Last ‘Walky’ comes out of hiding

It might need new tyres, but a treat is in store for the buyer of this 1988 Holden Commodore VL SS Group A Walkinshaw -- the last Walky ev...

It might need new tyres, but a treat is in store for the buyer of this 1988 Holden Commodore VL SS Group A Walkinshaw -- the last Walky ever made.

Offered for the first time in 30 years, expressions of interest are invited for this storied Commodore, #750 in a run of 750 vehicles produced from 1987-1988.

The Group A Walkinshaw special was originally owned by Australian touring car driver and team owner Bob Forbes, but has been in the hands of the one South Sydney family since their own Walkinshaw #708 was nicked.

The highest figure ever paid for one of these cars was in 2021. 

This car, #439, was in pristine condition, had travelled only 1479km and carried an asking price of “more than $1 million” -- but the final selling price was never disclosed.

Coincidentally, another example, #333, which changed hands for $340,000 in 2018, is currently advertised for $575,000.

It's never been registered for road use and has only 1308km on the clock.

But, just as the first example is sure to attract a higher figure, so too is the very last Walkinshaw.

The Holden Commodore VL SS Group A SV or 'Walky' for short was developed as a homologation special to comply with Group A touring car regulations.

It's regarded as the first HSV and the first model to be produced after Holden cut ties with the Holden Dealership Team (HDT), and is something of an Australian motoring icon. 

A total of 500 were built initially but a further 250 were added, bringing the final total to 750 units.

Number 500 was claimed by Tom Walkinshaw.

Enforced by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the rules required manufacturers to produce a minimum of 500 road-going versions of their race cars. This was later raised to 5000 globally, with exceptions for smaller manufacturers such as Holden that allowed it to homologate with 500 units for national championships.

Group A rules emphasised power-to-weight ratios, aerodynamics, and reliability over raw engine capacity, encouraging manufacturers to create advanced, lightweight, and aerodynamically refined designs.

The Walkinshaw adhered to these principles with its aero-enhanced body kit, engineered by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR).

This kit, with its striking scoops, wings, and flared arches, reduced drag while increasing downforce, making the car more competitive on high-speed circuits.

At the heart of the Walkinshaw was a re-engineered version of the Holden-designed 5.0-litre V8, tuned by TWR to produce 180kW and 380Nm of torque.

This output, combined with a relatively low curb weight of 1360 kg, made it a strong performer in both road and track settings.

The Borg-Warner T5 5-speed manual gearbox provided precise control, further enhancing its racing capabilities.

The sale of #750 will be managed via Stag Auto Solutions, a boutique Sydney-based automotive business with a combined 65 years of experience in bespoke, collectable and high-end vehicle sales and consignment.

Listed on the company’s website and a variety of other marketplaces with a ‘price on application’ the Walkinshaw will be available to view for qualified customers from December 2.

With 19,699km on the clock the car is presented in original, unrestored condition, and even comes with the original tyres including the spare.

 

 

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