Drive
Retro-futuristic design, a massive wing and a roaring V8. But, the first HSV didn't receive the warm welcome we'd expect.
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3 min read
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Published
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There are few names more synonymous with Australian performance than HSV, or Holden Special Vehicles. The performance arm of Holden would go on to create icons including the Maloo, GTSR W1 and countless high-performance Commodores. But the very first car to wear the HSV badge wasn't immediately embraced by Australian motorists.
On this episode of In My Garage, Richard meets Craig, to explore his exceptionally rare HSV.
Craig still laughs about the colourful nicknames Australians gave it. "Plastic Pig" and "the Batmobile" were among the most common, thanks to its dramatic body kit and gigantic rear wing. But where others saw something outrageous, Craig saw the beginning of a new era in Australian motoring.
The VL SS Group A SV, affectionately known today as the 'Walky', was created for one purpose above all else: racing. Developed under the guidance of Tom Walkinshaw, the car was built to satisfy Group A touring car homologation rules, meaning Holden had to produce a limited run of road-going versions with the same aggressive aerodynamic package destined for the racetrack, making it one of Australia's most significant performance cars.
Craig's Walky is even rarer.
Originally purchased in 1988 by the managing director of HSV's signage supplier, the owner wasn't completely sold on the car's appearance. Before agreeing to buy it, he requested unique additions: including a leather interior, a factory sunroof and the filled-in C-pillar treatment featured on the original concept shown in Wheels magazine. HSV completed all three modifications at its Notting Hill factory, and decades later Craig is yet to find another Walky built to the same factory specification.
The Walky's styling remains its defining feature. Every vent, flare and wing served a purpose, helping create the aerodynamic package required for competition. Even the enormous rear wing, affectionately nicknamed "the bird bath" by Craig because it happily collects rainwater, is a reminder that this was a racing car adapted for the road rather than the other way around.
Although buyers were divided when it first arrived in showrooms, the Walky has since become one of Australia's most collectible performance cars. With production limited to just 750 examples, values have climbed dramatically over the years. Yet Craig says no amount of money could tempt him to sell.
Owning the car has brought moments that money simply can't buy. One of his favourite memories is meeting Tom Walkinshaw in 2006 and having him sign a poster of the very car Craig would later own. Today, the Walky means even more than that. It's become part of the family's story, helping teach his eldest son to drive and one day destined to be passed on, ensuring the car's legacy continues for another generation.
The Walky has a way of winning people over. Even our host Richard quickly found himself appreciating the controversial HSV after hearing its unmistakable V8 roar that dominated Bathurst all those years ago.
Watch the full episode of In My Garage on the Horizons by RAC YouTube channel and meet Australia’s most unique muscle car.
