2017 HSV GTSR W1 not sold out

FANS of the most powerful Australian-made sedan to date - and possibly forever - may have one last glimmer of hope to own a HSV GTSR W1, with a number of ‘saleable pilots’ trickling into the system and adding to the fluid figure of ‘about 300’ total production.

It was previously thought that the complete run of manic W1 flagships, which uses GM’s 474kW/815Nm LS9 V8, was entirely spoken for following a tidal wave of well-heeled HSV enthusiasts that snapped up the allocation shortly after it was announced on February 1 this year. But HSV has revealed there may be a few examples floating in the ether of the HSV’s dealer network.

Speaking to Wheels, HSV marketing and product planning general manager Damon Paull explained that, while a handful of pre-production W1s would not be released for public sale, a small number of “saleable pilots” will find their way onto the market.

“We’ve got some pilot vehicles that will be added to that number,” he said.

Those elusive few examples may not surface until they have served duties at press and show events, but Paull said there could also be a limited number of W1s in the dealer network.

It was previously thought that the final tally of cars was strictly limited to 300 because that’s the number of LS9 engines that HSV could source from producer General Motors, but Paull wasn’t willing to offer a concrete number.

When asked if dealers may have the odd W1 without a home to go to, Paull answered “I would think so” leaving another door open for customers who thought all options were exhausted, but he urged interested parties to act fast as the orphan W1s would not hang around for long.

“If our dealer body doesn’t already have a formal order placed, I think they would be absolutely confident the vehicle will find a home.”

1995 HSV GTS-R v 2017 HSV GTSR W1

Those lucky enough to have placed early orders for the $169,990 GTSR W1 will be taking delivery of their cars this month and the final example is expected to roll out of the factory at the end of September, said Paull.

But for everyone else who doesn’t manage to secure such an exclusive part of Australian muscle car history, there are plenty of opportunities to snag an example of the ‘regular’ GTSR range. Around a third of the 1000 plus GTSR sedans and 600 Maloo utes still up for grabs.

“It’s [GTSR production] in excess of 1000 sedans and about 600 GTS R Maloos. We think the volume we are building is appropriate to demand,” said Paull.

“Without canvassing 56 dealers in Australia I’d say we are probably at two thirds of our GTS R.”

‘Standard’ GTS variants are also in diminishing numbers with the final 20 examples set to be finished this month, albeit in swansong 30 Years trim.

Paull reported that the reality of the end of GTS cars sourced from Australian-made cars was starting to dawn on local fans and the company had experienced a spike in both enquiries and sales following the announcement of the more exclusive 30 Years special edition cars and the GTSR.

“We launched on February 1 and we literally received enquiries that were two and a half to three times of an average month in February and orders about the same at three times.

“There’s a certain level of consumer urgency that this is the end of the Zeta platform as we know it. Better get in quick before they’re all gone,” he said.

Total HSV sales for this year are expected to top about 4000 cars.