1976 Holden Torana LX Hatch, SS from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Because it's an original 'SS', parts are hard to find.

Hard to keep in original condition.

The interior needs reconditioning.

It's bright orange, and is restored to original specifications.

It handles well and is able to beat most V8's off the line, due to the extensive work I've had done to the engine.

Turns a lot of heads with the bright orange paint work and 'SS' decals.

Very nice. Thinking of getting one myself if I can save up enough. No car will ever duplicate the groovy styling of a torana.

I am a very huge fan of Toranas myself, so I thought I would add a comment. I have a Torana LX Hatch, and I find it a lovely car to drive. The car has been modified a fair bit on the front end to fit a 426 engine in. Don't ask me how that works out, because my pop did the job. To all you holden lovers out there that have yet to feel the lovely handling of these magnificent cars, I suggest you get up and try it.

A 426 is nice, but I prefer the 525 in an SLR5000. it really does hook!

Hey the guy who was putting the 426 in, does that mean it's a Hemi?

Cheers

Ben.

Hi'ya mate, Just lookin at the socalled faults you have listed above.. in regards to the parts being "rear" to find because it is a SS dosnt really mean diddly... unless your converting your LxSS into an A9X. You'll find most mechanicle parts are interchangable between SL/SLR lx sedans /lxss Toranas and most Sunbirds. Also often finding a familair peice on a Lj or Xu, even simple upgrades such as a eletric dizzy from an blue block 3.3l, found in most Commodores, with the rite tweeking can do great econimical wonders to the beer kitty. As for the door being slightly longer,, this is a holden were talkin about,, A mig n sum 4 gauge and mantaince there after will see you rite for another 29yrs, the tail gate with it All-round weilds create a breeding zone for potentail rust,, for this reason, working from the outer skin, I have had enginered a stainless ventilated box section which the outer skin has been re-attached to. With a few folds in sum lite steel to tidy the edges. the tailgate is now under half its orignal weight with more strength than factory specs, and most important, nolonger prone to condensation build up,, While this alone sounds expensive it is not,, Apx $350-$500 depending on the enginer. A lot cheaper and better then purchasing a secondhand 1 for probably more money.

Now whats with the dashboard?? I'm afraid that is a neglect issue.. as I'm sure your aware regular polishing will save cracks. if your seeking to replace an already cracked dash in a lxss,, a 77 sunbird dash is the same length and pattern or imprint if you prefere. take it to a plastic weilder and they will strip off the good 1 and reset it into your lx dash with near invisable joins. This from memory set me back $50ish for the labour and $10-$15 for the sunbird dash, once again a much more resorsfull and cheaper option than a purchase from G. M for a new one.

It is a combination of all these things that can be done to Holdens by a regular Joe with commin sence that makes them great cars.

It is the likes of our beloved and awwed LxSS Torana that make us repley to forums such as this, just so we can do our share to defiend and prolong the lives of the great muscile cars.

It was also G.M's lake of inovation in their motors, boxes, diffs and common body parts down to the simple window winder that matches most t-rags- hq's, hz's, Monaro, ht, hk... and so on from the 60's to the mid 80's that has alowed to us to keep our cars on the road at next to no cost.

All you have to do is look and ask what is avaliable that may be suited or slightly fabricated for your particular needs,, The parts Are avaliable.

I purchased my LxSS in 1998 and have yet to find anthing a can lable a fault.