Love them or hate them the 1988 VL Group A Walkinshaw is a part of Australian motoring history, the group A replaced the existing Holden VL Commodore SS Group A (which had been developed by Peter Brock’s HDT Special Vehicles company} as Holden’s Group A race car. With so much use of plastic in the massive bodykit, the Walkinshaw was soon picking up quite a few nick names - “Plastic Pig”, “Winged Warrior” and “Plastic Fantastic” to name a few. Other, less derogatory nicknames included the “Walkinshaw” and the most common of all, “Walky” (after TWR’s chief Tom Walkinshaw).
18 years ago Paul Howard walked into a dealership looking to purchase a Porche 930 turbo but it turned out to be a “piece of crap”. Driving past the Suttons dealership in Wiatara Paul spotted 3 Walkinshaw’s sitting in their show room, after a few friendly negotiations on the Group A that only had 3000k’s on the clock. Paul was the new owner of long lasting obsession. Over the past 18 years this Walky has been put throught it paces but never ever treated without respect. She has spent many a lap around race track all around the country also spending quiet a few laps on the hill climb circuits. Paul has decided to give her a rest from the racing duties and just enjoy cruising the car on the street and taking it to the occasional show and shine.
The Walkinshaw’s power plant was the first of the Fuel injected models to come from Holden. “Power Destined for Glory” was just one of the catch phrases that HSV used to promote this new breed of what they where calling a de-tuned version of the Group A race car. These cars were the first of a long lasting line of performance but yet still comfortable cars being produced by HSV. The Walkinshaws were not a pure race car unlike other models previously brought out by HDT, they had air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, 4 speaker stereo system and a security system. Even with all these luxury extra the Walky was advertised as being able to propel its self in standard format from 0 to 100 k’s in 6.5 seconds with amazing highway fuel economy of just an advertised 9.2 liters/100km.
Paul’s Group A Walkinshaw specifications have well exceeded what TWR and Tom Walkinshaw could have ever dreamt up back in 1988. Residing between the strut towers now is a full house 355 COME Stroker with COME alloy SST heads, Group A Twin throttle body intake manifold, 42lbs Bosch Racing injectors all controlled by a Haltec E6GMX this combo produces 380 asphalt destroying horse power. All that power is transfer through what Paul describes as an indestructable Tremec TKO600 5 speed with a custom made Extreme ceramic single plate clutch. Turning those beautiful 19” FR19 Simmons is a Borge Warner Turbo Walkinshaw diff running a limited slip center with 3.7:1 ratio gears. As you can imagine this combo propels this sweet looking Walky into warp speed with just so much as a touch of the loud pedal.
…I circuit raced the car for about 4 years with the Australian Racing Drivers Club. We raced at Amaroo Park, Oran Park and a couple of rounds at Eastern Creek when it first opened until Ii put it into the wall..
You put it into a wall ? “Yeah i was at a race day at Oran park probably traveling at about 100 ish k’s in second gear came into a corner a little hot and locked up the brakes put the rear quarter into the wall the the bugger spun around and just touched the front aswell. That day ended up as an expensive exercise”.
.. I have always enjoyed driving the car i’m not one to leave it in the shed and never get out and have some fun in it..
“I’ve taken the car to the Nats a couple of times taking full advantage of some secret little hidding places i have in the car.”
What’s Next? “I have been thinking about supercharging it lately but I am having to much fun with this combo as it is only 3000k’s old. So I might just open up the heads a little and try and crack the 450’s at the wheels”.
Quick Specs
Paul Howard
1988 Holden VL Group A Walkinshaw Built Number 95
Colour : Panarama Silver (Original Colour)
Age : 38
ENGINE
Make : 304 stroked to 355
Induction: Twin Throttle body Walkinshaw EFI
Heads : Come SST Alloy
Ignition : MSD Coil, Haltec E6GMX Computer
Exhaust : Stainless Steel Twin 2.5” into a single 3” at rear
Crank : COME 355
Comp : 10.5 to 1
Cooling : VY 2 Speed Fan with Custom Dessert Cooler radiator
Power : 550 Fly Wheel HP and 380 rear Wheel HP
Performance : Not run the quater yet
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox : Tremac TKO600 manual
Clutch : Custom Extreme Ceramic Single Palte
Diff : Borge Warner Turbo Walkinshaw 3.7:1 ratio LSD
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Shocks & Springs : Blistein and Kings
Brakes : VY Clubsport Twin Spot Callipers and Slotted Rotors
INTERIOR
Seats : Standard Group A Walkinshaw
Instruments : Autometer and Stock
Dash : Stock
RUBBER & RIMS
Tyres : Rear - 19 * 8” Front - 19 * 8”
Wheels : Simmons FR19’s
THANKS
Geforce Engines, Kings Auto Electric, and most of all my wife Jacquie and my kids Elizah and Ewan, Chris Bale Automotive Toronto.