Graeme
05-11-2002, 03:26 PM
In 1989/90, Peter Gearin ( PG ) wrote a few articles for Street Machine magazine in relation to the XU-1 dynasty, including info on the aborted 1972 Bathurst V8 Torana.
I've read previous articles which said that HDT had at least one road registered V8 XU-1 in 1972, which was often referred to as team manager Harry Firth's drive car.
PG's article makes mention of Fiv Antoniou's book "Holden Torana GTR XU-1" which apparently says that two working examples existed, one in orange and the other in pink, both powered by 308 V8 engines.
Some people refer to the car as the XU-2, but most contemporary magazine stories suggested that the car's badgework and appearance would remain unaltered except for twin fuel fillers on each rear quarter panel.
PG unearthed technical drawings of what he says Holden recorded as "production option XW-7" which revealed suspension changes, altered wiring harness, throttle linkages, engine mounts, and exhaust system, all to accomodate the V8 engine in the LJ bodyshell.
PG says that Holden designer Leo Pruneau recalls seeing three development cars at Holden's engineering department, the cars painted orange, pink, and a lime green. The story has Phase IV similarities in that it says two cars were near-ready race units and the third a test mule .....who knows ??
Apart from a modified 308 V8 engine, M21 four speed gearbox, G92 rear axle with 2.78 ratio, PG says that the LJ XW-7 project encompassed a lot of engineering work in the steering and front suspension, and that the steering wheel would no longer be offset. The brakes would be upgraded with thicker front discs and revised calipers. It was also intended that a 36 gallon fuel tank be fitted incorporating anti-surge baffling and twin filler necks.
PG lists various production modifications according to "official Holden engineering lists" but regrettably did not publish copies of these documents.
From my perspective, it's a good bet that the car was going to be produced, but the absolute truth of what prototypes existed and what would be the production XU-1 V8 specifications, is pretty thin ....certainly not as solid a story as that of the XA Falcon GTHO.
I've read previous articles which said that HDT had at least one road registered V8 XU-1 in 1972, which was often referred to as team manager Harry Firth's drive car.
PG's article makes mention of Fiv Antoniou's book "Holden Torana GTR XU-1" which apparently says that two working examples existed, one in orange and the other in pink, both powered by 308 V8 engines.
Some people refer to the car as the XU-2, but most contemporary magazine stories suggested that the car's badgework and appearance would remain unaltered except for twin fuel fillers on each rear quarter panel.
PG unearthed technical drawings of what he says Holden recorded as "production option XW-7" which revealed suspension changes, altered wiring harness, throttle linkages, engine mounts, and exhaust system, all to accomodate the V8 engine in the LJ bodyshell.
PG says that Holden designer Leo Pruneau recalls seeing three development cars at Holden's engineering department, the cars painted orange, pink, and a lime green. The story has Phase IV similarities in that it says two cars were near-ready race units and the third a test mule .....who knows ??
Apart from a modified 308 V8 engine, M21 four speed gearbox, G92 rear axle with 2.78 ratio, PG says that the LJ XW-7 project encompassed a lot of engineering work in the steering and front suspension, and that the steering wheel would no longer be offset. The brakes would be upgraded with thicker front discs and revised calipers. It was also intended that a 36 gallon fuel tank be fitted incorporating anti-surge baffling and twin filler necks.
PG lists various production modifications according to "official Holden engineering lists" but regrettably did not publish copies of these documents.
From my perspective, it's a good bet that the car was going to be produced, but the absolute truth of what prototypes existed and what would be the production XU-1 V8 specifications, is pretty thin ....certainly not as solid a story as that of the XA Falcon GTHO.