HSV MALOO VP-Z SERIES

HSV SPREAD ITS WINGS, MODIFYING MANY HOLDENS WITH EVEN THE UTE GETTING A WILD MAKEOVER

Its name comes from an Aboriginal word for ‘thunder' but early Maloos barely raised a whisper in the HSV sales rooms. During the Maloo's first decade only 1000 were made, but then came V8 ute racing and a cultural shift reviving interest in recreational commercial vehicles. March 2000 saw HSV begin fitting Chevrolet-sourced, 5.7-litre LS1 engines with 255kW.

Also new was the six-speed manual transmission fitted to a Maloo, allowing HSV to fit a lower final-drive ratio (3.77:1 vs the four-speed automatic's 3.07:1) for superior off-the-line and mid-range acceleration.

The Maloo and up-spec R8 featured different styles of 18-inch alloy wheel but only a space-saver spare. The front brakes were 330mm diameter with 315mm rotors at the rear.

Cloth-faced sports seats with electric adjustment were standard, as was cruise control, a trip computer, dual airbags and a leather-bound steering wheel.

Outside, a larger air dam with integrated fog lights, side skirts and rear number-plate panel were unique to the HSV version. A fibreglass tonneau cover with integrated spoiler came standard, along with upgraded brakes, on the $54,950 R8.

The VUII altered the headlights and some minor details but most significantly added ‘data dot' coding as a theft deterrent. From June-October 2002 a 15th Anniversary was sold for only $150 more than the $49,450 base model.

Late 2003 the Y Series didn't significantly alter the utes appearance but lifted power to 260kW. The Maloo Y's major improvement came via a brake upgrade.

A Series II version released in October 2003 increased the price of an R8 to almost $60,000, with a 25kW power increase and the added security of traction control. Air-conditioning was now climate-controlled. The Maloo Y contributed 1172 sales and remained in production until the Z Series' arrival in October 2004.

Yet more power (297kW ) and 530Nm of torque made this the most potent two-seat HSV and one of the most affordable super-cars on the world market – with a Guinness Book of Records listing to prove its pace.

In 2006 with Mark Skaife driving, a stock R8 scorched down a deserted strip of Woomera's Rocket Range tarmac at a documented 271.44km/h confirming HSV as the ‘World's Fastest Pickup'.

Base price for a Maloo had by 2004 reached $54,250 and an R8 cost $61,450. However, they offered increasing value considering the improvements in performance and sophistication achieved since the 1990s.

Maloos with a hard tray cover offer aerodynamic advantages but are impractical if you need to carry something tall because the cover requires two people to remove and reattach. A vinyl tonneau or spending extra on one of the ‘roller-door' types of cover is more practical.

Values for most Maloos have increased, in some instances quite dramatically, however it is possible to secure a 20-year-old example at reasonable money. Service history, excellent mechanicals and a near-perfect interior are essential, especially for cars being sold at excessive prices before the over-heated market cools.