2008 HSV W427

Designed and built to commemorate 20 years of HSV, the W427 was the ultimate flagship, powered by a dry-sumped seven-litre GM LS7 backed by a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual. The spiritual successor to HSV’s earlier Monaro-based HRT 427 concept, the W427 was ambitious, impressive, and the perfect representation of HSV’s ethos of producing automotive insanity with predominantly parts-bin items. The HSV W427 took an HSV VE GTS and turned things up to 11. While the bones were pure GTS, it was everything that wasn’t ‘regular’ GTS fare that really impressed. Securing a handful of GM LS7 crate engines, the HSV engineering team managed to package their requirements in a limited-production schedule, including items such as the hand-fabricated external oil reservoir for the dry-sump system. The LS7’s raw grunt also meant that the only feasible transmission option was the then-new Tremec TR-6060, which went in fine but required the HSV team to engineer a custom clutch pedal and hydraulic system for both high-clamp loads and ease of use. Aesthetically, the W427 gained a custom front fascia, subtle carbon-fibre rear wing, custom alloy wheels, and a smattering of W427 badges — a remarkable lesson in subtlety from an outfit known for wild bodykits and colour schemes. However, for all its understated aesthetics, there is no denying that the HSV W427 has aged well and will no doubt prove to be one of the ultimate HSV collector cars when the Commodore as we know it is dead and gone.