In Australia decades ago, Yella Terra became an aftermarket powerhouse for Holdens and Fords, but the fame only came after founder Dave Bennett declined a secret project with Holden itself.
Survivor Car Australia detailed Yella Terra’s history, which traces back to 1967. It was then that Holden approached Bennett to modify 250 cylinder heads for a secret project. Bennett didn’t have the capacity to do it and declined. Eventually, Holden made its own based on a sample from Bennett—and they went into the LC Torana GTR XU-1.
Bennett realized the missed opportunity, and he decided he would build another set of heads with an economical price point, but excellent quality. Yella Terra was born, and it wasn’t long until the name was quickly associated with top performance in Holden V6 and V8 engines.
In 1973, Holden came back. The company asked Bennett to produce 250 heads for the 202 Bathurst GTR XU-1. This time, he obliged, and it led him to another Holden project: heads for the LH Torana L34.
Perfectune and Yella Terra continued their domination with Holden and Ford performance throughout the 1980s and 1990s. And the company still provides numerous engine modification options for enthusiasts to this day. For Bennett, opportunity didn’t just knock once, but twice.
Comments
Still do I have Yella Terra rockers on my LS3
Yeah, he made the old 179 sit up and take notice, Wow, what a difference his gear made.
I chuckled when I read about the L34, they got big power to the same axle as the FJ, they snapped like twigs at Bathurst.
They learnt from those earlier mistakes and built the all conquering A9X – legendary car!
With a legendary driver, a legendary team and a record win by six laps in 1979! That will never be beaten or repeated.
Those yellow heads made a real difference to a X2 or a 186S. The guy is a legend.