HOLDEN TORANA GTR XU-1 – Aussie Flat with embossed edges

$25.10

Description

The HOLDEN TORANA GTR XU-1B novelty number plate refers to the Holden Torana GTR-X designed during the era of the LC series, and was seriously considered for production in the early 1970s. The GTR-X had a wedge-shaped fibreglass body featuring a hatchback rear access, and the prototype cars had LC Torana GTR XU-1 mechanical components.

The GTR-X looks similar to iconic sports cars of the 1970s, such as the Maserati Khamsin, Ferrari 308 GT4, Lotus Esprit, and Mazda RX-7. It weighed 1,043 kg (2,299 lb) and has a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). The Torana GTR-X in production would have been the first Holden car to be factory fitted with four-wheel disc brakes.

When Holden released a promotional brochure about the GTR-X, they said, “Its long, sleek hood is accentuated by a low, wedge-shaped grille. The body line sweeps up at the rear to an elevated tail light assembly. Simplicity is the keynote. It is achieved by concealed headlights, sharp windshield rake, recessed parking and turning lights, and flush petrol filler access and door handles. Front and rear bumpers assume the contour of the body. To identify the car, the GTR-X identification is contained within a crisp black and orange stripe running parallel to the rocker panel”.

The Torana GTR-X was highly developed by Holden from concept, and though brochures, photography and promotional films were produced to show how serious they were in putting the car into production, the company was ultimately unable to justify the high cost of committing itself to production given the size of the Australian population then.

The only existing complete prototype GTR-X car has been recently restored back to its original white paint finish and remains on public display at the Salmon Street offices of Holden in Melbourne, Victoria. This car, originally white as pictured, was painted silver in the mid ’70s. It had UC Torana SL/E wheels fitted and a few other cosmetic changes (bonnet badge, etc.) in an attempt by Holden to move the car with the times and “restore it”. During this period, it toured motor museums around the country, including the National Motor Museum at Birdwood in South Australia. In 2003, the car was returned to its original build condition (white) by Car Shine in Melbourne, prior to being shipped to the US to the General Motors Technical Center at Michigan for the celebration of automotive design spanning the past 75 years.

One other preproduction GTR-X is in the hands of a former long-time Holden employee, along with the body mold jig to make more fibreglass bodies. Whether this car will ever be finished is unknown due to the age of the owner. The picture of this orange car can be seen in Norm Darwin’s book release of the Torana, but the name and location of the owner is kept secret to prevent possible theft. Notes courtesy Wikipedia

This plate has no embossed characters but has a pressed out embossed borderB and is made from high quality aluminium and the artwork applied by a dye sublimation process with a lovely gloss finish. They measure 37 x 13 cm, exactly the same as the traditional fully embossed type of plate and look just like our other Aussie made novelty number plates; even the mounting holes are in exactly the same positions, so they can easily be hung on display indoors or outdoors. For protection during delivery we use extra packing materials to ensure they arrive in tip-top condition

If you would like plates made to your own design, we can easily do this for you.B Virtually anything you want can be created with our modern digital equipment.B The key is good art, and we can do

ANY GRAPHIC! B B ANY DESIGN! B B ANY COLOUR!

Important note about images we provide : Just as we sometimes see that bpricing is subject to change without noticeb, so too are bdesigns subject to change without noticeb. In 99.99% of cases, what you see on Dixiebs website or brochure is what you get. However, there are the odd times when designs have changed in some small way (eg: maybe a logo moves to a different location on the item, or the colour changes). Sometimes this information doesnbt always trickle down until the new designs are manufactured and shipped to Dixie.B We hope this is helpful and understandable.

Additional information

Weight 0.15 kg