HSV Celebrates Its 50,000th Vehicle

[JoeT]

HSV Break Another Record

Holden Special Vehicles
10 July 2006
www.hsv.com.au

Coming off last weeks announcement that their Maloo Ute was crowned “Worlds Fastest Production Ute/Pickup” by the Guinness World Records, HSV has provided another reason to celebrate, as it reached a major production milestone with the 50,000th vehicle to roll off their production line.

“50,000 vehicles is deemed a relative drop in the ocean for a high volume manufacturer making run-of-the-mill cars, but that quantity of HSVs have had an impact on the market that’s out of all proportion to their numbers” – HSV Managing Director Phil Harding proudly commented.

“The HSV range has always given the market access to a choice of exclusive race-bred machines that are full of character, passion and high calibre driving enjoyment. Over almost 19 years of production HSV has carved a reputation as ‘THE’ aspirational, ‘I just want one’ brand for people from all walks of life”.

Starting with its very first vehicle – the VL Group A ‘Walkinshaw’ – HSV has been responsible for a string of models that are now regarded as automotive legends and, indeed, are often kept as national treasures in the catalogues of automotive collectors. What’s more, many of HSV’s perennial favourites, such as ClubSport, Maloo and GTS, have gone on to become household names.

The first HSVs were built at the company’s original site in Notting Hill, Melbourne before production moved to the current Clayton, Melbourne facility at the end of 1994. Over the years the production process has steadily evolved as the level of differentiation from Holden models has increased substantially. Today’s HSV models boast a wide range of unique (and often internally developed) components, including the exclusive 6.0litre LS2 engine (297kW @ 6000rpm and 530Nm @ 4400rpm) found across the range.

Fittingly, the 50,000th HSV is the latest example of the company’s most prolific model, the ClubSport. This particular vehicle is build # 1600 of the Z Series model and comes in Sting Red paintwork with six-speed manual transmission.

HSV production fast facts

Notting Hill production ran from July 1987 until December 1994.
Notting Hill floor area: 9,144 square metres.
First production build was the VL Group A ‘Walkinshaw’.
In the first full year (1988) of production 1,191 cars were built.
Total cars produced at Notting Hill: 12,426 (average of 1,775 cars per annum over seven years)

Moved to current Clayton facility around Christmas 1994.
Clayton floor area: 27,270 square metres (includes 9,270 square metres of vehicle parking).
Total cars produced at Clayton when the 50,000th car is completed: 37,574 (average of 3,131 cars per annum over 12 years).
Note: since 2004 builds have been in excess of 4000 units per annum.

Significant production milestones

5000th car – an HSV VN T30 (forerunner to the ClubSport) in June 1991.

20,000th car – a Senator in April 1997

40,000th car – a ClubSport in August 2003

HSV's 50,000th vehicle: The best selling Clubsport

[Butz]

A simple question, why don't HSV build LHD versions for exports, in addition to RHD version they make and can export to all RHD countries?
Certainely they'll gain sales and cash, I bet there is a market for HSV vehicles in the North America, Europe and Middle East.

[TKR]

Originally Posted by Butz

A simple question, why don't HSV build LHD versions for exports, in addition to RHD version they make and can export to all RHD countries?
Certainely they'll gain sales and cash, I bet there is a market for HSV vehicles in the North America, Europe and Middle East.

They have already exported GTO Coupes (LHD) to the Middle East. The main problem with NA exports was the UAW (recurring theme) and regulations regarding fuel tank location etc. I am sure though that VE will address these issues and HSV will surely be hoping for expanded export markets a la BMW M series.

[BBDOS CV8]

The two other problems are production capacity - HSV was due to make 6,000 cars this year, and could spare only a few hundred to the US - a fraction of a drop in the bucket by US standards. And then there's the bigger one: imagine if HSV imported to the US and competed with GM's own captive tuners? HSV would face an uphill battle: it's success is built off the back of Holden's V8 Supercar motorsport legacy - it has no track record, pardon the pun, in the US.

Mainly though, HSV is a nice little cottage industry operation which can build some limited import cars for England, New Zealand and a few other destinations, but couldn't make enough for the 'States.

Look for more differentiation in HSV VEs - even down to different interiors and panels.

[Rick_VT]

Doesnt it really suck that Holden build some of the best cars in the GM world but arent aloud to send to America cause of a **************** union, its no secret Lutz loves HSV, as we all do

[mikmak]

I don't think its that important to cater for the US market. HSV makes cars for Australians. I am sure that there are Plenty of US companies that make vehicles specifically for the US market. Once you start trying to please markets with different needs then you loose your specialisation and end up with a less focussed product. As stated, there wasn't enough GTOs to go around in the last run. Once HSV starts building for the massive US market where do you think the stongest bsiness case would lie? Not in Australia because the justification for our own market would get smaller as the demand in the US gets bigger (thats my crystal ball of course). Crennan wouldn't do it, but who's to say his successor wouldn't?