As released at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show, the HRT 427 show car was a closed-circuit racer featuring a 7-litre V8 racing engine based on the Le Mans-winning C5R Corvette powerplant. Over the past 15 years the HSV brand has been built on motorsport success and creating exhilarating road cars that contain serious levels of motorsport derived DNA. This race track concept, which simmered within both HSV and Holden, has boiled over with the two companies collaborating and creatinh the breathtaking HRT 427.

427 In Detail

Racing heritage features under the bonnet with a V8 engine that shares its 427 cubic inch (7.0 litre) capacity with the legendary big block Chev. Based on a Corvette C5R race engine, it's been hand built by HRT technicians, incorporating their own unique piston and CNC cylinder head design. This very special powerplant feeds through eight individual throttle bodies with carbon fibre trumpets.

'HRT 427 is the ideal showcase for potential new HSV production technology,' said project head, Brad Dunstan, TWR (Aust)'s Manager of Advanced Engineering. 'We've taken every performance and handling idea we have in the book and incorporated them into the HRT 427. One of the developments for this car that we hope to get into future HSV production is the double 'A' arm front suspension.' The race-style system consists of a set of beautifully crafted aluminium A arms, complete with fully adjustable dampers, which take the place of the Coupe's standard strut front suspension.

Everywhere you look there's seriously high spec performance mechanicals. A heavy-duty 900Nm clutch transmits the engine's prodigious output to a special T56 six-speed manual gearbox. Hand built for HSV by Tremec (makers of the standard T56), it features the same lower ratios as the Corvette Z06 and includes triple synchros to reduce shift effort.

Braking is via a race-bred AP Racing six piston system including competition style full floating and grooved rotors. Inside, there's a half roll-cage and Sparco Pro 2000 driving seats (as used in the British Touring Car Championship) to hold the driver securely in place behind an HRT style steering wheel and Motec instrument panel.

A strict weight reduction program, instigated to further enhance performance, sees it tip the scales at just 3472 lbs (1575kg) or 200 lbs (100kg) less than HSV's GTS Coupé. Exotic materials abound, including a carbon fibre bonnet, saving 31 lobs (14kgs), manufactured using a revolutionary Australian process called 'Quickstep' and magnesium for the HRT inspired 18-inch wheels and the unique differential housing. Audio and air conditioning systems are deleted, as are the rear seats which are replaced with carbon fibre panels to cover the lightweight dry cell battery.

Green Light to Production

Clearly, the world supercar club had welcomed a new member. The car's surprise first appearance at the Sydney motor show attracted much attention - from the media, from HRT fans, and, importantly, from some 80 customers who paid HSV Retailers deposits on the car.

At that time there were no specific pricing, specification levels, or production numbers, just a desire from HSV to showcase its ability, along with racing partner HRT, to develop a truly world class performance car.

This is the biggest and most complex project we will have undertaken. We are doing it as it is a wonderful advertisement for HSV being a world leader in high performance specialty cars, added HSV Managing Director John Crennan.

Pricing will be approximately $215,000 dollars. Production will commence later this year.

A Stillborn

June 16th 2003 - Holden Special Vehicles today announced that it would not go ahead with production of the HRT427 super car.

Fifty firm orders had been placed for the vehicle, with an unexpectedly high proportion to be for road use. HSV's desire to build the car to the highest level of safety, engineering integrity and excellence to meet the expected asking price of $215,000 was not achievable at the (restricted) 50 vehicle build level.

To achieve a road car level of specification would have required significantly higher investment levels and resultant higher recommended retail price. Further, HSV was not prepared to build more than 50 units as this would seriously degrade the exclusivity of the very exciting 427 model, nor was HSV prepared to lower the specifications from that of the original show car intent, which may have diluted the integrity of the concept.

HSV expressed great disappointment in not bringing the 427 model to market, as the prototype vehicles that were completed had achieved their engineering objectives and vehicle intent. HSV's General Manager, Chris Payne, confirmed - The unfortunate and disappointing decision was one purely of business case economics that could not be made viable given our price and customer studies.

'The decision is particularly disappointing as the prototypes already demonstrate the engineering prowess of HSV to develop and build high performance supercars that can compete with the best marques in the world' he added.

The launch of HSV's sensational Coupé model, in December 2001, immediately sparked widespread speculation about a two-door high performance flagship that would make the transition to the racetrack.

That's no surprise when you consider HSV's unique commitment to motorsport. Over the past 15 years the HSV brand has been built on motorsport success and creating exhilarating road cars that contain serious levels of motorsport derived DNA. Indeed, 85% of HSV buyers nominate motorsport as their number 1 recreational interest.

Now, the racetrack concept, which simmered within both HSV and Holden, has boiled over with the two companies collaborating to create the breathtaking HRT 427.

Essentially the development roles were split, with Holden responsible for styling and HSV for the project management, engineering and building of the car. Holden's Design Team got the ball rolling with a clean, subtle styling package. Features include an HRT style aerodynamic undertray to increase downforce, dual twin-exhaust outlets and a rear bumper cutout with diffuser to accommodate the dual exhausts and an aluminium drop-tank.

Racing heritage features under the bonnet with a V8 engine that shares its 427 cubic inch (7.0 litre) capacity with the legendary big block Chev. Based on a Corvette C5R race engine, it's been hand built by HRT technicians, incorporating their own unique piston and CNC cylinder head design. This very special powerplant feeds through eight individual throttle bodies with carbon fibre trumpets.

Company press release, last updated before 12 / 01 / 2004

This is the bloke who paid almost $1 million for his Holden.

The mystery buyer of the most expensive Australian-made car is a Cairns car collector who was wearing shorts and thongs when he did the record-breaking deal.

The businessman, who goes by the nickname Chooka, made national headlines in April when he paid $920,000 for a Holden Monaro.

Other collectors have offered him more but he won't sell. The HRT 427, one of only two made, has quietly arrived in the Far North and has been hidden away in a warehouse.

In an exclusive interview with Carsguide, Chooka revealed details of the deal as well as other aspects of his multi-million dollar vehicle collection of more than 50 cars and 60 motorbikes. For security and safety reasons he has declined to have his real name identified, but the 41-year-old is well known in collector circles and by senior motor industry officials.

Chooka made headlines in April when he wandered into a Sydney showroom wearing shorts and thongs and bought the car, one of two built in 2002 to showcase Holden and HSV's engineering prowess.

The other is in Holden's concept car collection and is not for sale. It cannot be driven, but Chooka's can. The registered vehicle features Kevlar fittings, has a 427kW 7.0-litre V8 and race brakes to haul it down from a top speed of 299km/h.

It has a roll cage, special racing seats, fuel system, alloy wheels, push button start, six point harness seats, a Motec instrumentation system, a hand made boot spoiler made of Kevlar and aluminium. It is finished in Sting Red and the build number is ED (Experimental Development) 0001, August 12, 2002. It was built to rival Porsche's track-focused 911 GT2.

Chooka is a Monaro fanatic and has been told he has the finest and most valuable collection in Australia.

“I've got more than 20 of them, from the first ones in 1968 through to the last one in 2006,” he said. There are HK, HT, HG, HQ, HJ and HX Monaros. He has the last HSV GTS Monaro to come off the production line. As well, there are limited edition models.

The HRT 427 is probably the most famous and valuable. It was first unveiled at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show and was expected to sell for $215,000. There was a huge response but Holden Special Vehicles abandoned the project because they would have lost money on the cars.

Already, Chooka has turned down substantially more than what he paid for the car. None of his cars is for sale. While he rarely drives his Monaros, he took his dad for a spin in the HRT 427. His wife and five children were taken for laps around Eastern Creek in the car at Easter.

He has been collecting rare cars for about four years but has amassed a collection scattered around the Far North in about six premises.

Chooka, who has a building industry manufacturing plant, said plans were under way to build a museum, a fully operating garage and a race track on the outskirts of Cairns to house the collection.

“I don't deem these cars as an asset. It's a passion,” he said.

For sale: $3 million Holden

Cairns car fanatic forced to sell his multi-million dollar collection, including Australia’s most expensive car.

A multi-million dollar collection of 25 rare Holdens, Fords and Chevrolets will go under the hammer on June 7, apparently to pay off debts. Included in the sale will be a 7.0-litre V8 Monaro concept car that reportedly fetched a whopping $920,000 when the owner purchased the car in 2007.

It's one of just two HSV HRT 427 Monaro coupes, the owner of which reportedly turned down an offer of $3 million for, according to Queensland newspaper, the Cairns Post. Pickles manager Steve Allen says people should be ready to muscle up and get ready to bid on a piece of automotive history – particularly on the HSV 427. "It's anyone's guess what that's going to make," says Allen, and although he's unable to say what the car could fetch, it's fair to suggest it could well be a profit made on the day. "It's one of only two vehicles that were built, and one, as I understand it, is still with Holden in their coffers somewhere in the factory," says Allen.
"In my time, I haven't seen a collection of Australian muscle cars quite like this. [Pickles Auctions] certainly has never had a collection quite like this," says Allen. Some of the other specimens on sale include the first ever 1996 model HSV GTS/R with only 80 kilometres on the clock (Build plate 001), and a 1988 HSV Group A Walkinshaw with just 55,000 km's (Build plate 003).

Other rare offerings include: several Monaros, both early HK-HX models and six new-generation Commodore-based models; a 1978 XC Ford Cobra; a 2007 Ford GT Cobra, and a 1956 Chevrolet Belair. "This collection is priceless with some rare cars to be auctioned," says Allen. "For discerning buyers it is an opportunity to own part of Australian motoring history and is already attracting strong interest." The collection belonged to Shawn "Chooka" Ryan, and the cars are up for auction under the instruction of the receivers and managers of Ausco Firestop (NQ) Pty Ltd and Ryan Group Holdings Pty Ltd and other financiers.

The Cairns Post claims these two companies are in debt to the tune of $10 million, which should give an indication of how much the cars will be on sale at the auction. The auction is to be held at Pickles Auctions Sydney at 4.30 pm on Monday June 7, and the cars can be inspected before the auction on the weekend of June 5 and 6. Online bidding is available for those who can't make it on the day. Less than two weeks ago, a rare Ford Falcon Phase 3 GT HO was passed in at auction for $350,000 after it failed to meet its expected sale price of $425,000.