Email

Twitter

Facebook

Pictured: HSV.

HSV builds its 50,000th Vehicle

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

Recommended articles

HSV Releases Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pricing

16 April 2020

HSV Confirms Chevrolet Silverado 1500

20 February 2020

HSV aims for growth through digitalization collaboration with Siemens and AMGC

14 November 2019

HSV Announces Partnership with Love Me Love You

09 August 2019