1974 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 ... (SOLD)

Concours restored matching numbers Salamanca Red LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 proudly offered for sale. This is the one you've been waiting for! Located in our Sydney Showroom for your inspection.

With around 263 L34 Toranas ever built, this stunning Salamanca Red example is a rare find indeed. Developed by Holden, HDT and Harry Firth as a ready-made production race car, the L34 was powered by the trusty 308 V8 reworked by Repco Engine Developments, using much of the thinking from the then current Formula 5000 open-wheelers. It featured a strengthened block, a specific non-production crankshaft, upgraded rods and pistons, along with a special cam, roller rockers, unique heads and a host of other features. It ran a twin point and twin coil ignition, a high pressure fuel pump plus tubular steel extractors and a heavy duty radiator for improved cooling. There was also a High Output option designed specifically for would be racers which upgraded the L34 with additional go fast goodies, including upgraded camshaft and rockers, plus a Holley 780 carburettor.

The L34 utilised the M21 heavy duty gearbox and stronger back axle, uprated 11"disc brakes up front and 10" drums at the rear and bigger 14" steel Rally wheels. The bolt on flares were there to cover up the wider rubber and inside the centre console and boot mat were deleted to save weight.

Mindful of any more backfires from a then anti-supercar high performance world, Holden claimed a modest 240 horses for the L34, though a well sorted L34 would probably hit more like 350 Hp.

Although the L34 had it''s fair share of teething problems mainly due to the weak link being the gearbox and diff, Peter Brock and Brian Sampson dominated the 1974 Bathurst 1,000 by an incredible six laps before the car stopped on lap 118. While the L34 didn't win in 1974 they were well represented in the top finishers. Behind the eventual race winner John Goss and Kevin Bartlett in the XB GT Hardtop was the Forbes/Negus L34 in 2nd, Richards/Coppons L34 in 3rd and Bond/Skeltons L34 in 4th. The L34 of Colin Bond won 3 of the five-round 1974 Manufacturers Championship, sealing the title for Holden and beating the more fancied rivals such as Allan Moffat in his XB GT Falcon. And Brocky did win Bathurst by two laps in 1975 in a privateer L34, partnered with Brian Sampson.

The example you’re looking at here was sold to the current owner at the Spring 2017 Shannons Melbourne auction. This stunning Salamanca red L34 was advertised as having had two previous owners from new and was in very good but not concours condition. The current and third owner sent the car straight to Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars who fully restored the L34 to the condition you now see the car presented in. Receipts are included for all works performed and include the driveline rebuild managed by Bathurst legend Gary O'Brien.

The result is SIMPLY SENSATIONAL.

In stunning condition throughout, this L34 is a credit to all involved.

Completed by GMH on August 21, 1974 the L34 was originally sold through Burchfield Bros & Co, Deniliquin. It is understood to have been then owned by a Tasmanian enthusiast before passing to an owner who later moved to Queensland. The car was then sold to a Brisbane based owner in early 2006 who maintained the car is very good unmolested condition only adding the period Hotwire mags (supplied with the car on sale). As noted, the current owner purchased the car in 2017 and has since spent the ensuing years restoring the car to the current pristine condition.

The L34 was taken back to bare metal and repainted in 2 pack Salamanca red. Great care has been taken to ensure that the car now presents as a totally stock standard L34. Mechanically, the car has been rebuilt to factory specifications. The original matching numbers L34 Repco engine is still in place as is the original distributor (modified by Repco imprinted on the base), coils and Quadrajet Rochester carby. The M21 gearbox and diff have also been rebuilt.

The interior has been fully retrimmed with new black golf ball trim, new carpets, hoodlining and a Rare Spares steering wheel (original steering wheel is included). All gauges have been recalibrated and the L34 is showing 123,923 Klms on the clock. The Torana also comes with a Holden Historical Services Letter of Verification.

The original L34 Rally wheels have been fully refurbished, shod in new rubber and look stunning on the car. The L34 has had the engine bedded in on the dyno and has covered a mere 200 kilometres since the rebuild.

The underside of the Torana also presents as you would expect of a concours restored car.

This is certainly a rare and highly desirable Torana that you will be very proud to own and is ready to be driven and enjoyed. A rare important part of Australian motor racing history and a must have for the Torana collector.

Located in our Sydney Showroom for your inspection. (Ref: 6050)

We will gladly arrange a video inspection of the car using WhatsApp, and of course there is no issue with door to door transport anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.

Call Mike on 0414 278 604 or Rod on 0499 577 997 and let us assist you with your inquiries regarding this very desirable L34. Also please note if you have a quality Muscle or Classic car you wish to list or have valued please give us a call at AMCS, we will be happy to assist you.