FROM the slope at the tail-end to the point of its nose, the Holden Torana instantly made an impression on Darin Legray after he first saw it on a car magazine front cover.
This image led to Mr Legray purchasing a 1973 Holden LJ Torana around 18 years ago after he spotted the beaten-up, yellow-coloured car on the roadside.
Mr Legray said he had almost completed a full restoration on his own across a four-year period.
“When I saw the model in the magazine, I just thought ‘wow’,” he said.
“I love the Torana and it was that vehicle which got me interested in cars in the first place.
“You can not compare them to any other vehicle on the road.”
As the vehicle’s third owner, Mr Legray said there were still some things he would like to modify on the vehicle, but it had come a long way since.
“It was yellow when I first bought it and even the door handles were yellow,” he said.
“It was covered in dents with rust here and there.
“It is now fitted with 13-inch hotwire wheels and a 202 motor and four-speed manual gearbox, the only thing I have not really done is the interior.”
Featured in his own wedding and a friend’s who has since passed away, Mr Legray said the Marina Blue car, fitted with a two-and-a-half inch exhaust, stood out on the road.
“I love the colour of the vehicle, I painted it that colour because I saw another vehicle in a magazine painted that colour,” the Holden enthusiast said.
“I met my wife Donna half way through the restoration and I told her I did not know what colour to paint it, but was learning more towards a green.
“She told me no I had to paint it blue, so I began looking for a nice cool blue and found this one.”
Mr Legray said he applied the paintwork himself and completed the rust repairs, all self-taught.
“I did not really grow up with Holden and it was not in the family at all,” he said.
“The passion I have developed since I was young already has been shared with my son Lockie and he is always out in the shed with me,” he said.
“He is always helping me clean and vacuum when we take it to smaller show and shines and swap meet events.”
Recently featured in last year’s Limestone Coast Toy Run, Mr Legray said he had enjoyed working on the vehicle over the years.
“Everyone tells me to put a V8 engine in it, but I do not want to,” he said.
“I like how the vehicle is small, but it is still six-cylinder.
“I was very disappointed when I heard Holden would not be manufactured in Australia anymore and I think that has already added value to the car.”
Recently joining the Holdens of Age Car Club, Mr Legray said he would like to “tune up” the vehicle before it went on any longer cruises.
