6. 1972 Holden Torana LC GTR XU-1
The introduction of the Torana GTR was a controversial move by General Motors Australia since this car broke the muscle car mold. It was somewhat smaller and lighter than the Monaro and it featured a six-cylinder engine instead of a V8. Under the hood was the tuned version of a common 3.3-liter inline six, paired with triple Stromberg carburetors. The combo was good for 200 HP.
Along with its small weight, the Torana GTR delivered a good performance. The car was also successful in racing, but mostly on the rally stages and events. Holden’s racing team experimented with the V8-powered Torana but this model never went out of the prototype stage. That is a shame since a V8 engine in a small car would be interesting.