1970-1972 Holden Torana GTR XU-1 nominated by @mustafur Body Style: 2-door coupe Engine: 3.0L I6 Power: 160hp Torque: 190 lb-ft Weight: 1020kg Transmission: 4-speed manual Drivetrain: front-engine, rear-wheel drive Spoiler: Additional Pictures
Cool. The Australian equivalent of a Ford Maverick Grabber. The perfect mix between a lightweight sporty coupe and a brash pony car.
I can't look at it without seeing the bastard child of an early 70's Opel Manta, a similar era Opel Kadett and a Tefal professor.
The car is Australian. I am Australian. The XU-1 was definitely a subversive vehicle in that it's philosophy was completely different to big V8 powered HO Falcons. Holden wanted to create small, nimble car to outfox the big Falcon at Bathurst and it worked. Some probably didn't expect a plucky compact with an inline 6 to show the big boys how it's done. Cool.
Should there even be a poll? Easiest SZ. To add, it's like mixing a Mk1 Escort and a 6-cylinder Capri. Best of both worlds.
The last car to win Bathurst that could be bought as is from the dealer. They are very Rare now but this car was very much known to be the Goliath beating car of the Aussie racing scene. Saw one the other day too(which is what made me think of putting this car up in the first place): It's tiny by modern standards the Corolla/Auris next to it dwarfs it.
Nowhere near as cool as it’s Japanese contemporaries (the Hakosuka GT-R and the Bellett GT-R), but this is still a very solid cool.