Sufficiently Tweaked Item To Fill The Hole
Sun Herald
Saturday July 7, 1990
THE upmarket push by Holden Special Vehicles has left the traditional buyer with a severe case of wallet-lag.
The big ticket SV 89, SV 5000 and the forthcoming VN Group A models are priced beyond the reach of the average enthusiast, the sort of Commodore crazy who'd scrimp and save for a Brockmobile, then wash it twice a day with a fervour that'd make Ted Bullpit's Kingswood green with envy.
Holden's Commodore SS only partly fills the more bang-for-your-buck role, for it carries the stigma of a factory-produced car. It's not special enough for a market that can quote you camshaft profiles and carby jet sizes for every road-car Peter Brock ever built.
Thus we have the HSV Club Sport - at $34,000 a sufficiently tweaked, sufficiently affordable Commodore to fill the hole.
The Club Sport begins life as a standard Commodore Executive V8. HSV fits the engine with a dual exhaust, SV 5000 air intake system, recalibrated engine management computer and a knock sensor. The result is a claimed 180 kw , which is plenty. The standard suspension makes way for a spring/shock/roll bar replacement kit. The tin wheels are replaced by the same alloys worn by VL Group A Commodore, shod with Pirelli's grippy P 700s. Externally, there's some add-on bits - new grille, rear deck spoiler - and cosmetics like body coloured bumpers. Inside, Signor Momo's leather steering wheel and gear knob are part of the package.
The options list includes automatic transmission, sports seats and other HSV body kit bits.
At the other end of the range is HSV's new Statesman, the SV 90. At $55,000 it's aimed at the business exec in a hurry. Thus the re-calibrated suspension, 180 kw engine and, of course, the standard car-phone ...
© 1990 Sun Herald