Holden Torana touring car for sale

A 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship winning Holden Torana A9X is to be offered at auction for the first time. The car will be part of Mossgreen’s multi-million dollar Sydney auction of collectors’ motor cars on 28 May. It is estimated to fetch just short of £600,000.

In the 1970s, the Holden Torana was the fastest streetcar available in Australia, and regularly demonstrated its speed on the track. This example was campaigned for three years by the Ron Hodgson Team in the Australian Touring Car Championship.

The car initially finished second under the guidance of Australian racing legend, Bob Morris, only to be beaten by Peter Brock. But in 1979 the Torana battled to a victory, winning first place for Morris, and creating Australian motorsport history as it was the first time an ‘underdog’ – a private team – had beaten the factory entrants.

James Nicholls, Mossgreen collectors’ cars specialist, said, ‘Still in running order, this rare Torana is highly original, and still showcases the livery it wore in 1979. An exceptional rally car, it holds a special affection with Australian motorsports enthusiasts. It is of particular significance to the Holden brand and its list of Australian automotive sporting achievements.’

Purchased by the current owner in 1979, the car last raced at Wanneroo on 6 July, 1980, finishing in fifth place in the five-lap Street Cars race and fourth place in the second event, the Twin State Challenge. The car’s final two races were on 10 August and 7 September, 1980, after which it was placed in the York Motor Museum.

The car was later displayed at the Fremantle Motor Museum, before returning to the York Motor Museum where it has remained until now, still unaltered from its 1970s heyday.