Hi guys,
Back in 1989, with the VN model truly entrenched in showrooms, there were still some Walky's that the dealers couldn't sell, (yes, hard to believe!!).
Mid 1989, I bought a brand new VN V8 Calais and wanted the HSV wheels.

The dealer (Brian Gardner Holden in Cannington, W.A.) decided to strip the last two VL Walky's of their bodykits and sell them as 'toned down' cars in order to sell them easier. I remember seeing the two cars, basically, they lost the side skirts, rear spoiler and possibly bumpers but definitely kept the bonnet. They then swapped one set of VL Walky rims with my VN Calais ones. I was over the moon at the time (16 years later, I wish I'd bought one of the Group A's !!).

Anyhow, I'm wondering if anyone in Perth ever saw one of these two 'stripped' Group A's or knows where they are now. I also remember seeing a Group A Walky with a VL Calais front-end sitting in the Melville Motors showroom back in late 88.

Anyhow, if anyone has any info on any of these cars, I'd be very grateful if you'd either post here or email me directly.

Regards,
Steve (steve997@gmail.com)

I dont know about the walky but the calais front one was a special and had some of the walky kit but not all,standard front bar wiht an LE lip i think cant rememberr all of it.Rob ps would be great to go back in time.

its not hard to believe, my old man told me they couldnt sell them when they were released,and quite frankly i can see why lol

Yes the styling of the walkinshaw is was seen to be too radical, and struggled to sell.

Options fitted by the dealer included sunroofs, calais front's and yes stripping the car of its body kit and replacing it with standard bars.

My friend owns walky 109, and it has a dealer fitted calais front.

There is a picture of the walky with just the bonnet scoop, calais front and exec bars on this site somewhere.

The calais walky's were a dealer option. There were supposedly 9 of them made, but that only what I have been told.

Haven't heard of Brian Gardiners doing it or them being in WA and I haven't seen them either. Unless the person who has them is keeping it quiet, I'd doubt that they are in WA, as I know that many people in the car scene over here that someone would have seen them or know something about em. But it's possible. If so I'd love to see some pics...

Craig

The calais walky's were a dealer option. There were supposedly 9 of them made, but that only what I have been told.

Haven't heard of Brian Gardiners doing it or them being in WA and I haven't seen them either. Unless the person who has them is keeping it quiet, I'd doubt that they are in WA, as I know that many people in the car scene over here that someone would have seen them or know something about em. But it's possible. If so I'd love to see some pics...

Craig

Hi Craig,
Thanks for your reply. They definitely were stripped of their kits (bar bonnet)as I saw both cars when I went to pick my VN up in 89. Never ever saw them on the raod though. They might have gone East.. I wonder if it would be possible to trace them through B.Gardner's records??

Do you have any idea how many VL Grp A's are in Perth?

Regards,
steve

I do have a mag around with an article on them. Had the full running gear, interior etc, with the bonnet scoop, rear bumper without the lower extension, all the door panels, and the upper side skirts only, a calais front bumper with an LE extension, and and LE rear bobtail. Had a calais headlight front and calais grille also from memory.

It might be possible to track it down thru brian gardiners....



Hi Craig,
Thanks for your reply. They definitely were stripped of their kits (bar bonnet)as I saw both cars when I went to pick my VN up in 89. Never ever saw them on the raod though. They might have gone East.. I wonder if it would be possible to trace them through B.Gardner's records??

Do you have any idea how many VL Grp A's are in Perth?

Regards,
steve

here is the article...

http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/calais%20walky1.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/calais%20walky2.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/calais%20walky3.jpg
http://www.walkinshaw.net/articles/calais%20walky4.jpg

jeez that looks hot, wonder how much something like that would sell for now?

id prefer an original walky for sure or get rid of that cheese cutter grill

from the rear side that just looks wrong

The whole car looks off-putting with the front bodykit returning to standard...
Full Walkinshaw all the way i rekon :)

Doesnt look as good with the standard bad and calais grill would look heaps better like that one on the site the black\purlple one that thing is sexy as

they would probably sell for a bit more than a real walky because they are rarer yes?

doubt it.

my missus works for Brian Gardner.. i can maybe ask her to do some searching

hmm... i heard bout this a while ago... jus lookin at the pics, i dun realy lyk it... apparently there were some made by special order. without the walky bodykit, jus calais stuff... there was a guy lookin 4 1... GOOD LUCK tryin 2 find 1...

The walkies without full bodykits were never actually built by HSV that way. Dealers had walkinshaws changed once sales slowed due to the VN being released. You'll probably find they may have even came with the complete kit included anyway. I know all Walkies left the factory with the lower extensions removed for shipping purposes.

Hsv Ss Group A - I Just Want One.