Concept Car Of The Day: 1970 Holden Torana GTR-X - AllCarIndex
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The GTR-X was an ambitious and inventive product of the GMH Advanced Styling and Research and Development sections. Its knife-edged surfaces and aerodynamic form were largely inspired by the experimental Hurricane, making the GTR-X a serious attempt to build a low volume, high visibility sports model using inexpensive tooling and stock mechanical parts.
Announced in August 1970, a month after the launch of the redoubtable Torana GTR XU-1, GMH broke tradition by giving the public an opportunity to see in advance a car that could potentially be the basis of a limited production vehicle in the future. The GTR-X was built specifically to test design concepts and assess the Australian market for a locally designed and manufactured two-seater sports car.
The project began in mid-1969, with designers creating several styling proposals before finalizing a full-sized clay model. Three prototypes were produced, with only one complete vehicle surviving today. The avant-garde design featured a sleek hood, concealed headlights, sharp windshield rake, and a black and orange stripe running parallel to the rocker panel for identification.
The interior of the GTR-X was designed for maximum comfort and driver efficiency, featuring a machined aluminum instrument panel, high-backed seats, and a small diameter leather-covered steering wheel. Under the hood was the high-performance 186S six-cylinder engine from the Torana XU-1, paired with the M21 four-speed manual transmission. The GTR-X reportedly reached a top speed of 210 km/h during testing and was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes.
Despite several projected launch dates, the project was eventually shelved due to concerns about financial viability. It would have been the first Australian car to feature four-wheel disc brakes. While the GTR-X never went into production, it remains a fascinating piece of automotive history.
