HSV GTSR Maloo W1 could sell for $1 million

UPDATED 18/01/2021: The HSV GTSR Maloo W1's legendary status has just been upgraded as the auction price passed the magic $1 million mark. At the time of writing, the bidding had reached $1,035,000 with 12 days of the online auction left to go.

As interest from potential buyers continues, the rising price of the Maloo W1 bodes well for other collectible HSV and Holden vehicles in future, with buyer appetites for the now-defunct brands seemingly strong.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 11/01/2021: One of only four examples of the ute that marked the end of Holden Special Vehicles’ unique brand of homegrown high-performance vehicle manufacturing, the 2017 HSV GTSR Maloo W1, is up for auction – and looks set to top $1 million.

Arguably the most powerful, technologically advanced and expensive Aussie ute ever built, the Corvette-powered Holden Commodore-based two-door weapon generates no less than 474kW or 635hp from its supercharged LS9 V8 engine.

And it’s generating a huge amount of interest among car collectors.

Auctioned by Lloyds, the HSV GTSR Maloo W1 is finished in ‘Light My Fire’ orange exterior paint, carries W1UTE (Vic) plates and has just 681 kilometres on the clock.

It’s touted by Lloyds as being “too good to be true!” and “arguably Australia’s most collectable muscle car”, and at the time of writing the bidding in the online auction was at $735,000 with 19 days to go before wrapping up in late January.

If the price reaches $1 million, it could set a record for an HSV.

The retail price of the W1 ute was never made public, but it’s understood it was significantly more expensive than the HSV GTSR W1 sedan, which was limited to 275 units and priced at $169,900 plus on-road costs.

HSV track test: VL Group A SS vs GTSR W1

Like the W1 sedan, the ute belts out a chassis-twisting 815Nm of torque from its 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, pumping through a six-speed Tremec (TR6060) close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

In the sedan, the W1 was said to be capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds, and while maximum speed was electronically limited to 250km/h, HSV engineers said at the time of launch that it could theoretically reach 293km/h in top gear.

With a slightly lower mass, the W1 Maloo could potentially have been even quicker and faster, threatening to crack 300km/h.

The rear-drive LS9 blown V8 driveline is backed by bespoke Supashock suspension to deliver significantly elevated performance levels.

Upgraded AP Racing brake callipers and big 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres are also part of the package to ensure improved at-the-limit driving dynamics.

Unique interior touches include power-adjustable HSV Podium sports seats, finished with Alcantara and diamond-quilted stitching.

Although the potential $1m sale price is still a fraction of that paid for the world’s most expensive car, the $66 million 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold in 2018, it’s an incredibly high price for a modern-era Australian-built vehicle.

There is currently one HSV GTSR W1 sedan for sale on carsales, priced at just under $500,000.

This might only be the beginning of extremely high prices being paid for rare and unique vehicles bearing HSV or Holden badges now that Holden has left the Australian market altogether.