1977 Holden Torana A9X Hatch Only Driven 475klms

[Sorted]

Boonhams & Goodmans Auction 12/10/2007 passed in

1977 Holden Torana A9X Hatch Only Driven 475klms

Interesting reading about where the car came from:- http://www.bonhamsandgoodman.com.au/...=2007&offset=0










Then there is this from one of my Mopar Mates:-

That Torana looks suspiciously like a car I saw in a backyard shed three years ago in the northern suburbs of Perth. I was over the guy's place to buy something else, when I spied it under a cover in his garage. He lifted the cover and there it was: a white A9X with Simmons wheels, rock-hard racing suspension (he invited me to push down on the left front guard - hardly budged) and the original 5-litre engine wrapped in plastic!

From what I recall, it had hounds-tooth seats and very few kms on the clock. I asked the guy where he got it, and he told me he won it in a Street Machine magazine competition!

Now that was a kosher answer - if any of you guys remember, Street Machine did, in fact, unearth a near-new A9X owned by a Holden exec that had originally been destined to be a race car, but was never used. It was sent down the production line to make it road-worthy - still with its light-weight shell, racing suspension and other bits - but ended up hardly being driven. Street Machine got hold of it and offered it in a competition in the late 80's (possibly early 90s - I can't remember the exact year, but I had all the magazines back then). That's how the guy won it.

Dunno if this is supposed to be the same car, but the story seems to have changed a bit if it is. I don't remember all the exact details of what the guy told me, of course, but I sure as saw that car with my own eyes and even remember where the house is in Dianella. The bloke was in his late-40s, early 50s. The car had never been road registered and had sat in his shed ever since he won it. The plastic had never been removed from the engine (dunno how it ended up wrapped in plastic - I think Street Machine restored it before offering to give it away).

And that's that. Too much of a coincidence to be otherwise, I reckon.

[aquahead2001]

I remember the car from Street Machine, at the time I had a LX SS with a 5L and 4 speed, so will have the mag at home somewhere...

They did a few cars and used them as prizes. I remember a pretty nice XB Coupe they did too.

[GSH]

475kms.....hhmm...wound back the clock? lol

My neighbour in 1982 sold a Vermillion Fire With Black Trim XY GTHO with 2,000miles on the clock for 3k.

His so angry with himself now

[BENT_8]

There was a red VL GRP A SS+Pack on ebay a few weeks ago with only 27 kilometers on it.
It had never been registered and was kept in a climate controlled air bag in his house for 21 yrs.
Still had the bubble wrap on the momo shifter knob.
Starting price was 99K, didn't see the end result though, would have been a nice buy though.

[4Vman]

Id rather buy one with plenty of K's on the clock but immaculately maintained than buy a museum piece.. Can't understand the point of owning these vehicles and not driving them at least occasionally.

[TZENU]

Would love to own an A9X. I have always had a soft spot for Torrys....
I wonder if it still has manufacturers warranty

[Outbackjack]

That is the kind of car I would sell everything for. I would be divorced, but hell, I would still have THE CAR!!!

[Squalo]

Lovely... I had an orange replica A9X hatch - droptank, Cheviot Armourlites 14x8 and 14x9.25, 308 4-speed. Bonnet black-out, chrome bumpers, no L88 scoop or rear spoiler - so nice clean lines. It handled like a dream.

A mate currently owns it and is restoring it (he also has an orange HQ Monaro GTS and an orange LC GTR Torana, both original!)

[samsy351]

From what I remember the Street Machine A9X that was given away in the competition had a blacked out bonnet and only 13kms on the clock.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Id rather buy one with plenty of K's on the clock but immaculately maintained than buy a museum piece.. Can't understand the point of owning these vehicles and not driving them at least occasionally.

Personally i would prefer to buy one with bugger all k's on it and then drive it until it has lots of k's on it.
I cant see the point in owning it if your too scared of it's value to drive it. _2:

[BadMac]

Both cars are real and genuine, both are currently in Western Australia. The Street machine one had 17km onthe clock and still has. This one was a spare racing sheel which was built into an A9X (one the 33 genuine shells) and has spent much time on display but has done a couple of laps over in perth. Its a geniune 475KM car. The history is on the Bonhams site. The SM A9X changed hands recently but is still as given away.

[sly_ba]

That is fantastic. If only I had the money

[jaydee]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Both cars are real and genuine, both are currently in Western Australia. The Street machine one had 17km onthe clock and still has. This one was a spare racing sheel which was built into an A9X (one the 33 genuine shells) and has spent much time on display but has done a couple of laps over in perth. Its a geniune 475KM car. The history is on the Bonhams site. The SM A9X changed hands recently but is still as given away.

Yep, I've seen the one in Perth and he said the same thing to me about it being won in a comp for Street Machine and he brought it off the winner some time ago.
When I saw it about 2 years ago it still had 17 kays on it. When I asked him about the kays he said "Well I had to drive it home from the air port".
Very nice it was too, I got an instant chubby. He doesn't even close the doors all the way so the rubbers don't get compressed.

[cowboy]

Luckily I don't consider Toranas to be Holdens, they are a freak of nature, therefore I can say, damn that's nice! lol

[Green X]

Engine has done 475km over 30 years, You wouldn't want to put any K's on it now cause it would probably start leaking oil from every dried out seal and gasket as well as pushing it parts the rings that were half bedded in at best probably 26 years ago, What a gem.

[Mondie]

There is nothing too special about this car, it was built from a spare GMP&A shell and as such did not come with a motor from factory, nor VIN or ADR plates. The kms dont really mean too much. It was passed in for 310k which is about double what l would have thought it would have gone for.

Cheers

[GSH]

Originally Posted by TZENU

Would love to own an A9X. I have always had a soft spot for Torrys....
I wonder if it still has manufacturers warranty

Me 2....There just not an average old commodore/monaro there really something different. I would mind building up a worked 6 2door XU1 style Torry

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Id rather buy one with plenty of K's on the clock but immaculately maintained than buy a museum piece.. Can't understand the point of owning these vehicles and not driving them at least occasionally.

How do you know he never took it out for a spin every second Sunday? :P

Originally Posted by cowboy

Luckily I don't consider Toranas to be Holdens, they are a freak of nature, therefore I can say, damn that's nice! lol

Yeah, the Torana would be the only Holden product that I can look at without :

[normxb]

I had the chance of buying this 4 years ago (had the cash too) for $13,500 off a local , he had it for sale for $16,000 ono . All the documentation was there from GMH & Brock . Brock "A9X 004" label is bent because It was "Knocked off" in Canberra & the Cops caught them stripping it . it had 145,000k's on it . It was the "real thing" , known the guy since primary school .







Still bruised from kicking myself :

Norm

[jd dad]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

There was a red VL GRP A SS+Pack on ebay a few weeks ago with only 27 kilometers on it.
It had never been registered and was kept in a climate controlled air bag in his house for 21 yrs.
Still had the bubble wrap on the momo shifter knob.
Starting price was 99K, didn't see the end result though, would have been a nice buy though.

The VL was upto $150k last I saw but I think it was removed before the auction finished. This is the link hope it works
http://cgi.ebay.com.au:80/ws/eBayISA...ADME:B:EF:US:2

[TZENU]

Originally Posted by jd dad

The VL was upto $150k last I saw but I think it was removed before the auction finished. This is the link hope it works
http://cgi.ebay.com.au:80/ws/eBayISA...ADME:B:EF:US:2

At first i thought the bloke had it inside his house!!!..... But seriously tell me that the owner hasn't ever been tempted to jump in and take it for a thrash around the block :evil3: ... That would be the hardest part, to contain yourself!

[xbcool]

here the one from street machine, black roof and bonnet.




I dont want to start any arguements but I know gt owners that disconnect their speedo cables to keep mileage down to protect their investment and increase price if they decide to sell

[4Vman]

Someone with a bit of experience can quickly look at the vehicle and K's and will know if they match within reason...
For restored cars you might as well forget the speedo reading all together..

[TSERIES]

hey guys soz to change topic but what eva happened to the gtho phase 3 street machine gave away ? :evil3:

[samsy351]

wow only 3 bucks for 'Street Machine Mag' back in them days !

[Fev]

hopefully i won it but didnt know and they are gonna call me tomorrow :P

[Bearman]

Nice Torana!! One Holden I'd be happy to own.