BATHURST KING’S CAR UP FOR GRABS

ONE OF Australia's most significant and successful motorsport artefacts is going under the hammer at Shannons winter online auction in August.

It's the Holden Dealer Team built 1973 LJ Torana GTR XU-1, which took Peter Brock to his first Australian Touring Car Championship in 1974.

This is the same car that Brock raced in 1973 and, with co-driver Doug Chivas, drove to second at Bathurst after running out of fuel while leading the race. The team watched on helplessly as Chivas, already tired from his stint at the wheel, pushed the XU-1 up pitlane.

It also won the 1973 Manufacturer's championship and in early 1974 the South Pacific Touring Car Series (supporting the Tasman F5000 series).

Brock drove this GTR XU-1 in the early rounds of the 1974 touring car championship, winning the first two rounds at Symmons Plains in Tasmania on March 4 and Calder in Victoria a fortnight later.

Archrival Allan Moffat took the honours at the next round at Sandown in his twodoor Falcon on April 7 with Brock finishing third, before bouncing back to take the chequered flag at the tight and twisty Amaroo Park in NSW the following weekend.

Two weeks later, at Oran Park in NSW the car made its final Australian Touring Car Championship appearance with Brock behind the wheel. After dicing with Allan Moffat the entire race, Brock had to settle for second behind the big Falcon.

By round six of the sevenround championship at Surfers Paradise Raceway on May 19, Brock had already clinched the title and moved into the V8-powered LH Torana SL/R 5000 and won, backing that up with a win in the final round at Adelaide International Raceway on June 9.

Brock won a further two touring car championships from 212 starts, 48 wins and 57 pole positions.

Shannons has an estimate of $900,000 - $1,200,000 on this historic race car. See shannons.com.au.