Heath Van Der Waerden’s Holden Torana hatchback — affectionately nicknamed the “Sh#t Bird” by his mates — started life as an Aussie Sunbird before Heath began an extensive rebuild in December 2014, cutting and reworking the front, back, floor, and suspension to chase an ’80s-style flared hatchback look with Japanese-inspired fitment and stance. The car runs a 16-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel combination for the perfect dish and camber, and what began as a stripped two-seater with a roll cage evolved into a more refined five-seater complete with a custom-made, meter-wide aluminium sunroof.
Chasing a JDM Look With the Torana Hatchback
Heath reworked the front double A-arm suspension geometry and completely redesigned the rear suspension for better handling, working through fibreglass panel fitment challenges and oiling system issues that eventually led to a full engine rebuild. With more than 30,000 kilometres on the clock, the car has proven itself as both a capable daily driver and a genuine track weapon, competing in Optima Street Car events, hill climbs, and circuit sprints.
It’s rare to see a Torana hatchback built with this much attention to stance and fitment rather than just raw horsepower. Ten years of steady rework, not a quick build, is what gets a car from stripped shell to genuine track weapon with 30,000km already proven on it.
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