Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R W1
The Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R W1 represents the final and most powerful chapter in the remarkable story of Australian-built performance cars. While the listing indicates 2006, the W1 was actually produced in 2017 as a limited-edition farewell to the locally manufactured Commodore. When Holden announced the end of Australian vehicle manufacturing, HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) created the GTS-R W1 as the ultimate expression of what the partnership between Holden and HSV had achieved.
The W1's engine was the supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V8, the same engine used in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. This hand-assembled engine, featuring a 2.3-liter Eaton TVS supercharger, produced 636 horsepower -- making the W1 the most powerful car ever manufactured in Australia. The engine's combination of massive low-end torque (585 lb-ft) and high-rpm horsepower created a powerband that was both flexible for daily driving and devastating on the track.
The W1 was based on the VF Commodore platform, a rear-wheel-drive, full-size sedan that represented the final generation of Australian-designed and manufactured Holden vehicles. HSV's modifications to the platform were comprehensive: a TR6060 six-speed manual transmission (the only transmission offered), Brembo brakes, AP Racing clutch, MagneRide adaptive suspension, a limited-slip differential, and extensive chassis reinforcement to handle the LS9's prodigious output.
The W1's styling was distinctive and aggressive, with a unique wide-body kit that incorporated flared wheel arches to cover the wider wheels and tires. A carbon-fiber rear spoiler, specific grille treatment, and W1 badging identified the car. The interior featured Alcantara and leather seats, carbon-fiber trim, and a plaque indicating the car's individual production number.
Only 300 W1 sedans and a small number of W1 ute (utility vehicle) variants were produced, making them extremely rare. Each was hand-assembled at HSV's facility in Clayton, Melbourne, with the LS9 engines shipped from GM's Performance Build Center in the United States. The W1 was priced at approximately AUD $170,000, making it the most expensive HSV ever offered.
The W1 holds a unique place in automotive history as the most powerful and capable expression of a manufacturing tradition that dates back to the 1960s. The end of Australian car manufacturing in 2017 means that the W1 will forever be the pinnacle of what Australian automotive engineers and enthusiasts achieved. Its combination of the supercharged Corvette engine, the rear-drive Commodore platform, and HSV's development expertise creates a car that is uniquely Australian in character despite its international components.
With only 300 produced, every W1 is documented. Verify the production number and HSV build records. The LS9 engine should have complete service records. The MagneRide suspension should be tested in all modes. Check the clutch for wear -- the heavy-duty AP Racing unit is expensive to replace. Inspect the wide-body panels for paint quality and alignment. The W1 ute variant, if available, is even rarer than the sedan.
Hand-assembled at HSV's facility in Clayton, Melbourne, Australia. Only 300 W1 sedans were produced as a farewell to Australian car manufacturing. The LS9 engine was supplied from GM's Performance Build Center in the USA.