By DAVID PIKE

Although over the years GM-Holden have sold a variety of four-cylinder cars, these have not always been of their own design or manufacture. Possibly the best known of the GM-H small cars was the Torana. But even the first Torana, the model HB introduced in 1967, was actually a Vauxhall model which carried a Holden badge when it went on sale in Australia. The first Australian designed Torana was the LC model which was introduced in October 1969 although even that car contained some components carried over from the HB model.

The original Australian-designed Torana came only in sedan form but with the choice of two or four doors. With different equipment levels selling as the models `S', `SL' and `Deluxe', the model line-up also included four- and six-cylinder models with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The six-cylinder models had a longer bonnet to accommodate the bigger engine which increased the car's overall length by 267mm.

The 1159cc four-cylinder engine developed 41.9kW at 5400rpm and was standard in the base model Torana. However the S and SL models could be ordered with a 1599cc four-cylinder which developed 59.7kW or a 2250cc six which developed 70.9kW. The six-cylinder engines were the same as those used in the full sized Holden range and due to the lighter Torana body they gave excellent performance and were much more economical to run, giving good mileage from the 45.5-litre fuel tank. The four-cylinder models had a smaller 36.4-litre fuel tank.

All of the LC Torana models used a similar suspension. In the front, independent coil springs were fitted with concentric shock absorbers and short and long upper and lower ball jointed control arms with rubber mounted pivot points. In the six-cylinder models the coil springs and shock absorbers had a higher rating. Coil springs were also used at the rear with the shock absorbers mounted behind a Salisbury type live rear axle in the four-cylinder models whereas the six-cylinder models had a Holden type banjo axle instead of the Salisbury. Drum brakes were standard on four-cylinder models although 213mm discs were optional or standard on the upmarket or more powerful models.

Inside the cabin was fairly basic and mirrored the Holden range of that time with bucket seats at the front and an instrument panel comprising speedo, ammeter and gauges for oil pressure, fuel and water temperature.

A sporty GTR version came along after the initial LC model release with 13-inch standard wheels and a modified version of the GTS Monaro four-speed gearbox and a wood rimmed steering wheel also borrowed from the Monaro. In this car the interior featured a full instrument dash panel. A racing oriented Torana, designated GTR XU-1 was introduced in August 1971.

In total 74,627 Torana LCs were built from October 1969 through to March 1972, of which 1633 were XU-1s.