1978 Holden Gemini: Deathtrap

Today on Car Rave we are featuring a 1978 Holden Gemini, in Opaline Blue with Saddle Tan vinyl interior. And what a stunning example of 1970’s Australian motoring it is. Bar one small change.

Way back when I was 16, my parents made a deal that every dollar I earned as a dishpig would be matched by them, so that I when I turned 18, I could afford a reasonable car. A fair and reasonable deal, I thought

So I started building a shortlist of cars. The list consisted of a VL Calais, R31 Skyline Silhouette, Suzuki Swift GTi or a Holden Gemini. Bit all over the shop, I know. And as strange as it sounds, getting a Gemini was at the top of my list.

So after trawling through the Trading Post (remember that?) for weeks on end, I came across an ad for a Red TE Gemini. It was in my price range and not far from home. The call was made, and I was off for an inspection.

I still remember pulling up at the house, in Dandenong North (yikes), and seeing it parked up on the front lawn- gleaming from a fresh wash. I couldn’t believe such an epic specimen of the Fast Fours allegiance was in my price range. Overly massive 17’s (it was 2003 folks), two subs in the boot, a hot little Twin-Carb 1.6 litre, front chin spoiler and a fresh respray. The whole shebang had me a little excited.

It even had the obligatory Redback gear knob. OOOF.

I was sold, almost immediately. Only problem- the owner had let the rego lapse, so no test drive. No bother, naive me thought, and off I went to get my promised funding from Mum and Dad.

Dad, unsurprisingly, was not on board. If he was chipping in half, he would want to have some say in the matter. Dad was quick to inform me that Gemini’s were notorious “pieces of shit”. But, I didn’t give in, so a deal was made to have the car look over by a mechanic.

Which, wasn’t great.

Shockingly, the little Gemi failed miserably, with the list of illegal modifications read like a lesson in what not to do. But, I was a persistent little shit, so Dad sweet talked the owner into letting me take it for a spin round the block to make sure I definitely liked it before signing on the dotted line.

So there I was, sitting in what I thought was possibly the coolest little car I had ever seen, about to take it home. It was going to be a great day.

I gripped that Redback gear knob, and fired her into life. I crept out of the driveway, doing the necessary sideways crawl to avoid any scraping (it was LOW), and trundled off down the road. As soon as I was far enough from the owners house, I gave it the obligatory squirt- something I had been desperate to do since first laying eyes on it.

But there was nothing. Where I thought the hot little four would be detaching my eyeballs from their retinas, I was instead left wondering if I had left the handbrake on.

It seems then, that my dad was not an idiot. His final play was to get me behind the wheel, knowing full well that I would be underwhelmed. With my head hung low, I left that Gemini in Dandenong North. All as fixed the following week, after putting a deposit on a one owner R31 Skyline SIlhouette (a car that was still fairly slow, but a lot less illegal).

Where am I going with this dribble? Well, perhaps if that little red Gemini had a few more ponies, I may have just ended up prying the money out of my Dads hand that fateful day in 2003. Maybe all it needed was say, four more cylinders? And a turbo? With a 4300 Stalled Auto? And a Hilux diff? Just like this one!

Yes- thats right. The clearly insane owner of this Holden badged Isuzu has stuffed a turbo-charged V8 upfront, to create what can only be considered a coffin on wheels.

Ok- they have shown some constraint by opting for a smaller displacement 4 Litre, quad cam Toyota 1UZFE V8. But that’s where the constraint seemingly begins and ends, because this thing is properly set up (see list of mod’s below). Infact, this un-assuming little beast has run a 9.6 quarter mile, almost a second quicker than a Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV Roadster (10.4 seconds).

And all for just $13.5k! Jesus.

Shockingly, there is no mention of upgraded brakes. Nore is there any mention of a racing harness or roll cage either. Hey, you can’t knock it though. The main goal was obviously to go fast, and all that stuff would just weight this beast down.

If you are crazy enough to consider this epic little 1978 Holden Gemini, head over to Tuff Streeters 4 Sale page on Facebook.

As for me and Geminis? Still would.

1978 Holden Gemini: In the owner’s own words

1978 Holden Holden Gemini · Small_car · Driven 96,800 kilometres

Turbo v8 gemini 9 second streetable car 13,500 ono. No swaps. Need to sell as have no room to keep it inside shed its sitting around wasting away. would like to free up some cash for other projects.

•Link g4+ atom ecu
•1uzfe 4L quad cam v8
•11mm arp head studs
•Cometic head gaskets
•2jz valve springs
•Custom upper plenum
•Ls1 coils and leads.
•Modified upper and lower sump.
•800-820cc decapped injectors.
•rings gapped for boost.
•A341e transmission 4 speed auto.
•modified valve body for full manual shifts.
•Derale tube and fin dual pass 10”x 14.5” •transmission cooler teflon braied lines with an6 fittings.
•B&m shifter.
•Custom 4300rpm converter
•1 peice 1350 tailshaft with internal slip joint. Built for 1000hp.
•Hilux diff locked with 4.1 gears
•mcdonald brothers controlarm
•full stainless turbo back exhaust
•hidden gt3584
•60mm wastegate
•water meth injection
Ran 9.6 @139mph down the 1/4 on a soft 60ft potential to go faster. Private message for enquires.
https://youtu.be/JOvxn0c