Australian Muscle Car - 1-Jan-2010

40th Anniversary Special; Monaro GTS 350 -How Holden Grand Tourer Turned GT-HO Killer

Colin Bond

The Boys In Blue (racing Team)

All is not well in Australian Racing Scene particularly Supercars - yes its successful but like F1 Racing  Costs are now getting out of hand  reason more and more Academic Engineers have joined pool of Teams looking for more and more expensive innovations  JB outlines what changes could be made to reduce costs ' Muscle Torque' by JB

Refects back to 1971 importation in 1970 or 1971 by Bib Stillwell from Ford UK and had it modified by experienced and famous Escort Tuner Alan Mann Racing for full race prep  years later One of Bibs Sons Chris Stillwell  found tthe vehicle ex Michael (what I am confused Whose vehicle was it Bibs or Michael...stick to racing ..leave journalism to experts!) with a then owner for him to to restore it for race it  car running in Biante Touring Car Events  by Richo

1/18 & 1/43 : Biante Brock /Parsons /McLeod VL SS Group A Commodore (1987 Bathurst 1000)

1/18: Biante -Richards /Coppins LH Tornana L34 (1974 Bathurst 1000)

1/18: Classic- Brock/Perkins/Harvey VH SS Commodore (1983 Bathurst 1000)

1/18: Classic -Carter/Nelson XA Falcon GT coupe (1973 Bathurst 1000)

1/18: Classic -Craig Lowndes 2009 FG Falcon V8 Supercar

1/43 : Biante: Moffat/Hamilton XW Falcon GT-HO Phase 1 (1969 Bathurst 500)

Ford Fairmont XB/XC (looks XB to me)  down at Victorian Surf coast  in white with black vinyl roof

Holden HQ Monaro Coupe sitting in a Shipping container in WA for many years

Holden HQ Sandman with Priemer headlights Dual front at Wrecking yard in Outback of WA

Holden HT Monaro GTS Coupe Manual sitting (where?) since 1980s its geniune 81837 Sydney built coupe

Holden Torana LC 2 door GTR  found in the back streets of Jakarta in Indonesia  - been in Jakarta since 1970s as "it kept getting hounded by the cops back then" qv

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Armaroo Park Memories - several letters

Follow up Issue 45 (must get this one not reviewed by me)  Holden GTR-X Feature on still born Holden GTR-X  as the moulds are around why doesn't Elfin built it (Big GM to deal with, costs to improve safety , demand might not be where it was then)

Holden GTR-X  reader sends in pics of 4th or maybe 5th prototype  this one had ADR approves lights

Holden Torana LC GTR-X in all white at Sydney Motor Show (1969 or 1970?) Where is it now

Round Oz Memories  Reader remembers built up of 1979 event

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Ford Falcon XB Goss special featured in 1970s Travel Guide To Highway One Published by Murry Views Pty Ltd in the 1970s  

Left Hand Ford Falcon XA Coupe mystery but Ford Expert reckons its an artist impression (or is it?)

Lincoln Continental Follow up of those Australian new - Reference to the period bw photo of 1966 crash of Sir Frank Packers into wall of Sydney Building - a anon reader by the name of 'Jim' reckions he has 1 of 2 Australian new although it appears Jim car is not ex Packer car  Jim is a 1964 ; Sir Franks cars RHD conversion was by Buckle Brothers 1965 car but built 1964 ; News that a 1968 MK3 Coupe imported by Bill Bourke MD of Ford Aus 1965-1972 and RHD conversion by Chapel Engineering (was this car that came up for sale by an Australian dealer a few years back?)

looking at late Peter Wherrett ex ABC Torque TV Series presentors   whom competed in Bathurst 500/1000 races in smaller cars but once he competed in 1970 A Falcon GT-HO with Trevor Meehan of Sydney - sponsored by Sydney dealership Rowell-Thiele  words by James Cockington

HDT tribute to VK SS in blue with its new VE S2 based version debuts at Bathurst "HDTs New Blue Meanie"  250 Blue Meanies will be built

Holden direct Injected 3.0 V6 "Holdens new baby six"qv

HSV, Holden & Ford , FPV upgrades its range across the Board with its S2 series proves that locak industry is "Alive & Kicking" by Joe Kenwright  coverage includes HSV Series 2 ; FPV GS; Holden SS V ; Ford FG G6 Limited Edition and proposed for US police contract Holden US Police Caprice

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Bruce McPhee 1927-2009 comprehensive profile by Mark Oastler

Frank Gardner  1930-2009  comprehensive profile by Mark Oastler (mentions his British experience winning British Saloon Car Championships in Alan Mann Ford US FaLcons Coupe HT ex Monte Carlo and Le Mans with the GT-40)

2009 Australian Muscle Car Masters  at Sydney Eastern Creek Raceway Fathers Day  story by Bruce Moxon (Comprehensive coverage of all races and results with lots photos by various)

2009 Biante Touring Car Masters -Round 4 -Queensland Raceway OLD  - first round winner Jim Richards  discussion Race 1-Race 3

Ford Falcon XVB GT Coupe 1 of 10 with Sandstone Beige and fully loaded with factory oprtions like elec windows ; air conditioning; tinted glass and sunroof (Sounds like similar to UK spec!) - reader about to restore and asks advice whether good idea for investment purposes

Ford Falcon XW GT  'Special 20' (stands for wet weather GTs)  development cars set up to trial thingsfor race cars  - Wanted its its history

HDT VC Commodore in black Build No 487  Reader trying to track down its third owner  and looking for memorabilia and interesting mix up when built with regard to steering wheels?

Holden LC Torana GTR (PSN H178807) that a reader purchased new in November 1970 from Beazley & Bruce Pty LTD in Canberra  in Cameo Gold  with 161S engine  as reade has photos and documents to car - wants to get in touch with present owner or would he like to sell

WGR Commodore  - Reader sends in part of a Brochure for Road cars when new