Secret Aussie HSV Maloo ute to fetch record sum

Incredibly rare version of Australia’s most potent muscle car goes up for sale, approaching the $1m mark at an online auction.

A secret Holden ute built for millionaire enthusiasts is going to auction for an eye-watering price.

Holden Special Vehicles built the ultimate Australian muscle car before the local car industry closed its doors for the last time. Known as the HSV GTS-R W1, the “W1” featured a Corvette-sourced engine with 474kW and 815Nm outputs, supercar-spec Pirelli track tyres, Australian Supashock suspension and many other changes including carbon fibre front guards housing wide matte black wheels.

Lloyds is auctioning a rare HSV GTS-R W1 Maloo.

It was the most powerful car built in Australia, and a fitting farewell to fast Holdens.

Less than 200 examples of the W1 were sold to enthusiasts capable of spending $169,990 plus on-road costs on the sedan. The price of the cars near-doubled overnight, as early adopters looked to make profits of $100,000 or more by selling to folks who missed out on the original production run in 2017.

While the regular GTS-R was offered as a ute (left) or sedan (right), the W1 was only available with four doors. Picture: Supplied

A handful of HSV insiders had an opportunity to buy an even more exclusive car. Kept secret from customers, the public and media, a small run of HSV Maloo utes got the “W1” treatment – everything except a rear spoiler and side sills that don’t fit the long-wheelbase ute.

It has the same engine, suspension, and Alcantara-lined cabin of the W1 sedan, and was built with the blessing of HSV by Walkinshaw Performance.

All W1 machines have a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission.

Just four examples of the Maloo GTS-R W1 were officially built and sold for an undisclosed sum.

Now, one is for sale at a public auction.

Finished in “light my fire”, the “W1” hero colour used for advertising and marketing material, the rare ute has just 681 kilometres on the odometer.

Lloyds is auctioning a rare HSV GTS-R W1 Maloo.

Bidding for the exclusive machine, available through Lloyds Auctions, has reached $675,000 with 24 days left to bid.

That’s more than new European supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari Roma or Porsche 911 Turbo.

A flurry of late bidding activity could make this Maloo Australia’s first $1 million ute.