.3-litre ‘six’. Both offered a three or four-speed manual, or a three-speed auto gearbox.

S, SL and SL Deluxe versions were available, in sedan and (rare) hatchback editions.

But the UC’s time in the sun was brief, cut short by the revolutionary (for Holden) VB Commodore that arrived in November ’78.

Since the Commodore straddled both the Torana and HZ Holdens in size, sales of both quickly slid. UC Torana sedan production ceased in December ’79, three months after the hatchback.