Final Build Walkinshaw Commodore Resurfaces After Almost 40 Years in a Family Garage

The last Holden VL Commodore SS Group A “Walkinshaw” ever built has resurfaced after almost four decades in hiding, with the family that owns the Aussie classic putting the car up for sale.

Showing just 19,699km on its odometer the rare 1988 Holden VL Commodore SS Group A wears build number 750 of the 750 Walkinshaws built, adding to the car’s already significant collectability.

The Walkinshaw has been in the hands of the same South-West Sydney family for almost 30 years, but was originally owned by one of Australia’s most respected touring car drivers and team owners.

The classic Aussie muscle car with its distinctive aerodynamic body kit was first delivered by Parker Brothers Holden in Colac, Victoria, to Australian touring car driver and team owner Bob Forbes.

The TWR body kit worn by Group A models features striking scoops, wings, and flared arches (Image: Stag Auto Solutions)

Forbes, who competed in 13 Bathurst endurance races and later formed Bob Forbes Racing – running several GIO Insurance-backed vehicles, including Group A Walkinshaws and Nissan GT-Rs – held onto the vehicle for nearly a decade.

During that time, the car accumulated just 1,140 km when it was driven from Colac to Sydney by Forbes on a trade plate and then parked.

After remaining unregistered for a decade, the VL Commodore SS Group A found its way into the custody of Suttons Motor Group in Sydney, where it was advertised via the group’s Scuderia Veloce site with a newspaper advert highlighting the vehicles ‘investment potential.’

At around the same time the family that now own Walkinshaw #750 had their original Walkinshaw #708 stolen. Purchased by the family’s father, Nick, after lusting over the car for years, Walkinshaw #708 earned its keep as the family car, plying between home, the shops and family gatherings.

Nick’s daughters recall the throaty roar of the Walkinshaw’s twin throttle-bodied 5.0-litre V8, but other than that saw it as simply the family car.

Car number 750 was originally owned by one of Australia’s most respected touring car drivers and team owners (Image: Stag Auto Solutions)

“As kids of 10 years old, we had no idea what this car meant and, being girls, it was the older brothers of our friends that would say ‘oh my God, is that your dad’s car?’.

“To us, it was just another car that mum would drive everywhere when dad was at work,” said Nick’s eldest daughter, Simone.

Later, the girl’s father Nick was driving past Suttons City Holden Rosebery, where the Forbes-owned Walkinshaw #750 had been relocated to, and was residing side-by-side with its bookend build partner, VL Walkinshaw #001.

Nick was determined to have one of the pair and eventually successfully negotiated the purchase of #750, which was still unregistered and now had just 1,160km on the clock.

The return of a Walkinshaw felt like closure for the family but the previous theft made Nick wary and the car was kept under lock and key and used sparingly over the following years.

This rarity wears build number 750, making it the last of all 750 Walkinshaws built (Image: Stag Auto Solutions)

“While Dad was glad to have his dream car back after our first Batmobile [Walkinshaw] was stolen, I think there was always a sense of caution about how #750 was used – we still loved having it and remember the house rumbling when it started,” said Nick’s second daughter, Melissa. 

As a result, the VL Walkinshaw came out only for special occasions including Vanessa’s 21st birthday, which coincided with the Walkinshaw also marking its 21st anniversary.

Vanessa was subsequently handed the keys to #750 as a birthday present on the condition that if the vehicle was ever sold, it was to benefit all four daughters. She’s been the custodian since.

“It’s funny to think that we have such an emotional bond with a 36-year-old car, but in speaking with my sisters we agree that the time has come for someone to take over the responsibility of caring for what we now understand to be a significant piece of Australian history,” said Vanessa.

The sale of the vehicle will be managed by Sydney-based automotive business Stag Auto Solutions, a boutique operation that specialises in the sales and consignment of bespoke, collectable and high-end vehicles. The Walkinshaw is listed on the company’s website with a ‘price on application’ and will be available to view for qualified customers from December 2.

The current owners purchased #750 from Suttons City Holden Rosebery, where it was sitting side-by-side with its bookend build partner #001 (Image: Stag Auto Solutions)

About the Holden VL Commodore SS Group A “Walkinshaw”

The Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV, famously nicknamed the Walkinshaw, Batmobile and Plastic Pig, was developed in 1988 as a homologation special to comply with Group A touring car regulations.

To compete in Australia’s Group A Touring Car Championship (the precursor to V8 Supercars), Holden produced 750 units of this Special Vehicle (SV). While not technically badged a Holden Special Vehicle (HSV), it is widely regarded as the catalyst for the formation of HSV road vehicles shortly after.

Enforced by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the rules required manufacturers to produce a minimum of 500 road-going versions of their race cars, later raised to 5,000 globally, with exceptions for smaller manufacturers such as Holden that allowed them to homologate with 500 units for national championships.

Group A rules emphasised power-to-weight ratios, aerodynamics, and reliability over raw engine capacity, encouraging manufacturers to create advanced, lightweight, and aerodynamically refined designs.

Group A rules encouraged manufacturers to prioritise lightweight, aerodynamically-refined design over raw power (Image: Stag Auto Solutions)

The Walkinshaw adhered to these principles with its aero-enhanced body kit, engineered by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). This kit, with its striking scoops, wings, and flared arches, reduced drag while increasing downforce, making the car more competitive on high-speed circuits.

At the heart of the Walkinshaw was a re-engineered version of the Holden-designed 5.0-litre V8, tuned by TWR to produce 180kW (241 hp) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque. This output, combined with a relatively low kerb weight of 1,360kg, made it a strong performer in both road and track settings. A Borg-Warner T5 5-speed manual gearbox further enhanced its racing capabilities.

The Walkinshaw’s advancements ensured Holden's competitiveness in Group A racing, taking out numerous events spanning the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) and the Bathurst 1000, solidifying its place in Australian motorsport and motoring history.

Technical Specifications with Group A Relevance

• Homologation Requirement: 500+ units; 750 produced
• Engine: 5.0L Holden V8
• Power Output: 180kW (241hp)
• Torque: 380Nm (280 lb-ft)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (BorgWarner T5)
• Aerodynamics: TWR-designed body kit; reduced drag
• Weight: 1360kg
• Top Speed: ~240km/h