Last VL SS Group A SV 'Walkinshaw' built could set new record sale price
11/28/2024 01:00 PM
The final 'Walkinshaw' made by the brand that became HSV – bought new by a Bathurst racer – may command as much as $500,000 or beyond as one of Australia's most collectible performance cars.
The final VL SS Group A SV ‘Walkinshaw’ high performance road car ever made is up for sale, having been first owned by former Bathurst racing driver and team owner, Bob Forbes – and it could be worth half a million dollars or more.
Built on 7 September 1988, the rare performance Holden was the end of a limited run of 750 VL-model SS Group A Commodores – commonly known as a 'Walkinshaw' – all with the same Panorama Silver paint and wild-looking body work.
The special edition model was made to enable Holden to race the more its V8-powered Holden Commodore at Bathurst and in the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), the forerunner to today's V8 Supercars.
As a 'homologation special', the rule book called for a batch of 500 road-going versions for a vehicle to be eligible for racing under the global 'Group A' regulations used in Australia at the time, which gave the car its official name.
Based on the VL Commodore sold between 1986-1988, the Walkinshaw's eye-catching body work wrapped a set of serious mechanical upgrades, including a more powerful version of Holden's 4.9-litre V8, making 180kW/380Nm and the first to be fuel injected.
Available only as a five-speed manual, there were also larger brakes, firmer Bilstein sports suspension and Bridgestone RE71 tyres, with 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.7 seconds, a standing quarter-mile (402m) in 14.9 seconds and a top speed of 253km/h.
The body work included a huge rear spoiler which was used to great effect in racing, with Allan Grice and Win Percy driving a Walkinshaw to victory in the 1990 Bathurst 1000 against highly fancied Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth and the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
Priced at $45,000 before on-road costs when new in 1988, the Walkinshaw is now one of the most sought after – and valuable – Australian muscle cars.
In 2018, Walkinshaw number 333 set a then-record for one of the hot Holdens when it sold for $380,000 before auction costs. The same car was recently advertised for $575,000 – but that's not the highest asking price for a 'Walky'.
A price "in excess of $1 million" was listed for build number 439 in 2021 – a pristine example with less than 1500km on the odometer – however its selling price has not been made public.
The highest known price paid of an Australian-made car was the same year, when a 1972 Ford XA Falcon GT-HO Phase IV, one of just four built, was reportedly sold for $1.75 million.
Walkinshaw Number 750 – still in original condition with only 19,666km on the odometer – was purchased by former Bathurst racer Bob Forbes, whose team raced its own Walkinshaws between 1988 and 1991.
The current owners – a family in Sydney – were the first to road-register the car when they bought it from Suttons City in Rosebery in 1998, Forbes having sold it to the dealership group in mid 1997.
Having owned it since, the prized family possession is now up for sale for the first time in more than 25 years at Stagauto.com.au, listed as 'Price on Application' (POA).
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