During the early-1970s, rallying was popular and manufacturers clambered to get involved including Holden.
In reality, Holden’s involvement in rallying was to cover its circuit racing program due to a global ban imposed by General Motors.
The cover worked as Holden enjoyed great success on dirt and tarmac led by ‘The Fox’ Harry Firth during this time spearheaded by the Torana GTR XU-1.
Launched in 1969 and introduced to motor racing the next year, team leader Colin Bond won its first race at Warwick Farm after defeating the Holden Monaro GTS 350 of Bob Jane.
Just as the Torana was taking up a David vs Goliath battle up to Ford’s powerful Falcon GT-HO, it was taking to the forests as well going up against the likes of nimble Renaults, Minis, Ford Cortinas, Mitsubishi Colts and many more.
In an era where it wasn’t unusual to switch between circuit and rally events each weekend, Bond solidified his position as Mr Versatile.
The Holden Dealer Team was put together in a whirlwind during 1969, debuting in rallying at the Australian Rally Championship’s final round where Tony Roberts scored second alongside co-driver Brian Hope in Victoria’s Alpine Rally.
For 1970, the Holden Dealer Team was represented by three entries led by Tony Roberts this time co-driven by Mike Osborne in a Torana GTR, with the pair finishing fourth at the opening Eureka Rally in Victoria.
Barry Ferguson and Dave Johnson were in another Torana GTR, but endured carburettor problems, then became bogged in deep sand for moire than two hours to end their chances.
Colin Bond was the third of the entries in a Monaro GTS 350, but this also endured carburettor maladies to be seventh in the end with Hope navigating.
Round 2, the Blue Ribbon Rally in Victoria led to an unbelievable predicament for the Holden Dealer Team when two of its entries crashed into each other.
Roberts was running away in the lead until he slid off the road. Bond stopped to tow Roberts out of trouble when Ferguson came over the crest and smashed into the Monaro.
A second Monaro was entered for new Holden Dealer Team recruit John Keran, but he and Peter Meyer became bogged leading to retirement.
Renault’s Bob Watson was leading the way in the title driving his R8 Gordini, but the Toranas had displayed solid pace.
Both the Ferguson and Roberts Toranas retired early at Round 3 leaving Bond to battle Watson for the win.
However, it was Watson again prevailing to make it three wins from as many rallies.
Bond and Roberts were both in Monaros for the Cambridge-Toyota 500 Rally in South Australia. Unable to beat the factory Datsun 1600 of Stewart McLeod, Bond led the way in third just ahead of Roberts.
Bond was the sole entry for the Holden Dealer Team driving a Monaro in the final ARC round, the Warana Rally in Queensland.
It proved a worthy send off for the big Monaro, finishing second to Watson’s nimble Renault once again.
At the globally acclaimed Southern Cross Rally, Ferguson gave the Torana GTR XU-1 a maiden win to cap off a season of learning.
Excitement was high for 1971 thanks to reigning champions Renault returning, increased attention from Datsun and Mitsubishi in addition to a bigger effort from the Holden Dealer Team.
Teaming with George Shepheard, Bond won three rounds of the 1971 ARC to take his maiden national title.
Victoria’s Classic Rally started the season off and it was Renault’s Watson taking the win, but the Toranas were improving. Bond retired after hitting a bridge and Ferguson saved face to finish fourth.
New South Wales hosted Round 2, the Bunbury Curran Rally and it provided the start of Bond’s charge towards the title.
Bond took the win and the privateer Torana of previous Datsun driver McLeod was third ahead of Ferguson in fifth.
In a throwback, Frank Kilfoyle won the Akademos Rally in a Monaro 350 GTS ahead of McLeod in third and Bond was fourth.
Watson retired leaving Bond to draw level in the standings halfway through the season.
The Snowy Rally in New South Wales gave the Holden Dealer Team its first 1-2 result, with Bond lead Ferguson as McLeod finished fourth to cap off a strong run for the Toranas.
Watson was further afflicted by mechanical problems ensuring he dropped behind Bond in the standings after finishing fifth.
Backing up his victory in New South Wales, Bond was second in South Australia for the Uniroyal Rally behind the Renault of Mal McPherson.
For this event, the Holden Dealer Team had four entries as Kilfoyle and Peter Janson joined the regular drivers in Monaros.
Kilfoyle was provisionally awarded the victory after weather caused chaos during the event, but a protest gave McPherson the win.
Bond was back on the winner’s list at the Warana Rally in Queensland ahead of Kilfoyle now in a Torana and Watson.
This victory handed the championship to Bond by 14-points to Watson, while Kilfoyle placed third.
Back at the Southern Cross Rally, Bond successfully defended the victory for Holden.
Proving a package hard to beat in rallying, Bond took back-to-back ARC titles in 1972 by securing victories in Bunbury Curran Rally, Snowy Mountains Rally and Warana Rally, while Kilfoyle won the season-ending Alpine Rally to further emphasise the dominance of the Torana.
It was a clean-sweep for Toranas at all ARC rounds in 1973.
McLeod won the opener, Bond took two wins and champion Peter Lang was victorious in the remaining three.
Datsun’s new 260z sports car was a threat to Holden, but it was Bond taking his third ARC crown in 1974.
Ex-Holden driver McLeod was the main threat to Bond on his return to Datsun using the aforementioned 260z as he scored two round victories to finish second in the standings.
Lang won the opening round, the ARC’s first ever trip to Western Australia, McLeod the next, then Bond won four in a row to snatch the title. McLeod returned to victory lane at the season finale, Victoria’s Alpine Rally.
The threat of the 260z turned into reality for 1975 when the largely unknown West Australian Ross Dunkerton took the crown.
The GTR XU-1 had been replaced by the L34, but this was to be not as successful.
Bond debuted the Holden Dealer Team’s L34 at the Akademos Rally in Victoria where he scored fourth.
Although winning on its second appearance, the L34 and Holden Dealer Team’s focus was clearly more positioned towards circuit racing.
This renewed focus was rewarded by Bond when he secured the 1975 Australian Touring Car Championship to add to his three ARC crowns.