The Engine Holden Built to Destroy Ford at Bathurst — Then Banned It Themselves

In 1979, Peter Brock won the Bathurst 1000 by a staggering six laps, setting a touring car lap record on the final lap of the race. It remains the most dominant victory in Australian motorsport history. The car that made it possible? The legendary Holden Torana A9X. Built specifically to destroy the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III on the mountain, the A9X was a homologation masterpiece. Holden took their mid-sized Torana, stuffed it with the bulletproof 308 cubic inch "Iron Lion" V8 engine, and added four-wheel disc brakes, heavy-duty axles, and a massive rear-facing bonnet scoop. The result was an unstoppable racing weapon that won back-to-back Australian Touring Car Championships and Bathurst 1000s in 1978 and 1979. But just as the A9X reached the absolute peak of its dominance, Holden quietly killed it off. They dropped the V8 engine, replaced the Torana with the new Commodore, and pretended their greatest muscle car never existed. Today, a genuine A9X can sell for over $1,000,000 at auction. We dive deep into the history, the specs, and the corporate betrayal of the car that conquered Bathurst. 👇 Is the Holden Torana A9X the greatest Australian muscle car ever built, or does the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III still hold the crown? Let us know in the comments! 🔔 Subscribe to @UnleashedEngines for more deep dives into automotive history and legendary motors! #HoldenTorana #A9X #AustralianMuscleCars #PeterBrock #UnleashedEngines #Bathurst1000 #HoldenV8 #CarHistory