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Signed by Scottish racing legend and HSV founder Tom Walkinshaw, this iconic Aussie muscle car could be yours for the price of a raffle ticket.
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A 1988 HSV VL SS Group A ‘Walkinshaw’ is up for grabs in a charity raffle to benefit Australian veterans, offering one lucky winner the chance to own a rare, increasingly-valuable piece of local automotive history.
The VL SS Group A ‘Walkinshaw’ was built to homologate the Holden VL Commodore Group A race car and was the first car off the production line at Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) – Holden’s now legendary Victoria-based performance division.
One of only 750 ever produced, this particular HSV VL Walkinshaw is example number six and has 83,000km on the odometer.
It’s especially noteworthy because it bears the signature of HSV founder Tom Walkinshaw, the Scottish race car driver and team boss who also designed the body kit used on the VL Walkinshaw prototype.
The car is the latest prize on offer from Classics for a Cause, a Brisbane-based company that runs promotional giveaways to benefit veteran charity organisations.
In recent years, certain HSV cars have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction – with a HSV GTSR W1 Maloo even selling for over $1 million in January 2021 – but this particular car has been valued at between $400,000 and $600,000.
Classics for a Cause, which acquires classic cars for its raffles via both local auctions and international imports, purchased the car at auction in early 2022.
“We saw a news article about a Walkinshaw that was expected to sell for over $1 million at auction,” Classics for a Cause co-founder Thomas Bailey told Drive of how the car came to be in the company’s possession.
“I didn’t have a million to spend but I bid on it anyway and we got it for $300,000 – there just weren’t any bidders and the seller didn’t want to part with it [for that price], but then we he saw who we were and what we do and he said, ‘Alright’.”
The car is in its original condition, complete with a five-speed manual transmission, 5.0-litre V8 engine and exterior finished in Panorama Silver paint.
Keen-eyed ‘Walky’ watchers will notice the car is missing its front splitter in photos – but Mr Bailey says that’s only temporary.
“We took that off for the filming because it was so low and we didn’t want to damage it and it had some scratches in it, so we’ve sent it off to be repaired but it will return!” he explained.
For a chance to win the ‘Plastic Pig’, as it was once nicknamed (for its bold body kit), you can purchase one of Classics for a Cause’s prize packages, which allow you to buy one entry for $25.
Classics for a Cause will donate between 20 and 30 per cent of the profits from package sales for the VL Walkinshaw to three charities supporting veterans: Salute to Service, PTSD Dogs Australia and Invisible Injuries.
The draw closes at 12am on 9 August, and the winner will be drawn at 5pm on 14 August.
Susannah’s background is news journalism, followed by several years spent in celebrity journalism, entertainment journalism and fashion magazines and a brief stint hosting a travel TV show for Channel Ten. She joined Drive in 2020 after spending a year and a half at the helm of Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE’s online platforms.
Susannah holds a Bachelor in Media and Communications from the University of Melbourne and cut her teeth as an intern for Time Inc in New York City. She has also completed a television presenting course with the National Institute of Dramatic Art. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and her one-year-old son who, despite her best efforts, does not yet enjoy a good road trip.
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