Holden Torana SLR 5000 (1974 - 1978)

The Torana SL/R 5000 was Holden’s compact V8 weapon during one of the fiercest periods of Australian touring-car rivalry. By fitting a 5.0-litre V8 into the smaller Torana body, Holden created a car with the power to challenge larger Falcons while keeping weight and size under control.

Its racing connection, especially through the L34 and A9X lineage, gives the SL/R 5000 lasting importance. It represents Holden’s move away from simply relying on full-size muscle and toward a sharper, more specialised performance package built with Bathurst in mind.