Page 16 - Beep Beep June 2023

Photos from Noel St John-Wood
BEHIND THE WHEEL This month our intrepid ‘driver’ Noel St John-Wood is driving Mark Hannaford’s 1976 Holden SS Torana
A lifetime in the automotive trade has given Mark the ability to restore cars and build ‘custom cars’. Mark is currently building a hotrod for his son – see photo.
With a definite favour for the Holden brand, Mark has always been interested (like so many) in the muscle cars of the seventies when manufacturers were producing loads more horsepower with each new model – with no concern for fuel consumption and more importantly, no concern for inexperienced drivers behind the wheel. Then the Federal Government stepped in and put an end to the building of flagship supercars like the phase III GT Falcon, Chrysler’s E49 Charger and the Torana A9X.
Mark’s interest led to surfing the internet on a regular basis until a rare and collectable SS Torana 5ltr hatchback, 4 speed, appeared for sale in mint condition.
One of only 3 with 5ltr, 4 sp and painted in original ‘Tuxedo Black’ with ‘Sienna’ coloured interior, this car had a big flashing neon sign with Mark written on it!!
Before long, with approval and a nudge from his wife Wendy, the SS was soon in Mark’s stable of cars.
I was eager to drive this car for nostalgic reasons of my own, so Mark gave me the keys and told me to go for it... and go for it I did, with a quick blap up to the high speed zone!
The Torana has a beefy full chassis with rubber mounted body which makes you feel you’re driving a very solid car. The brakes were touchy but effective, and the clutch operation was somewhat heavy for frequent driving – no doubt an effective clutch at the start line. Steering was accurate with hefty muscles needed for turns due to the default manual steer – this never seemed to be an issue back then!
The power/acceleration is as you would expect – thrilling!
So many memories came flooding back after driving this car, of an era when simplicity and full-on horsepower was the rage, and the term ‘gas guzzling’ was cool.
Mark, like many others, sees his purchase of the SS as a great investment of an iconic Australian Muscle Car and I agree.
Photos from Noel St John-Wood
Cheers Noel SJW
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