The show featured road tests of cars, information about automotive products and the Australian automotive industry, and was hosted by motoring journalist and ex-racing driver Peter Wherrett.
In 1973 Wherrett was approached by an ABC producer to present the pilot, and the series went on to become a massive success.
Wherret wrote a book about the programme, also titled Torque. The 128-page book was published in 1977 so is well out of print now, but copies regularly come up for sale on eBay. The ISBN is 0725403837.
Series and episode list:
Series 1
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Series 2
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Series 3
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Series 4
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Series 5
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Series 6
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Series 7 (1979)
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Series 8 (1980)
E1 - Holden Commodore VC, BMW 528i, fuel economy products tested (www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDnE5exFcAs)
E2 - Ford Falcon XD, roof racks and caravans, Bolwell Ikara (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRDC87Oizw)
E3 - Chrysler Valiant, Chrysler Sigma, Borg-Warner transmissions/interview, transmission driving tips (www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl02SxA8AMo)
E4 - Toyota Corona, tyres, Datsun 200B (www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_N5BmKOgpY)
E5 - Porsche 924 Turbo, Volkswagen Golf petrol, diesel, LPG (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Qt7GbS-cQ)
E6 - International Scout Traveltop, Jeep Renegade CJ7, Toyota Hilux 4WD, Subaru 4WD (www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Oe9tNIu5A&t=9s)
E7 - Jaguar XJ6 III, Suzuki Hatch, public transport, electric buses (www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZdTJ2oUQS4&t=9s)
E8 - Motorsport, Datsun 280ZX, Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 1.5 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NGO0CTDAjU&t=9s)
E9 - Avoiding car accidents part 1 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4WyuiO4HsA&t=13s)
E10 - Avoiding car accidents part 2 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=idhKElh8n6I&t=9s)
Update: The ABC has now started uploading episodes of Torque to Youtube. Their playlist currently consists of selected episodes from 1974 to 1980.
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