Silly season was put on hold when one of the world’s rarest cars was offered for sale just days before Christmas.
Build #001 of only four HSV GTS-R W1 Maloo utes ever made, the Sydney-domiciled car required bidders to prove they had the money to buy it before participating in the sale, although even with that pre-condition there were plenty of willing bidders.
Another vehicle from the same W1 Maloo batch had been sold in 2021 for $1.05 million, so expectations of a sale were high when an offer of $1,110,000 was received and confirmed.
Several minutes of confusion and blank screens followed before confirmation came through that the only ‘XU3 Yellah’ W1 Maloo in existence would be remaining on the market.
However, two days after the fierce but unsuccessful bidding war, on Christmas Eve it was confirmed that the vehicle sold for a staggering $1.2 million after a deal was reached through private negotiations.
In addition to this never-registered example beating out the last W1 Maloo sale, it also eclipsed the $1.057 million hammer price of a 1985 Holden Commodore VK SS Group A once daily driven by Peter Brock. The sale price places it as one of the highest value Holdens ever sold.
Other HSV products from all parts of the country did manage to find new owners during mid-December, including a 2015 model GTS in NSW that reached $94,000 and a VL ‘Walkinshaw’ Group A that sold in Victoria for $175,000.
Even far-off Western Australia unearthed a car far less common than the VL and which quite likely offers better prospects for long-term growth, yet it sold for considerably less.
The car in question was a VE-based W427 sedan, one of only 137 produced in 2008 and with a Chevrolet-sourced 7.0-litre V8 engine. Despite having travelled just 11,200 kilometres since new, the W427 made a muted $136,000.
Hardly anyone would think of shopping for classic Holdens at a clearing sale in rural Queensland, but those who did found themselves in a battle to own one of the best-presented HQ Statesmans to go to market in recent years.
With long-term ownership and extensive history in its favour, the 308-engined De Ville with near-perfect paint and brocade interior trim sold for an impressive $56,250.
Of similar age to the Statesman but earning significantly more money was an LJ Holden Torana XU-1. It had travelled a verified 90,800 miles from new and came with a set of desirable Sprintmaster wheels which doubtless helped the Torana to its $153,000 sale price.
While nothing else with Australian heritage came close to matching the money offered for the Maloo, an XB Falcon GT Hardtop that had travelled 114,000km during its 50 years on the road sold for an exceptional – and possibly new record – price of $336,000.
It spectacularly outshone a ‘K Code’ 5.8-litre XB Fairmont sedan offered in the same sale. Although scarce and in a desirable colour, it had clocked more than 300,000km and was referred at $66,000.
Other Falcons to struggle included an XB V8 Hardtop that fell about $30,000 short of its potential when bid to $70,000 and an XB GT sedan with issues that sold for $62,000.
Another scarce Ford with looming collectability was the Brock-enhanced EA Falcon. A 1990 model, it was among the last cars produced by Peter Brock’s Austech Automotive Developments, which claimed that the EAs enhanced in its workshop would reach a top speed of 202km/h. In decent condition, this one sold for $15,000.
Rounding out the end-of-year offerings was an unusual car from Chrysler: a CH Series 360 Hardtop showing minimal mileage and looking just as it might have on a showroom floor in 1972. Top bid was $80,000 and way too low for a car that looked every bit of six figures. Maybe next time.
With plenty of buyers in the market and some significant cars coming out of long-term ownership, the 2026 market for Australian-made classics is looking interesting and strong. Keep an eye on the Retro Rides website for news of what has sold and what might be coming.
Please note: All figures quoted are Hammer Prices in Australian Dollars (unless otherwise noted) and do not include any applicable Buyer Premium.
