Another rare HSV could sell for $1 million-plus

Another rare HSV has been lotted for sale at auction, promising to post a high six-figure price – and possibly another million-dollar-plus seven-figure number – when the hammer falls.

This HSV GTSR W1 (#E002) is one of four vehicles built for the high-performance muscle car’s pilot program, and boasts an illustrious history.

Initially, the prototype for what became Australia’s fastest and most powerful homegrown vehicle – and the most expensive at $170,000 in the showroom (which soon skyrocketed on the used car market) – was despatched to Darwin for cooling tests.

Painted in a one-off colour, Jungle Fever, the sedan was subsequently a photographic model, appearing on the front covers of popular magazines, Wheels and Motor.

The car was also heavily promoted in the pages of those mags, and was wrapped in camouflage livery to mark the occasion of HSV’s 30th anniversary ahead of the production model’s launch.

It’s the paint – a colour never offered on production W1 models – that makes this particular car unique.

That and the signed engine cover, bearing the names of Supercars drivers Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes, following their first, second and third placings respectively at the Sandown 500 in 2018.

In every other respect, however, this is a standard HSV GTSR W1, with the same supercharged 6.2-litre LS9 V8, rated at 474kW and 815Nm.

It will be sold with the “full HSV authentication” and the W1 watch and numbered car cover.

Grays, the auction house selling the car, has not suggested an indicative price, but given that a rare HSV GTSR Maloo W1 recently exceeded $1 million at auction, expectations are high that this vehicle will also attract a record figure.

“Given recent price hike for W1s, now is the time to invest,” Grays has posted online.

“History has shown it’s the unique vehicles that are priced higher than their standard counterparts, if you could call a ‘standard’ W1 that? Don’t miss this special opportunity or you’ll be left ‘wanting One’!”

This car certainly has rarity on its side, bolstered by the sentiment that is currently driving prices of classic and near-classic Holdens and Fords through the roof.

And HSVs are really at the high end of that fondness for Aussie metal.

Although this has been a ‘working’ car, it has notched up just 17,318km, which is another point in its favour, as is the registration, which doesn’t fall due until July.

So when the auction commences on Thursday, February 18, the number to beat will be $1.05 million…