Holden Hurricane returns

The 1969 Holden Hurricane was a force to be reckoned with. Now it's an up and running reality once more. The futuristic research vehicle described as an experiment "to study design trend, propulsion systems and other long range developments" has been restored as a five-year labour of love by Holden designers and engineers.

General Motors International Operations Design executive director Michael Simcoe said the car was completely run-down and required urgent attention when the project commenced in 2006.

"The guys got access to the car, recognised historically the significance of the car and the terrible state it was in, and really if it had gone too much further it would have been one of those things that just disappeared and was lost for all time," he says.

"There was also some passion in design to get hold of it and take it back to the way it was."

It's known offocially as RD 001 in recognition of being the first vehicle to emerge from the Holden Research and Development group and the Advance Styling Group operating out of the Fishermans Bend Technical Centre in the 1960s.

Possessed of a Jetsons-inspired look it employed technology that seemed equally sci-fi in 1969  it used a rear vision camera with a (black and white) CCTV screen, a magnet based automated route finder, "Comfortron" automatic airconditioning, station-seeking radio and digital instruments.

It was meant to and did put Holden on the map as a design and technology centre, a position it retains in the GM family. That significance is not lost at Holden and a group of designers and engineers have volunteered their time to restore the mid-engined two-seat sports car to its original specification.

The restored car was officially unveiled yesterday by Holden managing director Mike Devereux , ahead of going on display at this weekend's Motorclassica exhibition at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton.

Resembling some kind of spacecraft, so it was no surprise jaws dropped more than 40-years ago when it was displayed to country towns on the back of an open trailer.

Powered by a 4.2-litre V8 fed by a four-barrel carubettor and delivering 193kW to the rear wheels, the Hurricane's performance was on a par with its futuristic design. Even the brilliant metallic orange paint was a first.

Holden Hurricane Concept Car
On show: Motorclassica, Royal Exhibition Building
When: Friday-Sunday
Built: 1969
Restoration: started 2006
Drivetrain: 4.2-litre V8, four-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive
Power: 193KW
Brakes: Front oil-cooled discs, rear drums
Body: Fibreglass cockpit with forward hinged canopy
Features: Rear-vision CCTV, station-seeking radio,  "Pathfinder" magnet-based navigation system.
Safety: Energy absorbing steering column; foot pedals adjust by 15cm, integrated rollbar