Five not-so-fine HSVs

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has a special place in the hearts of Aussie muscle fans.

While it might be end of this chapter, HSV will still roll-on converting Chevrolet’s Camaro coupe and Silverado pick-up, and making better Colorado utes.

We have already nominated the 10 most significant HSV models. Look back over the brand’s 30-year history and nearly every car has become a classic.

We reckon there are a few duds in the pack too. Here they are from five to one.

5. Astra SV 1800

Based on the N13-series Nissan Pulsar, the ‘Baby Walky’ was anything but. Sharing the same (79kW/151Nm) Family II 1.8-litre engine as the derivative Astra, the enhancements were mostly cosmetic – save for a set of extractors.

Lowered suspension and an adventurous body kit may have given the SV 1800 a sporting stance, but sales we slow and, after producing only 65 examples, the experiment was cancelled.

4. Avalanche XUV

X-treme Utility Vehicle it might have been, but the Crewman-based Avalanche XUV was hardly the sales rockslide HSV had hoped for.

It was HSV’s first ‘Cross Trac’ all-wheel drive model, and was reasonably quick with a 0-100km/h time of 6.5sec. But the Avalanche’s heavy weight, Touring suspension and abysmal fuel consumption – courtesy of a 270kW/475Nm 5.7-litre V8 and four-speed auto – meant only 300 examples were ever sold.

3. VXR

For the second time since 1988, HSV turned its attention to the Astra. This time, the Belgian-built Opel Astra VXR was the donor, though the evidence of localisation was minimal.

Best thought of as a turn-key HSV, the VXR wore HSV badges and was powered by a quick (177kW/320Nm) 2.0-litre turbo four. HSV claimed a 0-100km/h time of 6.2sec and top whack of 240km/h. A slow seller, the VXR disappeared as quickly as it emerged.

2. VN SV 3800

A six-cylinder HSV seemed like a great idea. But the SV 3800 was anything but. Holden rushed the VN into production to get the edge on Ford’s EA-series Falcon.

The ensuing shortcuts meant the engine was less than robust – especially in this ‘high-performance’ application. The 132kW/292Nm 3.8-litre V6 claimed a 0-100km/h time of 8.1sec, roughly the same time it would take to end up back in the service department.

1. Jackaroo

Another cosmetic masterpiece – and our favourite dud HSV – is the Jackaroo. Based on the second-gen Isuzu Trooper, which Holden sold as the Jackaroo and Monterey, the HSV-enhanced four-wheel drive was powered by the same (130kW/260Nm) 3.2-litre petrol V6 and four-speed auto.

HSV built just 79 of the high-riding wagons, and asked $47,290 apiece – or nearly $7K more than the donor model.