Australian Car Spotters Guide - 1974 |
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Also see: Chrysler Valiant Car Reviews and VJ Valiant Specifications |
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By productions end, some 90,865 VJ Valiant’s had been manufactured. It was a good car, and arguably deserved better recognition from the buying public, but the Japanese manufacturers were quickly gaining a strong foothold in the Australian automotive marketplace with their “fully loaded” yet cheaper versions. The weaker of the “Big Three” had succumbed to their industrial might, and now questions were being asked as to the viability of the manufacturer. |
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Also see: Ford Cortina Car Reviews |
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December 1974 saw the release of the TD Cortina, the facelift that would be known in the UK as the Mk.3 Series 2. With it came a new grille, instrument panel, exhaust, transmission linkage, better seating, ventilation, and articulated wiper arms. The Falcons steering column was fitted, while the bench seat available in earlier models was deleted from the options list. Following criticism of the TC model, Ford was to market the TD with the following statement "...extensive quality improvements, increased durability and upgraded ride, handling and comfort characteristics have been the major objectives in the development of the new TD Cortina". |
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Also see: Holden HK to WB Car Reviews and Holden HJ Specifications |
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The facelifted HQ was released as the HJ model in 1974, and while many improvements were made to the vehicle the re-introduction of the "swipe" style speedo immediately dated the interior and was reminiscent of the HK. Although the chassis dimensions remained unchanged, the revised front end styling gave the car a larger more dominant look.
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Also see: Holden Torana Car Reviews and LH Torana Specifications |
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At last Australians could enjoy an Australian designed medium sized car from Holden - the LH Torana. Most agreed it was a big improvement over its predecessor, but was the LH a replacement or a different class of car? Unlike the previous models that owed their heritage to the English Vauxhall (from its entirity in the HB to the chassis in the TA), the LH Torana series could best be described as a scaled down Kingswood. |
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Also see: Holden Torana Car Reviews and LH Torana Specifications |
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The LH Torana sure looked the part, once and for all dropping any semblance of linage with the Vauxhall Viva's from which it originated. And while the LH was a truly great car, it was the dominance of the GT Falcon at Mount Panorama that many believed drove the General to shoe-horn an all-Aussie V8 under the hood. Australia's love affair with the bent-8, which remains to this day despite soaring petrol prices, would create adequate demand to ensure a V8 Torana would be a sales winner on the showroom floor. But simply plonking a large motor in a medium sized car did not a race car make, and while the V8 Torana's were good, they were not great, leastwise when compared to the formidable XU-1. |
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Also see: Holden HK to WB Car Reviews and Holden HJ Specifications |
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As a rush of new European models entered the market and Australians were presented with a wider range of choices in general, the HJ Monaro upgrade had to satisfy a more demanding enthusiast buyer. Introduced in October 1974, the HJ Monaro GTS offered extra comfort, a comprehensive sports instrument panel of its own and greater emphasis on body detailing to further distinguish it from other models. Beefier HJ styling was matched by extra-strength bumpers. |
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Also see: Holden HK to WB Car Reviews and Holden HJ Specifications |
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Released in October 1974, the HJ Sandman followed the lead of the Monaro with the bold blunt front that somehow seemed to suit the van better than the sedan. Once again the Sandman was tricked up with all the GTS options and came equipped with the same decals as the HQ series. Holden's plans for the Monaro Coupe were made obvious when the Sandman recieved more attention than its two door cousin. |
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Also see: Leyland Australia Car Reviews |
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The Force
7 was one of the first hatchbacks to be released in
Australia. There were to be three models of increasing
price and luxury, from the base model equipped with
a six cylinder engine and 3-speed column shift gearbox,
followed by the awesome Force 7V fitted with a powerful
4.4 liter V8 'four-on-the-floor'. At the top of the
tree was the "Tour de Force", featuring leather interior. Despite promising reviews, the Force 7 range was ultimately
doomed - it was simply too costly to manufacture!
Other carmakers were borrowing heavily from their
existing parts bin to create their hero cars; however
the Force 7 range had only a handful of production
elements in common with the P76 sedan - and so only
around 60 Force 7's were manufactured with the majority
being scrapped. In fact, only ten survived: one was
sent to Leyland in the UK for testing and was subsequently
bought by a British private collector; another is in
the Birdwood Mill Museum in South Australia. The remaining
eight were auctioned to the public when the line was
discontinued in 1975 and they remain in private hands. |
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Also see: Purvis Car Reviews |
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It was said of kit cars during the 1960’s that they were sheep dressed as tigers. This was true, and proved the major reason for buying one. However it was also said of kit cars that the mechanicals and suspension were so poor that you could hear them coming ten minutes before they arrived. But Alan Purvis worked tirelessly on overcoming the “kit car” reputation, thereby making a place for the Eureka in the Australian market. |
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