The 1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 is one of the more memorable finishes in the event’s history and will be a feature at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival as part of the PremiAir Hire Bathurst Winners’ Category.
Joining the likes of the twice Bathurst winning Holden Dealer Team VH Commodore SS, two Nissan R32 Skyline GT-Rs and the Tekno Autosport VF Commodore of 2016, but this Torana is a special one.
It is best remembered due to British driver John Fitzpatrick nursing the Ron Hodgson Motors-entered Holden LH Torana L34 SL/R 5000 across the line to give Bob Morris his sole win, with the latter in tears as he watched it cross the line.
The Torana was smoking during the closing stages as a gearbox seal broke, as too a damaged rear axle made for a dramatic finish although Holdens sealed the top seven positions.
Morris had been a frontrunner since the start of the 1970s and it ramped up when he linked up with prominent Sydney Holden dealer Ron Hodgson in 1973 as the team emerged as arguably the leading privateer of the era.
Going on to secure the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1979, Morris is regarded as one of the leading drivers of the decade and his Bathurst victory alongside Fitzpatrick best demonstrates the emotion in winning at the Mountain.
Having been on long-term display at the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst, it is one of two exhibits to make the trip as it is joined by the 1965 Ford Cortina GT500.
More Bathurst winners are expected to be part of the festivities in Adelaide on March 16-17.
A wide array of global motor racing history will be part of the Adelaide Motorsport Festival representing Formula 1, Sports Cars, touring cars, open-wheelers, the Repco Safari and much more, while off-track displays, demonstrations, villas, plus further activations will keep the action going for spectators.