Torana G-Pack + Camaro + Jaguar XJC - Ones That Got Away 427
Cliff Chambers looks back through the Unique Cars classifieds
HOLDEN TORANA G-PACK - Advertised June 1999
Holden during the 1970s had the ability to produce variations to fill every niche in an overflowing market. The G-Pack loaded a basic LH Torana with popular options including the 3.3-litre engine, disc brakes, sports wheels and full instrumentation. Holden then added body black-out panels and sold several hundred of them at a subsidised price. From there things went badly for the G-Pack with the vast majority not surviving at all or being resprayed to mask their identities. Even 20 years ago this car was a very rare survivor and we hope it has survived.
Was: $5500. Now: $30,000-35,000
CHEVROLET CAMARO - Advertised December 1999
Back when the Camaro was new and freshly-converted cars appeared on the floors of big-city Holden dealerships, people showed up just to see the exotic new Chevrolet. Early Camaros during the 1970s-80s fell from favour before rules governing ‘classic’ imports were relaxed and a lot more arrived on our roads. This base model was most likely a 1990s arrival and with shiny red paint and a 350 under the bonnet it would certainly have attracted the buyers. Today the Camaro market remains very strong and values have more than doubled.
Was: $22,900. Now: $50,000-55,000
JAGUAR XJC - August 2000
The XJC was a problem child for Jaguar. Announced in 1973 as a Series 1 but not built until 1975, the coupe by that time had acquired the reshaped grille and other attributes of an XJ6 Series 2. Australia was well-supplied with XJCs in 4.2-litre and 5.3-litre V12 form and survivors are still fairly easy to find. This six-cylinder car is running later wheels and seems to have lost the vinyl roof covering that, as a virulent rust-trap, helped kill off a lot of otherwise healthy XJCs. Values haven’t as yet climbed to levels that might be expected from a model this elegant and scarce.
Was: $11,500. Now: $30,000-35,000
FORD THUNDERBIRD LANDAU - March 2006
Ford, for reasons best known to its production accountants, decided in 1967 to turn the evocative Thunderbird into a four-wheeled block of flats. This example with its side ‘marker’ lights would be from 1968 or ‘69 and quite likely came to Australia new as an expensive personal import. Early 1960s T-Birds were horrific to convert and we can’t imagine that later models with their abundance of power-assisted equipment would have been any easier. Perhaps but not surprising has been the long-term reluctance of these big ‘Glamour Birds’ to make significant money for their owners.
Was: $12,500. Now: $18,000-20,000
Classic Australian Family Car Value Guide home page
Muscle Car Value Guide home page
Japanese Classic Car Value Guide home page
Unique Cars magazine Value Guides
Sell your car for free right here
Get your monthly fix of news, reviews and stories on the greatest cars and minds in the automotive world.
Subscribe