A ‘Light My Fire’ HSV GTSR W1 sedan has recently been auctioned for an impressive $363,000, more than double its original price five years ago. This low-kilometre Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) GTSR W1, presented by the Australian arm of UK auction house Collecting Cars, experienced heated bidding in its final moments, ultimately securing a hammer price of $350,888, or $362,888 when auction fees were included.
The sale price is well beyond the initial retail price of $169,990 plus on-road costs as advertised by HSV when the car was new. Nevertheless, it falls short of the current asking prices for similar sedan examples available in online listings.
This particular ‘Light My Fire’ orange HSV GTSR W1 is one of the 275 GTSR W1 sedans crafted by HSV, representing the pinnacle of Australian-built cars and marking the conclusion of the modified Holden Commodores from the Melbourne-based firm.
Under the hood, it boasts a potent 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, generating 474kW and 815Nm, with power transmitted to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The original showroom price of $169,990 plus on-road costs made the GTSR W1 the most expensive Holden-badged car available at that time.
However, as enthusiasts sought to preserve these super sedans for potential future returns, the prices surged in the used-car market. Currently, GTSR W1s are listed in Australian used-car classifieds ranging from $300,000 to $520,000, contingent on their condition, although these figures are notably lower than the most expensive versions of this iconic vehicle.
In a noteworthy auction event in 2021, a rare HSV Maloo GTSR W1 ute, with only four official examples produced and sold to HSV board members and loyal customers, fetched an impressive $1,050,000, establishing itself as the most valuable Australian car ever sold at auction.
The GTSR W1 auctioned by Collecting Cars has an exceptionally low mileage of just 32 kilometres across its two previous owners and is presented with its pre-delivery plastic and packaging still intact. According to the VicRoads database, the car’s registration was canceled in January 2020, a little over two years after its initial delivery to the first owner.
