Calais Walkinshaw

[Roly]

I am looking at buying a one owner walkinshaw however this one is a bit different.

The owner who has recently died (and was a good family friend) bought the car new in 1988 from HSV. I saw it the day he brought it home I was 13 at the time.

The main difference is that the front and and the interior are Calais based. It also doesn't have the rear wing off a Walkinshaw, but a SV88 wing.

It does have the full 185kw motor and running gear as with a normal walky.

In 1988 apparently HSV made 9 calais versions and gave them to the top selling HSV dealers at the time as a gift.

It has a std HSV build number from the initial run of 500 ( i think) which i am trying to obtain so that i can get more info from HSV directly.

Has anyone else heard of these cars as no one seems to know they exist.

A few years ago the car was stolen and recovered from a Yacht club carpark , I am not sure what was removed, but i am pretty sure the build number badge was removed, I haven't seen the car for about 5 years as it was hidden away after being returned.

Also are unique parts like the build numbers badges etc obtainable through HSV as I want to get this car back to A1 condition as it left the factory.



Roly

[NZ EVLHSV]

Yes I have heard of them, here are a few pics...

http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/Untitled-1.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/IMG_1074.jpg

Some of the other guys will be able to give you more info

[DaRiO]

i believe some walkys had their kits "toned-down" because they had trouble selling the last ones off... so the sv88 lip and calais front sounds right... but i think they all kept their walky interiors... i dont think they were changed to a calais interior...
maybe the walky interior was stolen (when the car was stolen/recovered) and ur friend put a calais interior in to replace it.

and re the badge... there is another thread on here where someone's friend has recently has his walky badges replaced by hsv so i guess it is possible

get the numbers first, and start from there :)

[Roly]

thanks for the pics, with that car being in Vic I would almost bet that it is the exact car.

seing it's outside a roadworthy station, it was probably when it was roadworthy'd prior to a being sold. A few days later it was stolen and recovered and the sale fell thru.

[ILLUSIV]

More and more people are asking me about them, so here are the ones I have collected over the years. Corsa has given me some of these also.

There were supposedly 9 walkinshaws that had the bodykits removed in some parts, and replaced with calais parts. The debate is if this was factory or a dealer change.

http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/calais%20walky1.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/calais%20walky2.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/calais%20walky3.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/calais%20walky4.jpg

http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/IMG_1074.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/Untitled-1.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/vlgacal2.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../articles/group%20a%20calais.jpg

One of the cars on our cruise last week, is a calais walky according to the owner. I have been told that the car below, is the car from the article above, with the kit being fully added later on. This is the car:

http://www.walkinshaw.net/forums/../cruise/15-4-07/P1000052.jpg

[Roly]

my parents friend, when he bought his new from HSV in stawell was told they were given to the top 9 selling HSV dealers at the time as presents for promo purposes.

he was the first registered owner.

for some reason build 384 or 389 is stuck in my head from when i was a kid and was a passenger in it a few times. this makes it in the original 500 so the theory of kits removed and hard to sell don;t sound right.

from memory the car had a proper calais interior..

hopefully i will get to see the car in the next week or so and take pics.

I also need to work out the price and whether is being a rare calais makes it worth more or less than a std walkinshaw.

[NZ EVLHSV]

As far as the price goes, it totally depends on who is buying at the time. Could fetch more or could fetch less than a normal Walky

Calais interior doesn't sound right to me. They walky one could have been stolen and replaced with a Calais interior??

[Walky SS]

I remember seeing 1 maybe 2 newies just like the Greed one above at Brian Garderners back all that time ago. It was under the big roof up the back towards the offices and I thought at the time it was a bit strange.

[Roly]

I have now got pics of the car. It is 1 owner, in mint 100% original condition. Even down to running the closest tyre they could find to the original bridgstone tyres.

I am also getting the full story on these early Calais Walky's from the original purchaser who still owns the car, as above she is a family friend.

The only "mod" onthe car was early on in it's life, the clutch failed twice, HSV took the car back and put the full race spec clutch in for the owner, the pedal is VERY heavy but works 19 years later.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/P1011081.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/P1011077.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/P1011075.jpg

I am hoping to see this car this weekend and buy it asap.

[NZ EVLHSV]

Nice. Good to see it still has the Walky interior, not Calais like you thought it might

Do you mind me asking what sort of $ you are paying?

[ILLUSIV]

Awesome... What build no is it?

[oma72]

very clean and tidy-bet it would have to beat 14.8 down the quarter mile with all that fiberglass missing lol.

[Roly]

Update:

The car has been released from the company that owned it and is available forsale now. It should be complete over the next few weeks.

I am also ordering a new Maloo today in Silver aswell.

Should be a nice looking garage :)

[boostnshaw]

good luck with it all mate! love the new maloo to!

[Corsa]

Roly,
Did you end up finding out the build number of it? The pictures that you had posted previously shows it as a better example than the one first posted in this thread.
Corsa

[Roly]

I haven't yet got the build number. The car is hidden away and not in Melbourne. I will be speaking to the current owner tomorrow night to organise the final price and to organise to collect / pay for it.

[Roly]

Went and saw the car today finally

Build 643

Genuine HSV factory built Calais.

The owner has a recent letter from HSV stating it was built as a Calais for a special project. The guy's who have looked after it mechanically since 1990 worked for HSV when the Walky's were built and even remember the 9 being built in August 1988.

88,000kms, totally 100% original, even down to the original bilstein shocks, GMH radio cassette and Alarm.

i am away for 2 weeks , when i get back I will then hopefully negotiate a price and bring it home.

[Corsa]

I have seen that car (#643) myself and in the condition it was in at the time i wouldn't have paid more than $35K for it. It needed a lot of $$ spent to restore it. Sounds like someone must have put a lot of $$ into it since then.
Corsa

[ILLUSIV]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/rexsin/weirdwalky.jpg

[Roly]

How old is the ad pictured above?
It looks like a commodore and not a calais going by the front end. The rear wing isn't an SV88 one wither like the true factory Calais Walky's

[chups]

i had no idea these things existed. would be hard to spot a genuine as most of the pics seem to have different parts of the kit replaced or removed, so i think all 9 would probably be different.

[ILLUSIV]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HSV-VL-GROUP-A-WALKINSHAW-1988-COMMODORE-SS-643_W0QQitemZ300280189213QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car s?hash=item300280189213&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HSV-VL-GROUP-A-WALKINSHAW-1988-COMMODORE-SS-643_W0QQitemZ300280189213QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car s?hash=item300280189213&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

#643 is on Ebay... 12 bids, and is at $25,000.

Interesting, that the letter from HSV, was only written on the 6th of June 2007.

Roly, is it you selling it? Did you buy it?

[Corsa]

According to the ad it's an ex HSV employee selling it on behalf of the owners widow. Roly is a bit young to have been at HSV during 88.
Corsa

[Roly]

I don't own it :( It didn't happen for a few reasons. I know of the guy who is selling it for Helen (the widow) and the story is genuine. Matt the mechanic (ex HSV) has looked after it for 20 years.

[NZ EVLHSV]

Would be a nice addition to your collection Corsa

[Corsa]

Have you got a garage for me to keep it in?
Corsa

[ILLUSIV]

I would have the same problem as Corsa.. No room for it... and I was thinking about possibly buying it!

[NZ EVLHSV]

haha yeah I do have space at the moment. That car would be wasted in NZ though, no one would know what it was or beleive it was original

[dorey76]

I'm sure that was the one at this years Muscle Car Masters

[Roly]

I'm sure that was the one at this years Muscle Car Masters

Yes it is. Matt took it up there to generate interest in the car and get it "out there" to be seen and believed.

[ppt]

As rare as it may be I just could'nt call it a walky:eek: All that plastic is what makes them fantastic:p

[Roly]

I bought it. Took 12 months plus to finally get it.

[ILLUSIV]

Great stuff Roly, you must take a bunch more pics, and keep us all updated with her!

[HSVGTS]

these Calais were walkinshaws. They were built within the walkinshaw build sequence. The idea did come about due to sales slowing. So a subtle bodykit was added. The original bodykit also came with the car (in bubble wrap, like the lower bodykit pieces were on all walkinshaw's). The build plaque on the glovebox is the same as the other SS Group A's. I remember seeing one of these in south Qld yrs ago. it still had its bodykit in bubble wrap. From memory i think they were a dealer add on but authorised through HSV as the cost of sending walkinshaws back and forth for modification would have cost a fortune

[killarava2day]

Nice one!

[mustanger]

Great buy there Roly :D

[Roly]

these Calais were walkinshaws. They were built within the walkinshaw build sequence. The idea did come about due to sales slowing. So a subtle bodykit was added. The original bodykit also came with the car (in bubble wrap, like the lower bodykit pieces were on all walkinshaw's). The build plaque on the glovebox is the same as the other SS Group A's. I remember seeing one of these in south Qld yrs ago. it still had its bodykit in bubble wrap. From memory i think they were a dealer add on but authorised through HSV as the cost of sending walkinshaws back and forth for modification would have cost a fortune

I disagree

HSV built 9 in melbourne at clayton in 1988 for dealers. This has been verified by an employee of HSV in 1988. I have a letter from HSV stating that my car #643 was built bu HSV as a Calais.

The original owner who i bought it from, was not offered a full kit as it was never ever fitted to the car originally.

Some dealers removed kits themselves, these cars are different again.

Infact of the 9, only mine and 1 other in QLD that we know of are still "original" without the full kit being retro fitted by owners.

[ILLUSIV]

I rang HSV years ago about this.. they told me themselves that they didn't do these calais-walkinshaws, but then again, when I rang up about my walkinshaw, and the factory mods and paperwork I had from them back in 1988, they told me it wouldn't have been them that did it, until I emailed them the paperwork.

The letter you have from HSV, when was it written? It is cool that you know an ex HSV employee who worked on these cars. Is there any other stories they can tell us of the walkinshaws?

Do the calais walkys have electric mirrors? or the calais lights on the roof?

Do they have anything different from a normal walkinshaw, apart from the exterior?

It would be interesting to see if they were actually based on a calais or not, as walkinshaws were based on SL VL's. If there is an X in model on the tags, then it's a Calais....

In WA, I know there is 1 of the these cars... SVWALKY, but the whole kit has been put back on. This was the ex HSV wedding cars walkinshaw. The owner is thinking of putting it back the way yours is Roly.

[HSVGTS]

I disagree

HSV built 9 in melbourne at clayton in 1988 for dealers. This has been verified by an employee of HSV in 1988. I have a letter from HSV stating that my car #643 was built bu HSV as a Calais.

The original owner who i bought it from, was not offered a full kit as it was never ever fitted to the car originally.

Some dealers removed kits themselves, these cars are different again.

Infact of the 9, only mine and 1 other in QLD that we know of are still "original" without the full kit being retro fitted by owners.

Thats a fair call as I've never spoken to anyone in regards to your specific car. But i do know abit about the one i saw which was a walkinshaw calais (the Qld one). This one had authorisation by HSV so the dealer could modify it to remove it from the showroom floor. The kit was still supplied (as all lower add ons were for all walkinshaws due to shipping reasons). These cars and all other walkinshaws are classic examples, beautiful cars. But they did have a bad beginning. Record keeping back in 1988 was terrible, almost non existant coz the company was too small and everybody had many jobs. Remember the staff numbers were only about 7 at the beginning. I had a terrible time trying to find out if my car was actually the first ever built. Eventually they confirmed where it fell in the build sequence, by that time i actually owned the car. So i was happy with it. If they are in fact a calais walkinshaw, I find it weird they'd just tag them as SS Group A's and have them amongst the 750 built cars. Please dont take this as a negative post, its not my intent. Im as interested to know more of this car as anyone. Part of me i guess will always have an interest in these cars even though my days of owning them are long over

[NZ EVLHSV]

^^^ I think you are talking about the Walkys that had Calais lights fitted by dealers? I thought that a lot of Walkys were delivered without the bottom lips fitted for ease of delivery and were fitted by dealers or in some cases just given to the customer to fit at a later time

[ILLUSIV]

In the Holden service manual vol 9 for the walkinshaw, it states that all of the lower extensions aren't designed for road use.

So "technically" they are not road legal.

They were delivered like that, mainly due to the fact that they wouldn't get on the back of the transporters with the lower parts fitted.

[HSVGTS]

^^^ I think you are talking about the Walkys that had Calais lights fitted by dealers? I thought that a lot of Walkys were delivered without the bottom lips fitted for ease of delivery and were fitted by dealers or in some cases just given to the customer to fit at a later time

No it was the Calais.
I was just stating that the entire kit was delivered to the purchaser like the lower add ons were for other walkinshaw's.
The reason I got to find out about this "Calais" was because the unused bodykit was for sale yrs ago. I dont know if anyone actually bought the bodykit though.
Sorry if i confused everyone

[Roly]

I rang HSV years ago about this.. they told me themselves that they didn't do these calais-walkinshaws, but then again, when I rang up about my walkinshaw, and the factory mods and paperwork I had from them back in 1988, they told me it wouldn't have been them that did it, until I emailed them the paperwork.

The letter you have from HSV, when was it written? It is cool that you know an ex HSV employee who worked on these cars. Is there any other stories they can tell us of the walkinshaws?

Do the calais walkys have electric mirrors? or the calais lights on the roof?

Do they have anything different from a normal walkinshaw, apart from the exterior?

It would be interesting to see if they were actually based on a calais or not, as walkinshaws were based on SL VL's. If there is an X in model on the tags, then it's a Calais....

In WA, I know there is 1 of the these cars... SVWALKY, but the whole kit has been put back on. This was the ex HSV wedding cars walkinshaw. The owner is thinking of putting it back the way yours is Roly.

I am hopefully picking on the car on 6th January when i get home from HK.

Will have all the details then.

My dad just found pics of the car around 1988 - 1989 with me in them.

From my understanding the cars were all read allocated at holden and built as SL Commodores, HSV turned them into Calais fronts etc.

I'll be meeting Matt to collect the car in January and will pick his brains then.

Roly

[Roly]

Here is the info from Matt from the Ebay auction. posting it here so it isn't lost when the auction is removed

Over the years we have all fallen in love with an FJ...and there is still a few around, then it was an EH ...and we all have a story about the GT Falcon we could have bought for $500 ... but here's the story, these are opportunities that are now long gone...what I'm talking about is something unique....theres not 20 in the country, theres not 5 ...we think there is just one left ...in fact as I type this I keep thinking I shouldn't sell it...but like all things in life there comes a time....don't email me next week and say you should have bought it. The time is now...good luck and I hope the person who buys the car appreciates the story as much as I have done....



What you are looking at is a one owner, HSV VL Group A Commodore, #643. This car is a July 1988 build (GMH) and completed at HSV on the 11 of August 1988. This car is extremely rare, as it is one of only approximately nine cars or so, that were built without the regular body kit.



Back when these cars were new, the newly formed HSV, was contracted to basically replace Peter Brock’s company’s role of completing these “Bathurst models”, i.e.; doing some of the tedious work, like fitting the body kits etc, that could not be done on the regular production line. The cars were delivered to HSV’s Notting Hill facilities, complete, and drivable. The only thing left for HSV to do was to add a few minor components, and to fit the body kits and badging, and then fit the door trims to the car.



I was employed at HSV, during the Group A build, and clearly remember the cars coming in without the body kits fitted, air cleaner snorkel poking through the holes in the bonnet. And having to tear away a thin “glad wrap” type plastic, “that was fitted to keep rain out of the intake while the cars were transported from the factory, so we could drive them into the workshop without the cars gasping for air. I personally liked the lean appearance of the incomplete car more than after we had fitted the kit, as the kit added so much bulk, visually, not to mentioned considerable weight, as at the time the fiberglass kits used on the road cars ( as opposed to the light weight Kevlar, used on race cars ) were very thick and heavy. I drove these cars everyday, and the difference in acceleration, was noticeable, after the kit was fitted, much like having a few passengers on board, as opposed to an empty car.



At the time 500 cars were originally built and found buyers quickly, so the decision was made to “cash in” and build another 250. Due to various factors, including the “Recession that we had to have” as well as the VN’s release. The last 250 did not move so quickly, and at one time were discounted around $7000 overnight.



Some dealers who had placed orders during the peak times now regretted taking on these last batch of cars. And one large dealer in Sydney, who had a half a dozen Group As in stock and another half a dozen on order, contacted HSV’s then marketing manager, John Harvey, and expressed concerns about the prospects of selling the unusual looking cars, now that the bubble had burst.



During this conversation, a quick thinking John Harvey, hatched the Idea to build several cars, without the controversial body kit, add a Calais nose and side treatment for a touch of class, and finish the whole deal, with the subtle Holden” Formula” front and rear spoilers. The only part of the regular kit used was of course the bonnet scoop, for obvious reasons. The result was a clean looking car, with potentially a wider appeal, as it was less radical in appearance. And again on the plus side, the cars were noticeably faster, due to the significant weight saving. The fact that these cars were built outside of the original 500 require for homologation, Harvey could alter the specs without any drama from CAMS.



So there in a nutshell, is the story of how these little known, super rare cars came to be….

The one we have here is a superb example purchased from Penfold motors. This one owner car has only done 88,000 kms since new. 40,000 of these, having been done in the first 18 mths or so of ownership.

The car is incredibly original. The only things that have been replaced are the exhaust from the cat back, and the car has a new set of Bridgestone potenzas, that are the latest generation of the RE 71s the car had when new. The original RE 71 is still on the spare. The car has NO modifications whatsoever, (no aftermarket parts etc) and even has the original plug leads, disk rotors etc. The engine has never even had the rocker covers off, and runs as new. The car drives PERFECTLY, rides and handles like a dream, on the original Bilstien shocks.

After the owner became ill, he made decision was made to return to Australia, and the Group A was brought out of storage, and delivered to the mechanic that serviced the car all its life. There, the new tyres were fitted, all fluids changed, a new exhaust fitted, as the original was rusty from sitting. Great effort was made to keep the car as original as possible, right down to the correct exhaust tip/extension the cars had new. He, like myself worked at HSV when the car was new, and we both remember when these handful of specials were built.



The cars most recent outing was when we trailered it to the Muscle car masters, where it led the parade lap of “Walkinshaws” and proved to be very popular with the crowd, and a real conversation starter as these cars have never been seen by many in this form. One of the few people who recognized the car was a well known Sydney car dealer who informed me that he had traded over the years countless VL Group A’s, as he had a soft spot for them. He informed me that most of these special built cars were delivered to Sydney buyers and in the early years as far as he knew, most had the regular body kits fitted to the cars. So quite possibly this is the only surviving example of these very special cars.



A letter of authenticity from HSV (see photos) is included with the car.



So as I said, the car is as original as they come, never hit and drives as new. Very responsive, very refined. A superb example of a truly unique, modern day classic muscle car.

[Crazie Group A Man]

well well this is a hott topic

i heard the car was built as a bonus to the top 9 dalers like a commision as the cars where hard to sell and then upon seeing the cars and/or hearing about them other dealers started to mimic the new calais optioned walky by striping the kit off etc because customers wanted them...(easyer to sell) But the kits didnt come with the original 9 but no doubt a few bought them or told the dealer to add in the price incase they wanted to add it later.....

on a more personal note dont belive what people tell you (they worked at hsv) lol
how many people i have heard say that ...to many
expescially that guy from shannons... funny thing is everything said anyone can read in any mag or hsv book...

on that note i used to have a book (i stupidly sold on ebay) 50th annaversary of hsv and it has a bit in there on the 9 calais walkies

Anyway just to let everyone know the reason for my interest with this topic...
I dont have a walkinshaw at the moment even though 7 of my mates do...
But i know where theres a calais walkinshaw a liltle run down books hsv verified etc for cheap as and i wont say how cheap until the deal is done and i will show pics of before and after when i do it up
And for the guy that asked what they are worth well i seen one on ebay about 2 months ago sell for 68k
so if you ask me they are worth more than the original as there are less of them 750/9 ratio lol

[ILLUSIV]

The bottom line is that it's now 21 years ago since the walky was released, and at the time, they didn't have the following that they do now, so there is going to be alot of "theories" on these cars....

As for the calais walkies being worth more than the normal ones, that all depends on the person buying or owning it... They are rare yes, but that doesn't automatically make them worth more as the ratio is 9:741.

Some people don't like the walky kit, and others think that it's not a walky without it.

The F20 is even rarer, but they aren't worth as much as a std walkinshaw either.

And the one that sold on ebay for $68k, was Roly's, which is the one this thread has been based on mainly. I also know of one in Perth, but it has had the entire walky kit put on it now.

[mustanger]

on that note i used to have a book (i stupidly sold on ebay) 50th annaversary of hsv and it has a bit in there on the 9 calais walkies




You should of kept that Book (50th anniversary of HSV) as it would have been worth alot of money;). HSV has only been around for 21 years :D

[NZ EVLHSV]

Like Craig said these Calais Walkys are worth what people are willing to pay for them. Yes there are only 9, but there are less buyers who want them because to many the Walky is what it is because of the rediculous body kit

[ILLUSIV]

You should of kept that Book (50th anniversary of HSV) as it would have been worth alot of money;). HSV has only been around for 21 years :D

hahah I didnt even pick up on that!!!!

[Crazie Group A Man]

kk guys sry couple of miss typed details there
#1 , ratio 9/750 yes ment to be 9/741
#2 , 50th annaversary hsv ment to be 50th annaversary of holden
sorry about these miss prints i had a few drinks in me
anyway thx for the replies and insight....

[Roly]

i have been doing some more investigations. From conversations with the original owner earlier in life (he is now deceased) and talking to his widow, this is what i can put together.

HSV made 7 or 9 of these at the factory and they were given away to the top selling HSV Dealers in 1988. This is why there is one known in WA and I know of 1 in Brisbane. We have a forsale Ad for 1 in NSW in the 90's.

My car was given to Penfold Holden in Melbourne and the Dealer Principal drove it as his company car for a few months. My parents friend then bought it in late 1988.

Some dealers removed the kits of the late build# cars to shift them and gave the kits to the owner separate to the cars. These dealer mod'd cars aren't to be confused with the original factory cars built like the one I own.

Most people who see my car instantly dismiss it as a fake. I have taken it to 3 shows recently and it is always parked with a couple of Walkinshaws. People who know what they are on about know what it is and you can look at all the unique Walky features to prove it.

As my car is a 1 owner 20 year car, and 100% original it really is a time capsule. I won;t be doing anything to the car other than giving it a full detail as I get the time.


I own a early HSV book, and there is a photo of the factory kit less cars at Clayton in the book. The caption reads that it was a prototype, but we know that wasn't the case.

[ILLUSIV]

The Perth one was in Sydney until a few years ago.. It was the HSV wedding car's car...


i have been doing some more investigations. From conversations with the original owner earlier in life (he is now deceased) and talking to his widow, this is what i can put together.

HSV made 7 or 9 of these at the factory and they were given away to the top selling HSV Dealers in 1988. This is why there is one known in WA and I know of 1 in Brisbane. We have a forsale Ad for 1 in NSW in the 90's.

My car was given to Penfold Holden in Melbourne and the Dealer Principal drove it as his company car for a few months. My parents friend then bought it in late 1988.

Some dealers removed the kits of the late build# cars to shift them and gave the kits to the owner separate to the cars. These dealer mod'd cars aren't to be confused with the original factory cars built like the one I own.

Most people who see my car instantly dismiss it as a fake. I have taken it to 3 shows recently and it is always parked with a couple of Walkinshaws. People who know what they are on about know what it is and you can look at all the unique Walky features to prove it.

As my car is a 1 owner 20 year car, and 100% original it really is a time capsule. I won;t be doing anything to the car other than giving it a full detail as I get the time.


I own a early HSV book, and there is a photo of the factory kit less cars at Clayton in the book. The caption reads that it was a prototype, but we know that wasn't the case.

[killarava2day]

Hey Roly, I actually got to see your car on Friday after we dropped in to see the HSV show after Easternats.

As we walked along the first group of cars, one of my friends stated the exact thing I was thinking, that most of the cars were off the showroom floor and out to display, at least 50 percent of the cars on display were VEs. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind VEs at all, but for instance on the drive from Sandown to the city we saw a couple of GTSs and Clubsports, they aren't really 'exclusive' or uncommon to say the least. For a club incorporated HDT as well, there was in immaculate VC, a VK SS and Group A, 3 VL HSV Group As and a couple of VNs, the rest were all late model. I guess what I'm trying to say is there seemed to be no soul to the club, or as to what was being displayed at least.

It's easy to buy a new car, join a club and proudly display it but would that be classed as being an 'enthusiast' though

[Corsa]

And that is the problem with most of the HSV clubs around the country.
Recent NSW show had a not bad turn out of early cars but the midrange was where it really lacked. The questions is 'How do you get the early cars out and about?'

HDT 2 VC's, 3 VH's, 4 VK's, 3 VL's
HSV 4 VL's, 1 VN, 1 VP, 1 VR, 1 VS and i won't bother couting the other 20 odd newer cars.

The Bathurst cruise from a few weeks before had 60 club cars with the early ones not well represented.
HDT 1 VC, 1 VK, 1 VL
HSV 1 VL, 1 VN, 2 VP, 1 VR, 1 VS

Corsa

[killarava2day]

Well what do you do then. Surely there's plenty of HDTs and HSVs around still, which is a shame if they're always under wraps. What's the culture of the HSV clubs like, is it the mentality of like mines bigger than yours sort of thing, are they political with different factions within the clubs? Are the members predominately owners of newer VEs etc. and if so, why can't they attract members of earlier HSV and HDT vehicles?

[chups]

while not HSVs, but at the car show on sunday, swcc had a nice range, including VL, VN/P, VS, VT, VX, VY, VZ, was a good spread compared to the usual VY-VE commodore clubs. the slightly older cars are starting to make a comeback now, which is excellent to see.

[Roly]

here are the pics of the car from a year ago when i picked it up.

I get mesages from people asking if I ended up buying it



http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3420.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3421.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3422.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3423.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3424.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3425.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3426.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3427.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3428.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3429.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3430.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3431.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3432.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3433.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3435.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3436.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3437.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3439.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3440.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3441.jpg

[Roly]

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3443.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3446.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3452.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3453.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3454.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3455.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/IMG_3456.jpg

[Roly]

Finally remembered to scan the book I have.

Apparently it is quite rare.

HSV 1988 -1991

Page 27 has a pic of my car at HSV Clayton in 1988

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/groupa.jpg

[Hietbrink]

Love Your Car Rolly! One of the ultimate Rare Commodores!!!

[calaiswalky]

Finally remembered to scan the book I have.

Apparently it is quite rare.

HSV 1988 -1991

Page 27 has a pic of my car at HSV Clayton in 1988

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p320/hiluxsr5/GroupA/groupa.jpg
hi mate just asking are you sure that the photo was taken at HSV Clayton in 1988???
or did you mean at HSV Notting Hill???

[Roly]

yeah, sorry, Notting Hill