Resurrecting My Written-Off Holden Torana: The Rebuild Series Begins!

The Crash That Could Have Ended It All

“It all happened in slow motion.”

One moment, I was taking my beloved Torana for a casual drive through the Dandenong Ranges. The next, I was fighting to control the car as it snapped sideways on the wet road, slammed into a tree, and careened down an embankment.

As I climbed out of the wreck—shaken but miraculously unharmed—the police told me something chilling: “We see crashes like this all the time. In cars this old, people usually leave in an air ambulance.”

The Torana wasn’t so lucky. The impact shattered the rear quarter, twisted the floor, and exposed a few hidden rust repairs. But as I stared at the damage, one thought cut through the devastation: This car isn’t just metal. It’s my first car. The car I met my wife because of. My history.

So begins the most ambitious project of my life—rebuilding my Torana from the ground up. And I’m documenting every step in this new video series.

Why Rebuild (When Buying Another Would Be Easier)?

Let’s be honest: the “smart” move would’ve been to scrap this shell and start fresh. But this isn’t just any Torana.

• Sentimental Value: It’s been with me through life’s biggest moments.
• Hidden Potential: The crash exposed weaknesses we can now fix properly.
• A Creative Challenge: We’re not just repairing—we’re reimagining.

As I told Dale Ward (my fabricator and the wizard behind Ward Paint & Fabrication): “I don’t want it the same. I want it better.”

The Damage: A Closer Look

The crash revealed horrors even I didn’t expect:

• Snapped C-pillar: The impact tore through an old rust repair.
• Twisted Floor: The force rippled the metal like paper.
• Structural Nightmares: Even the diff area took a beating.

Dale’s first reaction? “It’s mangled… but fixable.” And if anyone would know, it’s him—with 25+ years of panel-beating experience and a knack for resurrecting classics.

The Plan: Bigger, Bolder, and Packed with Innovation

This isn’t a standard repair. We’re pushing boundaries:
🔧 3D Scanning & Printing: Custom parts designed digitally.
⚡ Fabricated Upgrades: Ditching the factory setup for a Watts Link system.
🎨 Dale’s Magic: Hand-forming panels from raw steel (a dying art).

“I love taking a flat bit of metal and turning it into something,” Dale says. And that’s exactly what we’ll do.

Join the Journey

This series is for anyone who’s ever loved a car enough to save it. I’ll share:
✅ The highs (finally straightening the chassis)
✅ The lows (unexpected rust battles)
✅ The innovations (like 3D-printed prototypes)

Full playlist here

Want to see something specific? Comment below—we might feature your idea!

“This Torana’s story isn’t over. It’s just getting good.”

P.S. Huge thanks to Dale Ward (@WardPaintAndFabrication) for bringing his A-game. Follow his shop for jaw-dropping builds!