Torguay gave notice they will be no pushovers after winning a place in League One after they came from behind with the help of a lucky penalty, but their determined defending then stopped Bristol City in their tracks.
Lee Canoville and Steve Woods both cleared off the line and keeper Bertrand Bossu spread himself well to block another shot.
City took the lead early in the second half as young Leroy Lita stooped alertly to head in a Danny Coles cross.
That strike did not fully mask the first half failures of an experimental 4-3-3 formation and Torquay were soon hitting back as manager Leroy Rosenior sent on two loan players in Martin Phillips and Gareth Owen in midfield. Their big chance came when Tom Doherty brought down Torquay's new striker Adebayo Akinfenwa on the edge of the box.
Referee Tony Harr surprised everyone by pointing to the spot before Woods stepped up with a cool strike across the keeper's body.
An angry Doherty then gave away two free-kicks within minutes and picked up a warning before cooling down.
City were fired up but could not find a way back. Their new player manager Brian Tinnion had three front runners on the pitch but no-one could get to the ball into the feet of Paul Heffernan, the £125,00 signing from Notts County.
The striker's main contribution came in winning three early free-kicks. All were taken by Tinnion and the second was the most promising. It was arrowing in on the top right corner until Torquay's skipper Craig Taylor rose with a majestic header to send it firmly behind for a corner.
Promotion has seen Torquay sell David Graham whose goals won it for them and Akinfenwa has come in from Doncaster as a free signing. He lacks height but is burly and determined and he kept City's acting captain Coles at full stretch.
The main hope of a breakthrough before the penalty came when Jo Kuffour fed off Coles in the middle to fire a rising shot over the crossbar.