|
HSV Commodore VN
|
1988 - 1991 |
Country: |
|
Engine: |
V8 |
Capacity: |
V8 5.0 ltr. |
Power: |
up to 215kW (Group A) |
Transmission: |
5/6 spd. man; 3 spd. auto |
Top Speed: |
246 km/h (SS Group A) |
Number Built: |
2809 (all models, including 302
Group A) |
Collectability: |
|
|
By the time of the VN Commodores release, the HSV
staff numbers had swelled from 5 to over 40, an obvious
sign that the vehicles they were producing were indeed
very popular.
The first of the HSV’s for the VN series Commodore
was, however, not particularly special. The SV3800
was released in October 1988, the name indicating the
size of the new V6 carried over from the donor car.
The HSV body kit certainly gave the car a more sporting
appearance, and suspension mods firmed up the handling
and steering.
The first iterations were fitted with a black four-spoke
Calais steering wheel, but by February 1989 the Momo
SV wheel had passed the Australian Design Rules certification
(ADR’s) and was promptly used instead.
The interior
featured better front pews, featuring leather bolsters
and velour inserts, and the dash gained a special clock
perched atop the console.
But the HSV model everyone wanted was the SS Group
A SV.
The Group A featured a German developed six-speed
gearbox (also used on the ZR1 Corvette), and rode upon
purpose built 17 inch wheels with 45 series tires and
cut-outs in the side skirts for the racing exhaust
system.
Extensive wind tunnel testing was performed
at MIRA in the UK, which resulted in a drag co-efficient
of less than 0.30. The brakes were upgraded to include
vented discs to all four wheels, using special twin-piston
callipers designed for the SV5000. Unfortunately, the VN would be the last of the Group
A’s to be produced by Holden. CAMS had dropped
the requirement for manufactures to meet homologation
requirements, and there was simply no longer a need
to manufacture them.
Before the rule change came into
effect, Holden needed to manufacture 500 examples,
but with the rule change production was cut short and
in the end only 302 would be made. In the meantime, HSV looked toward manufacturing other
performance vehicles, such as the Maloo Ute – a
car born from the 5.0 liter VN Utility. Maloo is an
Aboriginal word for thunder, perhaps an appropriate
choice given the magnification of the exhaust note
provided by the hollow ute tray.
|