great to see an older guy actually appreciate and genuinely love the 80's muscle cars... a lot of guys from that era didn't. and he is a legend at that which greatly adds to making this special to watch.
With the death of the Aussie homegrown V8 sedans and coupes, I think the Holden vs Ford rivalry thing is fading and both camps are morphing into a proud Aussie V8 camp… Johnny Bowe really is one of the real gentlemen of the sport and a legend to boot. Great to see him finally getting a drive of this piece of history. RIP Aussie V8 Holdens and Fords…
Great video John , Pat from Albury I own a vk grpA blueie for 5 yrs low 30xxx k's sold in 03 absolutely mint never seen rain or hot days still had factory wiper blades and tyres, I was close to purchasing a walky in 2000 still in original showroom from new 50klm on clock at the time the dealer was asking $50k everyone said to me that's to dear lol . And I missed out on a vn grpA hrt mechanics personal 30xxx odd k's that was mint and I can't describe the engine but I'll say Bathurst material, crankier than a motherinlaws cat. If you get opportunity drive a low k vk grpA you'll find it's the closest to the harsh race feel. Cheers John
I drove my dads one of these on the road when I was 15. I pulled up at the lights and a hoon came along side me and when the lights went green I was gone! What a great memory 👍
I remember around 2004 there was a Holden dealer selling a VL Grp A with 170km. Original plastic was still on the seats and arm rests. Was owned by the dealership since new and never driven. They wanted $99k. I knew it was special but was only in high school at the time.
❤😊Love it John , I got a Larry Perkins 1 as a slot car , Scalextric , Denny Hulme too , wrote sticker no.11, so got 2 of these race ones , I not have the slot car road version but , will be on mu bucket list , I got few sierras slot cars too so awesome , car love the v8 so also soon be released 1990 version as slot car too by Scalextric , too , so get 1 of those too , so , thanks video , you and DJ and Larry and Win and Gricey legends ❤the Holdens ,
I was lucky to have been able to drive one of these from new. Working at the local holden dealership in John Bowes home town in Devonport... Motors! A local motor cycle dealer purchased it..
I've always had a Soft Spot for Walky. I would have loved to buy the D'Alberto Brothers VL GroupA Walkinshaw. Still with Pre Delivery Km's & Never Registered
Always been a holden guy, but when these walkinshaws came out I thought it was a down grade from the Grp A version, but as decades past and you think just how far HSV had come since this car , successful yes HSV was very , and stood the test of time and punishment and desirability passing all with flying colors, I love my fords too , and hate the thought we lost both ledgends with in a year or so of each other , last commodore counts for nothing , as in many opinions it just wasn't a commodore style FWD , no V8 , stupid move and risky, So glad guys like John go look at what your competitors use , and yea maybe if he'd gave it a test drive back then in 88 he would of been scored by holden marketing team too ,
With a claimed 180kw & 380nm torque. My 1.6lt Turbo Hyundai produces the same amount, while using less than 7lt per 100ks fuel. Amazing the amount of improvement & efficiency of the modern car.. Also these were a hard sell when they were new. Even selling them into the VN Commodore life cycle.
Anyone can buy a Hyundai. But hardly anyone can have one of these mate. A VL only weighs 1200kg and would eat your Korean shitbox twice before breakfast. Just in case you didn't pay attention to the highly credentialed Mr. Bowe, these weren't marketed as an economy car, they were a road registerable version of the racecar of the day. They are the holy grail of Holden history, and as such, speaking crap about them means you know nothing about why they exist.
@@Buzz.Scholz-vi1ed Thank you for your insight. I know all about the history of Holden & HSV, as I have owned quite a few in my time though unfortunately not one of these magnificent cars. My post was more inline with how much improvement in efficiency newer cars have become. As the VL Group A was a damn quick car for it's time. While not quick in this day & age, stock times has my Hyundai i20N 0-100 & 1/4 mile quicker. VL Group A 0-100 6.9secs 1/4 Mile 14.8secs Top speed 230kph. Official times from HSV Hyundai i20N 0-100 6.1secs 1/4 Mile 14.6secs Top speed 230kph All while using less that 6lt per 100ks of fuel. Though in saying that, I would take the HSV 100% of the time if given the choice.
Hmmmm........well I'm still not going out shopping for some thing made in Korea mate. As a born and bred South Aussie, I prefer mine made in Adelaide. I have been driving VLs for over three decades. Work cars. Family cars. Race cars. My daily driver has over 715,000 km on it. (Pistons have never been out of the block!) Not ever once has any front wheel drive anything beat me any day of any week
From what I understand only the walkinshaw had anything resembling downforce needed for racing.. the other ones either had novelty aero bodywork that didn't really have any effect or were designed to reduce drag significantly at the expense of downforce which is why larry went back to the VL walkinshaw in 1992, by which time it was also allowed the 6 speed from the VNs
The VL walkinshaw definitely produced downforce Big also created more drag on the straights The previous red VL GP A actually produced a net effect of lift on the straights
not strictly true, the 2 door Cosworth Sierra RS's rear 'whale tail' spoiler and front bumper spoiler was also developed in a wind tunnel to generate downforce because Ford found the body of a standard 2 door Sierra generated lift at speeds over 200 kmh, it was said by the people testing the standard bodied car before it was mass produced that it was undriveable and dangerous at speeds over 200.
Also John too , I thought Larry and Denny and Tom good chance to win until no no oil pressure , was Larry,s Walky legal , ? But it sounded great , but I loved the look of them , I loved motorsport back then , I was only 17 or 18 , now am almost55 next tues , I was a Brockie fan too so , the Mobil VN,s had 1990 engine , early on , I think so , but the TWR cars as good as Brock ones I think so , I love the Holdens , so , I think Group.A a hard time for the GMH , so , I was cheering them on , I also got few Brock toranas , and early commodores as slot cars too , they awesome too , great , great video too ,Brockie King of Touring cars , also Tom and Larry ,and DJ and yourself , real Legends too
Straight and shiny on the outside. But a casual look underbonnet tells a different story of weathering, corrosion, surface rust. Not something I would in good conscience describe as “an absolute mint, mint car.”
Ugly no, unusual... certainly. I prefer the simplicity of the group 3 bodywise but as I've aged so has my appreciation for the Walky especially after Win and Alan's driving effort on the mountain in 92 or 3(?)
I don't think that the Godzilla killed Group A racing. Half the field was Sierra's that were hated by Ford fans, as they wanted V8's. I remember Ford fans saying that milk is the only good thing that comes in 2 litres. Also you couldn't go out and buy one.
If you mean the energy polariser, it was offered as an option in the HDT Director. It was never fitted to the Walky Commodore, because by the time they were built, Brock had split with Holden (Hence it being a Walkinshaw vehicle, not HDT). Personally I would love to own a car with an energy polariser today, despite the fact we all know it did nothing, it is a bit of history, that would definitely add value to a HDT built car
The first 500 sold like hot cakes but the second batch of 250 were hard to sell and some of the dealers took the bodywork off to help them go out the door.
I think as I did back then that the Walkinshaw was ugly, & you know what? 34 years later it's still ugly. Then I have always been a True Blue Oval Bloke. What was very interesting & even more collectible than the plastic fantastic British box were those two Kombi Vans in the background, very nice shagging wagons from memory lane.
"Ugly" is subjective, I think. Admittedly if somebody had made these body kits up in their back yard, ricer style, then I'm sure I would find them ugly. But seeing I know who made them and why, it turns them from ugly to desirable. It's like a Bugatti Veyron, they are actually butt ugly, but I wouldn't point at one and laugh at it ;). Same goes for the Ford Sierra
Geez ya played that down didn’t ya bowe. A few issues 😂😂😂😂 the shit box sierras blew there guts out all over the track at Bathurst in 1990 blowing head gaskets galore. Winding up the illegal boost controls didn’t help. The Percy grice car ran at 7500 all day and never missed a beat. All the nay sayers had to BOW to the mighty holden 5 litre AGAIN 😂😂😂😂😂
John Bowe is a true gentleman and an absolute champion
I'm a ford guy but its good to see these still around true classics now
Same, but I did own a VL, wasn't it the godzilla under the hood, even down to the dash?
That was never ugly.. love em always
I am always amazed that these cars are still out there in such fantastic condition, and its not ugly
If anything they're aging very well imo
What a driver he was . Super competitive, fast and almost always brought the car back in one piece..
great to see an older guy actually appreciate and genuinely love the 80's muscle cars... a lot of guys from that era didn't.
and he is a legend at that which greatly adds to making this special to watch.
Ummm He wouldve been in his early 20s when this car came out in 1988!!! This is nostalgia for him...
With the death of the Aussie homegrown V8 sedans and coupes, I think the Holden vs Ford rivalry thing is fading and both camps are morphing into a proud Aussie V8 camp…
Johnny Bowe really is one of the real gentlemen of the sport and a legend to boot. Great to see him finally getting a drive of this piece of history. RIP Aussie V8 Holdens and Fords…
As a Holden guy, I appreciate fords even if they are 2nd 😂
my dad had an original one when i was growing up, i love them very nice car!
john stabbing at the bonnet with the rod like a junky looking for a vein :D
I'll remember lot from this video...thanks everyone involved...
Anyone that thinks a walky is ugly has no love for Australian history, you just can’t help loving em
Beautiful car!! Definitely not ugly!!!
Always respect vls always they are made to represent Australia
Great video John ,
Pat from Albury I own a vk grpA blueie for 5 yrs low 30xxx k's sold in 03 absolutely mint never seen rain or hot days still had factory wiper blades and tyres, I was close to purchasing a walky in 2000 still in original showroom from new 50klm on clock at the time the dealer was asking $50k everyone said to me that's to dear lol .
And I missed out on a vn grpA hrt mechanics personal 30xxx odd k's that was mint and I can't describe the engine but I'll say Bathurst material, crankier than a motherinlaws cat.
If you get opportunity drive a low k vk grpA you'll find it's the closest to the harsh race feel.
Cheers John
I remember they being sold in the mid 1990's for only $25k.
I just want one!!!!
I drove my dads one of these on the road when I was 15. I pulled up at the lights and a hoon came along side me and when the lights went green I was gone! What a great memory 👍
You had the last laugh!
Yah full of shit nice try though
Wanker
I remember around 2004 there was a Holden dealer selling a VL Grp A with 170km. Original plastic was still on the seats and arm rests. Was owned by the dealership since new and never driven. They wanted $99k. I knew it was special but was only in high school at the time.
❤😊Love it John , I got a Larry Perkins 1 as a slot car , Scalextric , Denny Hulme too , wrote sticker no.11, so got 2 of these race ones , I not have the slot car road version but , will be on mu bucket list , I got few sierras slot cars too so awesome , car love the v8 so also soon be released 1990 version as slot car too by Scalextric , too , so get 1 of those too , so , thanks video , you and DJ and Larry and Win and Gricey legends ❤the Holdens ,
Bidders might want to check for a new bonnet dent after JB got the wrong hole with the support rod
I was lucky to have been able to drive one of these from new. Working at the local holden dealership in John Bowes home town in Devonport... Motors!
A local motor cycle dealer purchased it..
Beautiful car, would love one
I've always had a Soft Spot for Walky.
I would have loved to buy the D'Alberto Brothers VL GroupA Walkinshaw. Still with Pre Delivery Km's & Never Registered
i miss my RB30 VL
Always been a holden guy, but when these walkinshaws came out I thought it was a down grade from the Grp A version, but as decades past and you think just how far HSV had come since this car , successful yes HSV was very , and stood the test of time and punishment and desirability passing all with flying colors, I love my fords too , and hate the thought we lost both ledgends with in a year or so of each other , last commodore counts for nothing , as in many opinions it just wasn't a commodore style FWD , no V8 , stupid move and risky,
So glad guys like John go look at what your competitors use , and yea maybe if he'd gave it a test drive back then in 88 he would of been scored by holden marketing team too ,
perkins hammering around the mountain...what a glorious sight and sound. memories of an era of aussie racing machines
My grandpa has one of these, I think it is build 200. It is in his shed under a cover with a suspected broken fuel pump.
With a claimed 180kw & 380nm torque. My 1.6lt Turbo Hyundai produces the same amount, while using less than 7lt per 100ks fuel.
Amazing the amount of improvement & efficiency of the modern car..
Also these were a hard sell when they were new. Even selling them into the VN Commodore life cycle.
Who cares mate V8 sounds way better!
Anyone can buy a Hyundai. But hardly anyone can have one of these mate. A VL only weighs 1200kg and would eat your Korean shitbox twice before breakfast. Just in case you didn't pay attention to the highly credentialed Mr. Bowe, these weren't marketed as an economy car, they were a road registerable version of the racecar of the day. They are the holy grail of Holden history, and as such, speaking crap about them means you know nothing about why they exist.
@@Buzz.Scholz-vi1ed Thank you for your insight. I know all about the history of Holden & HSV, as I have owned quite a few in my time though unfortunately not one of these magnificent cars. My post was more inline with how much improvement in efficiency newer cars have become.
As the VL Group A was a damn quick car for it's time. While not quick in this day & age, stock times has my Hyundai i20N 0-100 & 1/4 mile quicker.
VL Group A 0-100 6.9secs 1/4 Mile 14.8secs Top speed 230kph. Official times from HSV
Hyundai i20N 0-100 6.1secs 1/4 Mile 14.6secs Top speed 230kph All while using less that 6lt per 100ks of fuel. Though in saying that, I would take the HSV 100% of the time if given the choice.
Hmmmm........well I'm still not going out shopping for some thing made in Korea mate. As a born and bred South Aussie, I prefer mine made in Adelaide. I have been driving VLs for over three decades. Work cars. Family cars. Race cars. My daily driver has over 715,000 km on it. (Pistons have never been out of the block!) Not ever once has any front wheel drive anything beat me any day of any week
From what I understand only the walkinshaw had anything resembling downforce needed for racing.. the other ones either had novelty aero bodywork that didn't really have any effect or were designed to reduce drag significantly at the expense of downforce which is why larry went back to the VL walkinshaw in 1992, by which time it was also allowed the 6 speed from the VNs
The VL walkinshaw definitely produced downforce
Big also created more drag on the straights
The previous red VL GP A actually produced a net effect of lift on the straights
not strictly true, the 2 door Cosworth Sierra RS's rear 'whale tail' spoiler and front bumper spoiler was also developed in a wind tunnel to generate downforce because Ford found the body of a standard 2 door Sierra generated lift at speeds over 200 kmh, it was said by the people testing the standard bodied car before it was mass produced that it was undriveable and dangerous at speeds over 200.
@@davidewhite69 I'm talking about group A Commodores - the walkinshaw had the most downforce of any group A car Holden produced
@@James-zj3ud and too much for the Bathurst 1000.
@@tomnewham1269 not in 1990
Its great to see a untouched engine bay.
Apart from the rusty brake booster, where the master cylinder had been leaking ;) But yes, I agree 100%
What I remember about my VL is how I could feel the steering wheel move as the body flexed.
Also John too , I thought Larry and Denny and Tom good chance to win until no no oil pressure , was Larry,s Walky legal , ? But it sounded great , but I loved the look of them , I loved motorsport back then , I was only 17 or 18 , now am almost55 next tues , I was a Brockie fan too so , the Mobil VN,s had 1990 engine , early on , I think so , but the TWR cars as good as Brock ones I think so , I love the Holdens , so , I think Group.A a hard time for the GMH , so , I was cheering them on , I also got few Brock toranas , and early commodores as slot cars too , they awesome too , great , great video too ,Brockie King of Touring cars , also Tom and Larry ,and DJ and yourself , real Legends too
I love them and think they look incredible. Had a replica for 20 years. Only car I like better is a f40.
Straight and shiny on the outside.
But a casual look underbonnet tells a different story of weathering, corrosion, surface rust.
Not something I would in good conscience describe as “an absolute mint, mint car.”
Looks like its been in a front end bingle before (look at the very different lines between headlights and bumper at start of vid).
when these cars were 10-12yrs old, one could pick one up for NZ$40k, if only, I had NZ$40k to spend on a 12yr old Holden at the time.
Got one in 94 payed 44k everyone said I was crazy spending that much on a 6 year old car, 28 years later I can gladly say iv still got it👌
It is no ugly
NICE!
The sierra flogged it and the r32 GTR you would have only seen one in the rearview mirror John
it still managed to win 2 bathursts, get on the front row of a 3rd after it was supposed to have been replaced by the vn.
@@slickstrings it only won one Bathurst.
Good video but get rid of the music. Want to hear the car not music under
The price will be pretty for the owner
That's on auction atm isn't it?
Ugly no, unusual... certainly.
I prefer the simplicity of the group 3 bodywise but as I've aged so has my appreciation for the Walky especially after Win and Alan's driving effort on the mountain in 92 or 3(?)
Almost doing 100kph... like it's still got 90% left.... "Sold for $261,500"
I don't think that the Godzilla killed Group A racing. Half the field was Sierra's that were hated by Ford fans, as they wanted V8's. I remember Ford fans saying that milk is the only good thing that comes in 2 litres. Also you couldn't go out and buy one.
International Group A collapsed, that's why Group A was killed off
We used to call these cars the silver bullet
The 1980s were not good times for Holden interiors, geepers. This car has been pampered and the interior is still falling apart.
Who else cringed when he put the bonnet support in the wrong spot?? 😬
Yup 👍 lmao
that's all well and good, but is the car fitted with its original magnets?
If you mean the energy polariser, it was offered as an option in the HDT Director. It was never fitted to the Walky Commodore, because by the time they were built, Brock had split with Holden (Hence it being a Walkinshaw vehicle, not HDT). Personally I would love to own a car with an energy polariser today, despite the fact we all know it did nothing, it is a bit of history, that would definitely add value to a HDT built car
Special
😍
No way it sexy like max lethal
Mr white didn't know you where a Aussie 🤣
Are you only making videos about holdens , or is nobody selling Fords ?
there are some Fords in the background.
WOW there is some strange comments here MR BOWE???????????
Be worth an absolute fortune.. maybe 250….
Pretty grotty in the boot and underbonnet. My neices Outlander was like new underbonnet. It had over 200k on it!!
You couldn't give these away when they were new.
They had a real hard time selling them when they first come out.
The first 500 sold like hot cakes but the second batch of 250 were hard to sell and some of the dealers took the bodywork off to help them go out the door.
I think as I did back then that the Walkinshaw was ugly, & you know what? 34 years later it's still ugly. Then I have always been a True Blue Oval Bloke.
What was very interesting & even more collectible than the plastic fantastic British box were those two Kombi Vans in the background, very nice shagging wagons from
memory lane.
"Ugly" is subjective, I think. Admittedly if somebody had made these body kits up in their back yard, ricer style, then I'm sure I would find them ugly. But seeing I know who made them and why, it turns them from ugly to desirable. It's like a Bugatti Veyron, they are actually butt ugly, but I wouldn't point at one and laugh at it ;). Same goes for the Ford Sierra
Not an ugly car I like em but I like the vl brock more
A VL turbo would destroy one.
Most cars today would. I'd much prefer a Walkinshaw over a vl turbo.
@@toneloc9084 That mad 180kw but the bulk weight is a joke :)
VL turbos weren't in Group A touring car racing...
@@Hapkido82AUS Really ??? Haha 😄 I know champ. I meant stock for stock when they were both new.
Who cares?
I've got a low ks 2016 gen f2 gts I'd swap for a walky I'd anyone got one lol
Holden and Ford Killed Group A...NOT "Godzilla"
I appreciate them for what they are, but it would have to be the ugliest car made in Australia.
Serria rs500 faster
I'd rather a RS500 than a plastic pig
Simply put,yes its ugly!!!
Geez ya played that down didn’t ya bowe. A few issues 😂😂😂😂 the shit box sierras blew there guts out all over the track at Bathurst in 1990 blowing head gaskets galore. Winding up the illegal boost controls didn’t help. The Percy grice car ran at 7500 all day and never missed a beat. All the nay sayers had to BOW to the mighty holden 5 litre AGAIN 😂😂😂😂😂