1978 LX SS GMP&A A9X Torana - Janson Perkins Group C Race Car ... (SOLD)

Here is a special opportunity to purchase an absolutely amazing piece of Australian Motor Racing History. One of two factory race cars built by Bob Forbes to compete at the '78 Le Mans 24 hour race and identified on the build plate as GMP&A B Forbes.

The two shells in question were walked down the production line by Holden Production Supervisor Mike Prowse, receiving extra gussets, strengthening plates, seam welds and more spot welds than any GMP&A (GM Parts & Accessories) shell or normal production car received.

In addition any bolt on panels were replaced with specially pressed light weight panels produced at the Woodville, SA GMH plant with no sealants or deadeners applied in the assembly. The cars were then taken off the production line and sent to Dulux and painted in special Acran 2 pack Grecian White acrylic enamel with two 500mm stripes painted in Chrome Yellow and March 17th Green, which Bob Forbes thought were the closest to Australia's Green and Gold sporting colours. The shells were then sent back to the plant for fitout in readiness for Le Mans.

The magic wasn't going to stop with the body shells. Famous Holden engine builder Ian Tate was in charge of building the A9X/LM engines. The plan was to work closely with Garrett AiResearch with turbo charging options for the car with a plan to add twin turbos to the 5 litre V8 to deliver 800bhp at full boost.

The drivers for the 24 hour event were to be Forbes, Kevin Bartlett and Peter Brock. The budget for the assault on Le Mans was set at $150,000. But despite support from Garry and Warren Smith Holden in Melbourne, AC Spark Plugs and Dulux, Forbes struggled to get enough sponsorship and had to abandon the Le Mans assault in early 1978.

From there this purpose built A9X race car went on to achieve its more well known fame and fortune. Purchased by "Captain" Peter Janson, the car was sent to Ian Tate to build into a Group C racer, and with Janson and Larry Perkins at the wheel, the car scored a 3rd place on debut in the 1979 Sandown 400. It then went one better with an outstanding 2nd place behind the record breaking MHDT Brock/Richards 05 GMP&A Hatchback in the 1979 Bathurst 1000. It's last race as a Group C touring car was at the Sandown 500 in 1980.

The car comes complete with it's CAMS log books noting all the races that the car participated in and is still fitted with the '79 Ian Tate engine as raced at Bathurst complete with its PJ stamped cylinder heads and twin IDF Webers. The car also comes with a huge historic race photo file, all the stickers for CAMS approvals still stuck to the roll cage and loads of spare parts.

Following its Group C racing career, the car was raced in hill climbs then laid up for many years before being meticulously restored by Torana enthusiast Paul Kramer of WA between 2003-2004. The car still had all its race gear including the original race engine, brakes, high volume sump, L34 manifold and dual point twin coil distributor.

The current owner has lavished further monies to bring the car up to full race spec including a full rebuild to the original 1979 Bathurst race engine and rebuilt super heavy duty MC7 Super T10 gearbox. The Salisbury diff is also built to Group C spec with a locker diff.

The brakes and suspension are all original Group C configuration. The car can now be reliably raced if required in Group C Historic race events or shown with pride as a super important Australian historic race car. The car will also be supplied with full ownership history and loads of receipts.

This super special A9X is available for your private inspection in Perth, WA. (AMCS Ref: 5738)

And if you like AMCS will gladly arrange a video inspection/road test of the car using WhatsApp and of course there is no issue with door to door freight delivery anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.