-
VAUXHALL HB -
aka HOLDEN TORANA IN
AUSTRALIA
During the early 1960s Australian car buyers were being offered a broader range of cars with a specific emphasis on smaller, more economical and considerably cheaper models – this was particularly poignant as this era was considered the start of the 2 car Australian household. GM-H (General Motors Holden) realised it needed to move away from building only large cars - and their first answer was the launch of the locally produced version of the Vauxhall HA Viva in April 1964. Although badged as a Vauxhall it was marketed as the GMH Small Car and sold throughout Australia by Holden dealers. It sold reasonably well despite its rather basic specification and staid styling with sharp edges that accentuated its boxy looks. During the development of the Vauxhall HB Viva the intention was always that Holden would sell the car in the same way as the previous HA model, however, Holden wanted a small car of their own. The Holden Design Studios had produced various mock ups of a smaller car but because the projected sales volumes were still relatively low the compromise was to “Holdenize” the up-coming HB Viva.
A PROTOTYPE HB
TORANA IN HOLDENS DESIGN STUDIOS
Much of the changes were cosmetic with a different grille &
headlights and superficial interior changes in order to use some
local content, most of the body panels were to be initially
imported from the UK. Before production started, prototypes were
thoroughly tested at Holdens Lang Lang proving ground.
Significantly, Holden gave no instruction to the test drivers to
"nurse" the new small car, rather they encouraged rigorous testing
to ensure it would be suited to the harsh conditions normal in
Australia. The result was the HB had the
unique distinction of
being Australia's only small car of the time that had been tested
and built to Holdens “Big-Brother” standards.
To go with all these
changes Holden also dropped the Vauxhall brand and Viva name to
sell the car as a Holden and used their own model name – Torana
which was taken from the Aboriginal language meaning "fly".
The Torana was
designed to compete with popular imports at the time such as the VW
Beetle and the BMC Mini, however instead of a rear mounted air
cooled boxer engine or a transverse front wheel drive set up the
Torana was entirely conventional which was generally preferred by
most Australian car buyers. In terms of performance it was light
years ahead of the Beetle and was close to the Mini in terms of
driving enjoyment and represented good
value.
TWO FACTORY PRESS RELEASE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HB TORANA SL, THE
DASHBOARD WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE VIVA HB SL WITH WOODGRAIN EFFECT
PANELS.
THE MODELS FACE GIVES THE IMPRESSION SHE HAS JUST BEEN RUN
OVER AND LANDED ON THE BONNET!
ANOTHER FACTORY PHOTOGRAPH THIS TIME OF THE TORANA
S
The standard engine was the 56bhp 1159cc - no power house but still
a slight improvement on the HA Viva. The engine incorporated
positive crankcase ventilation and was also far quieter, thanks
largely to better sound deadening materials being used along with a
double silencer system. The 4 speed box was a
real winner, stubby, light and possessing delightfully short
throws, the feel was positive and sporting. The steering was also
well sorted, the precise rack-and-pinion requiring only 3.4 turns
to go from lock to lock, the car having a tight 32 foot turning
circle. And best of all, the three-leaf transverse spring fitted to
the HA Viva was ditched, being replaced by coil springs.
At launch the HB Torana was available in three
levels of trim, and all of them were two-doors. There was Base, S
and SL. The Super Luxury model boasted such
creature comforts as a
cigarette
lighter, carpet, wood trim on the dashboard and a heater-demister.
All models were fitted with bucket seats, and Wyvern grain and
Sadlon vinyls were used in the SL. Optional was Castillon weave.
The seats were unique to Australia and differed from their UK
equivelents as did the front grille with round headlight units and
S & SL models featured a centre side rubbing strip. Borg Warner
3 speed automatic transmission was optional. Best of all,
many of the safety features incorporated into the larger Holden's
were incorporated into the newcomer. These included dual circuit
braking, an energy absorbing steering column, double-sided safety
rims. There were other features carried over too, such as the
anti-corrosion "Rustguard" process, and of course the
"Magic-Mirror" acrylic finish. But best of all, the new Torana was
backed up by a service network of over 600 dealerships located
throughout Australia
A LAUNCH PRESS PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE HOLDEN HB TORANA
BRABHAM
In early 1968 a "Series 70" engine option was added, this was basically the same as the “90” option for the HB Viva but more logical in that the engine produced nearly 70bhp gross. This engine had a higher compression ratio, a higher lift camshaft, and a single CD Stromberg carburettor, which boosted output to 69 bhp. Power assisted front disc brakes were standard when this engine was used, and the automatic transmission option was now no longer available with the standard 56 bhp engine. A 'sports' model was also released at the same
time called the 'Brabham' Torana, named in honour of the well-respected Australian race-car driver, Sir Jack Brabham. The Brabham Torana's engine was based on the Series 70, but twin CD Stromberg carburettors with sports air cleaners were fitted. Together with the low restriction exhaust system, this boosted the power to 79 bhp. The Brabham also included wider wheel rims and red-wall tyres, power assisted front disc brakes as standard, different badging and black body accents. Automatic transmission was not available on this model.
THE 1969MY HOLDEN HB TORANO SL 4 DOOR WITH
A VINYL ROOF FITTED
A 1969MY HOLDEN HB TORANA S 4 DOOR
ANOTHER FACTORY PICTURE OF THE HB TORANA SL 4
DOOR
ANOTHER SHOT OF THE HB TORANA SL 4 DOOR WITH A VINYL ROOF
FITTED
THE 1969 HB TORANA SL INTERIOR
A FACTORY PICTURE OF THE 1969MY HB TORANA S 2
DOOR
TWO FACTORY PHOTGRAPHS OF THE HB TORANA SL 2 DOOR
SALOON
A FACTORY SHOT OF THE NORMAL LOOKING HB TORANA SL 2 DOOR SALOONS
WITH TWO RATHER ABNORMAL LOOKING MODELS!
THE 1969MY HB TORANA BRABHAM
In September 1968, the '69 Torana' was released, called the HB Series II. This featured locally made body panels, replacing the imported bodies of the original HB from Vauxhall. The model line up now include a 4-door saloon which contrary to some observers was not designed in Australia and at no time were body panels shipped to the UK. A revised collapsible steering column was now fitted, together with a new recessed instrument cluster, new indicator switch, and new steering wheel borrowed from the contemporary full-sized Holden. These local components replaced the previously imported Vauxhall items. A consequence of using these local components is the loss of the stalk operated headlight dip switch and horn. The dip switch ended up on the floor, as was the case for full-size Holdens. Dual circuit brakes were now standard on all models, though power assisted front disc brakes are still optional with the standard 56 bhp engine. The Brabham Torana was still available, in two-door form only. It now included a sports steering wheel similar to the contemporary Holden Monaro GTS, full instrumentation, different badging, and different black accenting. The HB Torana continued until late 1969 when it was replaced by the Holden designed LC Torana. What is surprising is that Holden did not offer either an HB Estate or the 1600ohc slant four engine which was used in the replacement LC model.
