Great Cars, Great Runs, Great People, Great Times ....

Torana HB Series I ....

May 1967 - September 1968 ...

While the HB Torana was the first small Holden, it was not GM-H's first small car, as they had previously assembled and marketed the Vauxhall HA Viva.  When the HA was due to be replaced with the HB Viva in 1967, GM-H decided to increase the local content and badge it as a Holden.  The word 'Torana' means 'to fly' in an Aboriginal language and was the first Aboriginal name used by Holden.  The Series I tag was not official GM-H coding but was used to differentiate this car from the later 1969 Torana.

Externally, the main difference between the English HB Viva and the Australian HB Torana was Vauxhalls use of rectangular headlights and matching grille (the Holden's headlights were round).  The car showed its European heritage with two rear number plate lights (to accommodate the wider UK number plates), secondary km/h scale on the speedo and the multi function stalk with horn, headlight flasher, high / low beam and blinkers.

The model range consisted of one body style only, a two door sedan, in three trim levels: the Torana, the Torana S and the Torana SL. The basic Torana was the price leader and was fairly spartan (similar to the larger standard Holden), although it was equipped with front bucket seats and seatbelts, an external rear view mirror, Holden's sadlon vinyl upholstery and black rubber floor mats. The Torana S added rear ashtrays, a parcel tray, assist straps, coat hooks, courtesy light door switches, door armrests and colour matched rubber floor mats and steering wheel.  The SL was like a mini Premier with wood grain finish on the glovebox, instrument fascia and horn bar.  A heater was standard as was a boot light, a glovebox light and lock, carpet and a temperature gauge.

Powered by an 1159cc four cylinder OHV engine, transmitting through a four speed floor shift all synchromesh gearbox, it was quite a good little performer by 1967 standards and was very well received when introduced.  The suspension was another first for Holden, with coils all round, a four link setup and rack and pinion steering up front (also Holden's first).  The body was of the contemporary 'coke bottle' design with ample interior and boot space.

When the HB series was first introduced, the 56bhp engine was the only power plant available.  This was remedied in late 1967 with the addition of the Brabham version and early in 1968 with the Series 70 engine option. The Brabham was an option package available for both S and SL models and was equipped with twin carburettors. It was a 79bhp version of the same basic 1159cc Vauxhall four cylinder engine. Other inclusions were power front disc brakes, wider (four inch) road wheels and 6.20 x 12 red wall tyres and a lower ratio (4.125:1) differential. Brabham Toranas were identified by a broad centre GT style stripe, blacked out rear tail light panel, small Brabham badges on the front guards and a mahogany gear knob with the Brabham motif (auto transmission was not available with this engine).

The Series 70 engine was an upgrade of the basic engine to 69bhp (with a CD Stromberg side-draught carby) and was available on all three models. Cars with this engine came with power front disc brakes and four inch road wheels, and were identified by a small 70 and checkered square on the boot. The Borg Warner 35 three speed automatic was optional on the 56bhp engine on earlier cars, but after the introduction of the Series 70 engine the auto was only optional on the higher spec engine.

MINOR FEATURES - SERIES I

DIMENSIONS

PRODUCTION NUMBERS

HB Series I and II together ....

ENGINE

Engine Compression Output Engine No
  Ratio BHP Prefix
1159cc 8.5:1 56 22HB
S70 9.0:1 56 22HB
Brabham 9.0:1 69 22HB

TRANSMISSION

FINAL DRIVE

MODELS AND RELEASE DATES - HB SERIES I