Australian Muscle Car

Australian Muscle Car is a fresh, proudly Australian publication dedicated to preserving the legend of the unique ‘Australian made’ Ford vs Holden muscle car heritage. From 1960s classic Bathurst muscle to the super sophisticated Falcon and Commodore performance cars of the new millennium and everything in between.

Steve Normoyle

Australian Muscle Car

Holden museum auction

All Ford day

New Phase IV and Cobra books

Torana time

Can-Am recollections

The flying Statesman

AMC BEST LETTER • amceditorial@chevron.com.au | Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590

Paul Newby

Imperfectly classic • The LH Torana maybe wasn’t perfect, but it is a classic and hugely significant Aussie muscle car: the first V8 Torana and, with the L34 version, the first time GM-H took on the Bathurst enduro with home-grown Holden V8 power. AMC salutes the Torana SL/R 5000 L34 as the LH series celebrates its 50th birthday.

Returning home • Where better to wrap up the 50th anniversary Torana L34 Nationals weekend than a trip to the old Holden Lang Lang proving ground?

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory • With overwhelming numerical superiorty, a brand new model V8 racer to replace the six-cylinder Torana XU-1, and no factory-backed Ford opposition to overcome, the 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 by rights should have been a cakewalk for Holden.

The Survivor • This Torana might be slightly rough around the edges, but it is the genuine article, unmolested and unrestored – and it’s an L34 with a story to tell.

Motoring reverence in the City of Churches • The so-called City of Churches was an automotive place of worship with the running of the 2024 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival. The date’s already locked in for next year’s event: March 8-9.

Breakfast of Champions • This odd-liveried ‘HDT’ Commodore starred in a breakfast food TV ad before going on to a post-Group C career as a Sports Sedan – and now it’s been recreated by its former racer, Noel Davis.

Part 1 Thommo! • A loveable larrikin and frontline competitor, Bryan Thomson was adored by the motorsport public throughout his mammoth 48-year driving career. He won fans with his cheeky grin and sense of fun, with numerous racecars that were bold and innovative. This is the amazing story of Thommo, a man who raced with uncommon flair and good humour.

King of the Apple Isle • He’s probably the best Tasmanian touring car racer never to get the chance to strut their stuff on the mainland, but now he’s being honoured in his home state with a special Graham Parsons exhibition at Tassie’s National Automobile Museum.

Youlden the younger • We weren’t able to include the racing exploits of Brett Youlden in our recent Muscle Man feature on his late brother, Kent, but Brett also enjoyed a decent career in tin tops, culminating in a Touring Car Masters HQ Monaro GTS 350 so meticulously prepared and presented that it ended up being bought by a muscle car collector.

Slot car addiction

On your Gard • If he’d lived on the east coast of Australia, Jaime Gard would be far more well known for what he achieved in motorsport. This pint-sized, athletic West Australian punched way above his weight, racing and building four racing cars – two of them with Formula 5000 Repco-Holden V8 power – and working for some of the best racing teams in the land in a long career. Cars owned by Bob Jane, Frank Matich Don O’Sullivan, the Ricciardello and Ricciardo families have all had the magic Gard touch.

Mini Muscle

Mellow yellow

Holden Heritage Car Show

AMC Club Directory • TO GET YOUR FREE LISTING in the Club Directory and What’s On visit www.musclecarmag.com.au/resources

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