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car, until today, was the best-kept secret in the Australian motor
industry, is called the SS Holden. Basically the SS Holden is
a Kingswood sedan with a 253 cubic inch engine option. It also
has several modifications to make it acceptable to Government road
safety authorities.
Late
last month both GM-H and Ford were forced to cancel their plans
to build powerful supercars for the annual Bathurst motor racing
clash. Fords plans are still undecided for this year and the
SS Holden has a good chance of taking out at least a class win in
the Hardie Ferodo.
With
Channel 7 network television audience, of over three million people
throughout Australia a “family car” success at Bathurst would have
a tremendous value for GM-H. Only 600 SS Holdens are being
built, their price of $3,250.00 ensures the company will be able
to sell the required 200 models in time to qualify for Bathurst.
Features
of the SS include wide alloy rally type wheels, top performance
rated radial tyres, GTS Monaro instrumentation, four speed gearbox
and power disc brakes. News of the SS Holden is unlikely to
cause any concern among road safety authorities because all it’s
components are readily available as options to Holden buyers.
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SS
badges and a vermilion flame colour scheme will distinguish the new
car from other Kingswood sedans. The SS will also have black
body stripes and a rear deck spoiler similar to the upswept tail of
a Chevrolet Camaro. The tentative price of $3,250.00 is designed
to keep the SS out of the Bathurst category, which Ford’s GTHO Falcon
has dominated. On current market values the new Holden will
sell for $900 less than similarly equipped cars.
GM-H
plans to sell the SS in only one colour and with a black and white
hounds tooth check upholstery. Early this year a single SS
Holden was built by GM-H engineers for the company’s sales manager,
Mr J. G. Bagshaw. The prototype was built as a design exercise,
but now, with supercars ruled out, GM-H plans to capture Bathurst
honours with the SS. The new Holden will go on sale in mid-August,
leaving three weeks to sell the required 200 before Bathurst.
Cars
likely to compete against the SS at Bathurst in the Hardie Ferodo
500 are the BMW 2000, BMW 2002, Charger R/T and Holden Torana XU-1.
With little chance of beating the Falcons, there is no reason for
the XU-1 Torana to race and the SS, with its resemblance to other
Holdens, is a more obvious choice.
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