One of four W1 development cars, the most powerful Holden-based model ever (and Australian car, full-stop) hit a high, but not record price.
Another piece of Australia’s final chapter of automotive production has gone under the hammer this weekend, achieving a high, but not record price.
The one-off ‘Jungle Fever’ green Holden Special Vehicles GTSR W1 pre-production prototype was sold at auction by online sales website, Collecting Cars, for $253,500. This is lower than a production example sold (also by Collecting Cars) in February this year ($262,762) and also a very low-mileage car (with just 32km on the clock), again sold by Collecting Cars in January 2024 for $350,888.
The green car was the second of four pre-production development cars built by HSV ahead of the car’s official launch. It was the same car we drove at Phillip Island in January 2017, albeit covered in camouflage at the time.
Notes on the auction listing state that the car’s ‘Jungle Fever’ green paint made it unique as the colour wasn’t offered on production vehicles. Known as E002 (E stands for Evaluation), the car was previously listed for sale by Grays Auctions in February 2021 with an expected price of $500,000, but failed to sell.
Another development vehicle, car E004, was also advertised for sale in 2021 for $605,000, suggesting that the $253k paid for E002 was something of a bargain.
Powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre LS9 V8 engine with 474kW and 815Nm output, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, the HSV GTSR W1 was the fastet and most powerful car ever built in Australia. Approximately 300 were made.
With 18,620km on the odometer, this car was supplied with a certificate of authenticity from HSV, along with all owner books and keys.
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