The Hurricane concept showed us a glimpse of how clever Holden could be, but it never made it to production. However, with the Torana A9X, we saw more than just the concept. The Aussie company displayed its automotive fabrication prowess by unleashing the A9X on the roads as well as race tracks. Holden produced the Torana from 1967 to 1980, but in what remains one of the company’s best automotive upgrade packages ever, the iconic A9X was slotted into the mix in 1977.

Notably, the A9X is also probably the best representation of the “Torana” nameplate. In Aboriginal terms, Torana means “to fly” and no other Torana-based model or trim embodied that name better than the iconic A9X. Generally, Holden cars have overtime become highly sought-after collectors’ items and we sometimes see them randomly pop-up at auctions. Nonetheless, our spotlight is on the Holden Torana A9X for its iconic automotive significance, and we’ve dug out these cool details about the terrific Aussie classic car.

10 Wasn’t Promoted

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via Shannons

In 1977, Holden introduced the Torana A9X. However, the company did it without advertisement, publicity, or promotion of any sort. That was quite strange for a car of its status and automotive analysts have attributed this to the “Supercar Scare.” Notably, the Supercar Scare was a campaign that started in 1972 against the sale of high-performance homologation versions of Australian-built passenger cars.

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via Shannons

Hence, it’s widely believed that Holden’s management might have opted for a lowkey introduction of the A9X to avoid another scare.

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9 Not A Model

via GMH

The Holden Torana A9X wasn’t sold as the special model it is, instead, it was introduced as an optional package; the Performance Equipment Package. This optional package was introduced as part of an upgrade option for the 1977 model of the LX Torana which includes the SS hatchback models and the SLR 5000 sedan models.

via WhichCar

However, many believed the A9X was so robust it should have stood alone as a model and not a performance package.

8 Engine

via WhichCar

Being a “performance package,” the A9X option was only available on the 5.0-liter V8 SLR 5000 and SS hatchback models. Notably, the A9X missed out on the more powerful L34 engine due to new exhaust emission control laws and design rule ADR27A.

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Hence, the A9X was powered by a stock L31 5.0-liter V8 while the racing variant was legally allowed to use the L34 engine due to it being previously homologated. The A9X engine also featured a heavy-duty radiator and coolant recovery system.

7 Pioneering Upgrades

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Before the A9X, there was the L34 which had impressively represented the Holden brand at race tracks, yet it had several weaknesses. Some of the L34’s weaknesses include its fragile differential and transmission, as well as its flimsy rear drum brakes.

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To improve on this, the A9X adopted a section of UC Torana’s floor plan to accommodate an updated Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS) geometry as well as a vastly upgraded Salisbury rear axle with disc brakes. For this, the A9X became the first-ever Holden car fitted with standard rear discs.

RELATED: Watch This Modified Holden Torana Produce Nearly 2000 HP On The Dyno

6 Limited Production

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The LX series wasn’t produced in great numbers, but the A9X is even rarer. In total, only 65,977 units of LX Toranas were built by Holden. These include several sub-models such as the Sunbird Sedan, Torana S Sedan as well as the Torana SL Hatchback.

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As part of this total production number, Holden manufactured 305 units of the four-door sedan and 100 units of the two-door hatches for a combined total of just 405 units of the A9X produced for sale to the public.

5 Racing Glory

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Holden built the A9X specifically for racing. Hence, the car was introduced just in time for the Sandown 500 endurance race, and it got a dream debut with a victory at the 1977 Hang Ten 400 with Peter Brock behind the wheels.

via Supercars

The A9X proved quite dominant at the race tracks winning the 1978 and 1979 Australian Touring Car Championships with drivers Peter Brock and Bob Morris, respectively. Also, Peter Brock and Jim Richards shared an A9X to win the 1978 and 1979 Bathurst 1000s in record-setting style.

4 Most Successful Touring Holden

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The A9X is undoubtedly the most successful Australian Touring Car ever produced by Holden. The car had several dominant performances which include an overwhelming six-lap victory with Peter Brock and Jim Richards at the Mount Panorama in 1979 – Peter Brock also set a new lap record on the final lap of the race.

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Furthermore, the incredible 1978 racing campaign of the A9X has remained unmatched, and it’s said to be the best of any Australian Motor Car. Significantly, the A9X is the first truly homologated car built for racing and was extremely successful at it.

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3 Color Options

via WhichCar

Although it’s only an esthetical feature, however, color options are quite significant to how well a car is received. That said, the color options available for the A9X weren’t so desirable. These colors were available in Flamenco Red, Ultra Blue, Jasmine Yellow, Dynasty Gold, Panama Green as well as Palais White.

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Subsequently, more color options were added, and they include black with different variations of yellow, red, orange, and green, among others.

2 Cost

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Depending on the condition it’s found or the quality of its restoration, an A9X as seen from this example could sell for as much as $425,000 or even way higher in the current market. When adjusted for inflation, this represents up to 700 percent or more of the car’s original price.

via FinanceNine

When the A9X was introduced in 1977, it retailed for $10,600 (plus on-road costs) for the four-door sedans while the two-door hatchback retailed for $10,800 (plus on-road costs).

1 The Most Expensive Unit

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In November 2020, a Holden Torana A9X was sold for a whopping sum of $910,000. The car had been raced at the Australian Touring Car Championship by late legendary Australian racing driver, John Harvey, who had raced it through the years serial Bathurst winner, Peter Brock, was unavailable for the Holden Dealer Team (HDT).

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Although it fell short of the $2 million mark auctioneer Lloyds had hoped for, with $910,000, the car however remains one of the most expensive A9X ever sold.

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