Unique Holden Commodore VL ‘Walkinshaw’ convertible offered for sale
Though Holden never officially offered a convertible body style with the VL Commodore, that’s not to say it didn’t flirt with the idea…
One very unique Holden VL Commodore has hit the open market, sporting Walkinshaw-like styling and a professionally-engineered convertible body.
Described by seller Australian Muscle Car Sales as ‘done properly’, this VL started life as a Commodore Berlina but was purpose-built into a drop-top parade car for the Bridgestone Holden Precision Driving Team.
It was designed and built by a member of the team, and was even showcased to Holden as a prototype to sell convertible VLs. Apparently due to the costs involved and lack of marketing support the project never got off the ground.
It used the Opel Monza coupe as the basis for its two-door body, using its chassis rails and other reinforcements to ensure it remained rigid without the supporting framework provided by a roof.
Following its completed tour with the Bridgestone Precision Driving Team it was sold to its current owner. It was then that the car received the Walkinshaw treatment, designed to sit alongside a real VL Group A Walkinshaw as part of a fledgling wedding hire business.
This included the fitment of Walkinshaw styling, a respray to Panorama Silver, retrim of the interior with Tweed Grey Walkinshaw cloth upholstery, and a set of 16-inch HSV alloy wheels.
The car retains its original 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine which is paired to a four-speed automatic gearbox, though the current owner has fitted new extractors and a sports exhaust to make the most of the engine note.
Interestingly, the soft-top roof is electrically operated and stows away under a cover.
Though this one-of-a-kind was never subjected to the technical two-wheeled driving, jumps, and formation stunts involved as part of the Bridgestone Precision Driving Team, it remains an unconventional yet important part of Holden history.
Offers above $49,000 are welcome, with interested parties invited to inspect the car at Australian Muscle Car Sales in Bowral, NSW.
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