The car that helped define HSV
It might not seem quite so impressive these days, but back when the VN series was still a novelty, the HSV version, the SV5000, caused quite a stir as a performance car.
Holden Special Vehicles to the stock 5.0lt V8 and gave it a comprehensive tune-up with the aid of higher compression pistons, bigger valves, lumpier cam, cold air intake and a few other little tweaks.
The result, tied to a four-speed auto, was considerably more lively than the stocker.
In keeping with the high-po theme, the suspension and brakes were both upgraded.
Inside you were treated to a revised leather interior fit-out and improved sound system.
Of course outside this was all announced with special skirts, rear wing and wheels.
They were expensive at the time and rated very well in contemporary road tests when pitched against roughly eqiuvalent Ero performance sedans.
We’ve seen some sales histoy of these things in the $50k-plus range and, at that level, they still seem like reasonable value when compared to a lot of chrome bumper Aussie muscle cars.
This 1989 example is in country NSW and is priced at $55,000.