20km Holden VL Walkinshaw emerges after three decades in hiding

One of Australia’s most collectible Holdens has emerged after spending more than three decades largely hidden from view, with the virtually unused 1988 VL Commodore SS Group A now being offered for sale.

The Panorama Blue car is build number 082 of just 750 VL SS Group A models produced and has travelled only 20 kilometres. It has never been registered and remains so original that its current layer of dust is being left untouched.

Now displayed at Adelaide specialist dealer Richmonds, the car is being sold through expressions of interest closing at midday on September 30. Richmonds’ Matt Faulbaum told ABC Adelaide that offers exceeding $500,000 had already been received, while estimates suggest the final figure could approach $750,000 or potentially higher.

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The car’s history helps explain its extraordinary condition. It left Holden on April 14, 1988 before being completed by HSV on July 11 and allocated to Canowindra Motors, a Holden and HSV dealership in rural New South Wales that later became a museum.

Its eventual owner, who worked for Bridgestone, learned of the unsold Walkinshaw and travelled from South Australia with a trailer to collect it. It subsequently remained with the same family and was placed into long-term storage.

Some components, including the side skirts, were never installed and remain wrapped, while protective coverings are still present inside. Richmonds says virtually everything remains original apart from a replacement battery, including the date-stamped Bridgestone tyres and original fuel system.

The Walkinshaw was occasionally started during its early years and appeared at several events, including the 1993 Street Machine Show, before disappearing into storage.

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It is accompanied by extensive documentation including its factory release form, dealership inspection report, sales contract, finance paperwork, original registration certificate and NSW number plates.

Mechanically, the Group A uses a fuel-injected 4.9-litre V8 producing 180kW and 380Nm, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.

Created after Holden ended its relationship with Peter Brock and established Holden Special Vehicles with Tom Walkinshaw, the dramatically styled VL became known as both the “Batmobile” and, less affectionately, the “plastic pig”.

What was controversial in 1988 has since become an Australian performance-car icon – and number 082 could now become one of the most valuable examples ever sold.