HQ/HJ Holden & XA/XB Falcon : Optional extras.

[Graeme]

I was looking through old Ford and Holden sales brochures of the 1970's and it's amazing what choice of options were out there if you were prepared to spend the money on something different.

Take for instance the humble XB Falcon ute. If you opted for the 'upspec' Falcon 500, you were rewarded with a cigar lighter, interior courtesy light, nicer looking vinyl trim, and a tie-down tonneau cover for the load tray. But, you still had a basic vehicle with a bench seat, rubber floor and a 200 CID (3.3 litre) 6cyl engine with 3spd manual column shift.

You couldn't jazz up your standard ute with the GS Rally Pack, which was only available as an option on the Falcon 500 ute, but you could specify a wide range of engine/transmission options including the 351 CID, 260hp V8 and still partner it with the three speed manual column shift. Pretty bizarre, as you couldn't get the 351 in an XB wagon, and certainly not with the column manual in an XB sedan. Now wouldn't that combo have made a brickie smile. Just to be sensible, power brakes and a limited slip diff were mandatory with the 351 option, but could you live with that flat bench seat and no tachometer ?

Anyone out there familiar with a quirky optioned Holden or Ford of 1960's/70's vintage ?

[paranoid]

My car has kinda weird specs. September 1971 LC 'S' Torana. Bought by grandfather new, was last of the LC series. Has a very small 2250cc 6 cyl engine, with 3 spd manual column shift. You could also specify a 2850cc engine but had to have either an auto or 4 spd floor shift. No v8 offered. usual stuff, could have front discs instead of drums.

Mine also was bought with a front sun visor, plastic headlight protectors, funny sideways front mudflaps, two tone white/orange paint (apparently called gold in 1971 - looks pretty orange to me!), and extra crome trim between the colours etc... It also has the optional 'deluxe heater/demister unit' which isn't so deluxe!!, a towball, and even carpet was an option on this base car!!

significant changes have been made to the interior since though!!....

hmmm, ill stop now

[Bangkok Bob]

My First car was an EK Holden which lead me to investigate a bit more about them.

Whilst mine didn't have it, there was apparently a 'Touring' model that included a front bench seat on which the backrest could be folded down to form a double bed with the back seat....woulda been great at the drive inn.

[Graeme]

Paranoid didn't say whether grandfather's Torrie is a 2dr or 4dr; the 2250 was the base six cylinder engine in the LC series and was otherwise known as the 138. The optional 2850, or 173, later became the base engine of the LJ series.

The 2250 was rated at 95bhp and the 2850 at 118bhp.

And yes, only the optional engines were available with 4spd or auto trans. You couldn't specify the optional engine with 3spd column manual trans.

But, interestingly, you could option the GTR full instrumentation onto any Torana model, even the base 1300 4cyl. car.

[paranoid]

the car is a 4 door (mine now!) yes, i forgot to mention that you could have all the whiz bang guages even on the 4 cyl.

the guy from marlows told me there was no such thing as a 138 LC torana even though i was looking at the manual whilst on the phone. oh well....

Furthermore, the original manual specifies two variations on 2 engines: a 138 with high compression or low comp, and a 173 with high or low comp. Mine is high comp, anyone know of a low comp spec?

[paranoid]

by the way, you dont happen to have, or know anyone that would have, an original sales brochure for my car? i've got the original owner's manual and service manual and even a 70s edition of road patrol in which they road tested the car, but a sales brochure would be nice :) i dunno, just personal interest

[Graeme]

Paranoid,

I once worked for Marlows, so I know what you're up against....

Some people confuse the 2250 / 138 with the old "grey motor" fitted to the pre-EH Holdens; the later "greys" were of 138ci capacity too.

I have sales brochures for LJ, TA/LH, LX, and UC Torries but the LC was born before I was free to roam on my bicycle.

As for the LowComp and HighComp engines, Holden offered the choice in the sixties and seventies, but I've never seen a LowComp version, even when I worked at City Motors.
The choice was there for anyone who wanted an understressed engine ( lower power too) or wanted to run "standard" low octane petrol. Also, Holden exported plenty of cars to countries with poor fuel quality, so I'd reckon the LowComp was on that product list.

[paranoid]

haha, well the car was released about 13 years before i was born so....

less power, yeah i think about 90 hp versus 95. Manual also mentions a 130 ci version also delivering 90hp. God, mine stresses enough already :eek: i'd be correct running mine on premo then?

yeah, he previously owned either an fc or fj with that motor apparently so yeah. wish he still had that, unfortunately easy to roll...haha...