Final HSV Grange rolls off production line

THE demise of the Ford Falcon and Territory, along with the Holden Cruze are still fresh in our collective memories.

Now, HSV has rolled the last ever Grange off its Clayton production line – the first Commodore-based model to sign off ahead of next year’s factory closure.

The announcement was made with a single photo posted to social media, depicting the last HSV Grange alongside the team that helped put it together.

HSV spokesman Damon Paull said the last Grange was the final in a limited production run of Grange SVs – number 50 of 50 built – that started back in September.

“[The last Grange] has actually been pre-sold by Metro HSV (Thebarton, Adelaide),” Paull told Wheels.

The last Grange marks the beginning of the end of local manufacturing for Holden, which is expected to wrap up completely late next year. The carmaker is yet to set a final date for production, but it is expected to not run longer than October or November next year.

Despite Grange’s going out of production, Paull said HSV would consider holding onto the name.

“Whilst we have no intention of utilising this nomenclature on any future vehicle, we will look to retain the trademark for IP /licensing protection purposes,” he said.

According to HSV’s records, the final Grange was build number 2465,all made over a 20-year period.

The Clayton-based tuner remains tight-lipped over its future, and declined to comment when probed on timelines for the final editions of other HSV models.

“HSV will be looking to build Zeta platform-based models through until the end of 2017,” Paull said.

The Grange is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre LS3 V8, producing 340kW. It is the same engine found in the latest HSV R8 Clubsport Track Edition – of which only 156 will be built.