Australia’s automotive industry is virtually non-existent nowadays, but there was a time when Aussies were building some pretty phenomenal performance cars. This desirable 1977 Holden LX Torana SLR500 with the ‘A9X Option’ is one of them.
Holden built the LX Torana A9X to win the Australian Touring Car championship and the annual Bathurst 1000. In 1977, it won the Hang Ten 400 race at Sandown with Peter Brock behind the wheel, and in 1978 and 1979, it claimed the Australian Touring Car championship.
Power comes from a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 producing a touch over 220 hp. This engine was shared with other Torana variants but the A9X option was available exclusively on the SLR 5000 sedan and SS hatch adding things like rear disc brakes, heavy-duty axles, a reverse-cowl bonnet and a heavy-duty ’10-bolt’ differential.
Read Also: Holden Torana A9X – An Insane Muscle Compact Hatch With A 5.0L V8 (And A Crazy Asking Price)
This particular example that’s up for sale from Australian Muscle Car Sales has had four previous owners, with the most recent having owned the car for 28 years. According to the listing, it is equipped with the original engine, gearbox and differential, while the original Rochester carburetor, air cleaner, intake manifold, cast iron headers, radiator, and electric fan are also all in perfect running order. Moreover, it is also equipped with the original A9X GMH Rally wheels with Goodyear DR 70 tires.
Photos confirm that both the exterior and interior of the car have been well maintained and show very little signs of wear. The trunk maintains the original mat and includes a spare wheel.
Buying an Australian classic like this doesn’t come cheap. In fact, the car, which has 29,752 km (18,487 miles) on the clock, has a dizzying asking price of AU$425,000 (US$302,685). To put that in perspective, the brand new, 2021 BMW M3 that was only just introduced is priced from AU$144,900 in the land Down Under.
