30TH ANNIVERSARY 2017 HSV VF MALOO R8 LSA MANUAL

Decades of heritage were bade farewell in 2017 as the final Australian-designed, Australian-built rear-drive Holdens were unveiled. HSV, GM-H’s factory hot-up shop based in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton, sent the local Commodore-based range out on a high with a series of special, supercharged models.

While the Maloo name was around from October 1990, the 2017 mid-cycle update for the F-Gen platform saw a supercharged option added above the naturally aspirated LS3 base model, available in R8 LSA or top-spec GTSR guide. Powered by the same 6.2-litre LSA V8 used in the F-Gen Series 1 GTS, fifth-generation Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Cadillac CTS-V, the R8 LSA and GTSR both featured the supercharged engine, though the R8 LSA produced 410kW and the top-dog GTSR a stupefying 435kW.

With less than 59,000km from new, this 30 years anniversary R8 LSA Maloo presents in the special and rare Spitfire Green (with Black leather) is build number 22 of only 200 made and comes with the highly desirable six-speed Tremec manual. HSV saw fit to upgrade the transmission and differential of their supercharged offerings, with the gargantuan 9.9in diff centre handling the ridiculous loads dished out by the 550hp engine.

Following the closure of local production, and then the announcement of the cessation of the Holden brand altogether, prices for these final edition Aussie muscle cars has exploded, with some variants selling for late-model GT2 911 money.