Overview of the 1996 VS GTSR affectionately referred to as the Banana. Some original release photos and videos from a current example with and overview of specs
Cheers from the US! I've been a Holden fan since 1985 when I learned of the VK SS. Was fortunate to get my VF SS in 2017 in the form of a Chevy SS. I love learning about the history of Aussie cars, especially the special models!
Pleasure to have you as a Holden Fan from abroad, the 1985 VK SS sure is an icon. I do have a VK lined up for a video in the future, the Chevy SS VF would be awesome to have over there, if I was in the US I would want a VF for sure.. I should have some more rare models coming up soon.
@@GTZ05 Looking forward to your upcoming videos! I put Holden badges on my SS, and nobody knows what it is here, but they like it and it draws a lot of attention!
I was lucky enough to get to drive a near new one. A local fellow who was in my group of young 20s mates got a massive compo payout and bought an optimised one from a dealer who couldn’t shift it. Less than 6 months later it was wrapped around a tree. Last we heard of that car it was at an insurance auction in VIC (NSW had it listed as written off, but the states weren’t linked up back then). He went on to write off 2 more cars - as well as himself in the last crash. He was addicted to speed (not the drug).
Shame about the guy and the car, but you we’re definitely lucky to have driven one when they were basically new… they aren’t everyones cup of tea and often called and overpriced Taxi, but for me even though they only built 85, what it did from a marketing perspective was great for sales of the other HSV models in the future
Wow that is a Beast For sure and it is the King of Holdens in 1996 of all man kind yeee haaa yeah baby and one day when I win Lotto I will buy one of them and increase the power input up to 856KW or 1.996KW and so fasten your seatbelts and hold on Tight,it will be a Wicked Roller coaster Ride🛫✈️🏆🚀
By todays standards the didn’t, but back in 94 when HSV released the motor anything over 200KW on a performance car was huge. The power though is delivered quite well and 80% of the torque is available at 1,200 RPM making it useable. Capable of a low 14 sec quarter mile, but based on the GTS I own I’d say the gtsr can break into a high 13 sec pass.. a WRX of the time would smoke it though 🙂
I remember when these were coming out and seeing them in the magazines. The 10k blueprint option. Ive always wondered about that in terms of how many optioned it. I would think most would. Which, perhaps , would mean the non blueprinted cars would be rarer.
They really stood out and still do. I’ve heard only 12 have the Blueprint option, and there is 3 with the blueprint and sunroof option so those would be the rarest of the bunch. Being blueprinted each engine came with slightly different power from 230KW-236KW and they came with a DYNO sheet from HRT confirming.
@@GTZ05 Yeah blokes pay huge amounts of money for things that are rare. I wouldn't give you five bucks for one but hey, different strokes for different folks I guess..
@GTZ05 hsv would of got a good deal on all those shells. Love the vids l have a vn sv125 wagon and was looking for a vid how to remove my door handle and came across ya channel.
@Tonyawesty I think they would have, anything to get them out of there.. I’d love your wagon for sure, Something that makes those early HSV and SV models feel exclusive.. love to do another wagon on the channel someday
Cheers from the US! I've been a Holden fan since 1985 when I learned of the VK SS. Was fortunate to get my VF SS in 2017 in the form of a Chevy SS. I love learning about the history of Aussie cars, especially the special models!
Pleasure to have you as a Holden Fan from abroad, the 1985 VK SS sure is an icon. I do have a VK lined up for a video in the future, the Chevy SS VF would be awesome to have over there, if I was in the US I would want a VF for sure.. I should have some more rare models coming up soon.
@@GTZ05 Looking forward to your upcoming videos! I put Holden badges on my SS, and nobody knows what it is here, but they like it and it draws a lot of attention!
Welcome to the 🇦🇺 Holden family mate
Definitely found the right channel GT knows he's stuff
I was lucky enough to get to drive a near new one. A local fellow who was in my group of young 20s mates got a massive compo payout and bought an optimised one from a dealer who couldn’t shift it. Less than 6 months later it was wrapped around a tree. Last we heard of that car it was at an insurance auction in VIC (NSW had it listed as written off, but the states weren’t linked up back then). He went on to write off 2 more cars - as well as himself in the last crash. He was addicted to speed (not the drug).
Shame about the guy and the car, but you we’re definitely lucky to have driven one when they were basically new… they aren’t everyones cup of tea and often called and overpriced Taxi, but for me even though they only built 85, what it did from a marketing perspective was great for sales of the other HSV models in the future
Wow that is a Beast For sure and it is the King of Holdens in 1996 of all man kind yeee haaa yeah baby and one day when I win Lotto I will buy one of them and increase the power input up to 856KW or 1.996KW and so fasten your seatbelts and hold on Tight,it will be a Wicked Roller coaster Ride🛫✈️🏆🚀
It def was a beast in 1996 and now a classic beast. If I won the lotto I would also buy one for sure…
Nice looking vehicle. Becoming rare. Haven't seen one for a long time.
💰💰💰👍😎🇦🇺🍻
The one driving past has 25K on it and is now on the market for over 300K, big bucks
Damn they didn't get a lot power out of them back in 1996, 215 kw, lol.
Very few cars made 215kw in 1996, M3 and a bunch of expensive Euro cars that was it.
215kw was a decent number back then. Regular v8s were rated at 165kw.
By todays standards the didn’t, but back in 94 when HSV released the motor anything over 200KW on a performance car was huge. The power though is delivered quite well and 80% of the torque is available at 1,200 RPM making it useable. Capable of a low 14 sec quarter mile, but based on the GTS I own I’d say the gtsr can break into a high 13 sec pass.. a WRX of the time would smoke it though 🙂
@@GTZ05 Yep, I remember the wheels write up when they put it against a WRX and the REX came out wheel on top in just about every department.
A vt ls1 could be purchased 3 years later that left this yellow tacky hsv taxi for dead. Hsv could of at least could have put the twin tb
I remember when these were coming out and seeing them in the magazines. The 10k blueprint option. Ive always wondered about that in terms of how many optioned it. I would think most would. Which, perhaps , would mean the non blueprinted cars would be rarer.
They really stood out and still do. I’ve heard only 12 have the Blueprint option, and there is 3 with the blueprint and sunroof option so those would be the rarest of the bunch. Being blueprinted each engine came with slightly different power from 230KW-236KW and they came with a DYNO sheet from HRT confirming.
@@GTZ05 Thanks for the reply.
Anytime
They couldn't give them away if I remember correctly, they were slow compared to a WRX that was just over half the price.
That might of been the case, VL Walky had stock for years also. With only 85 GTSR’s made and less still alive they are big bucks.
@@GTZ05 Yeah blokes pay huge amounts of money for things that are rare. I wouldn't give you five bucks for one but hey, different strokes for different folks I guess..
Is it true how these were all left over taxi shells?
I think it is, I heard that fleet stuffed up the order for 100 Victorian Taxis, HSV heard about it and said we can do something with them.
@GTZ05 hsv would of got a good deal on all those shells. Love the vids l have a vn sv125 wagon and was looking for a vid how to remove my door handle and came across ya channel.
@Tonyawesty I think they would have, anything to get them out of there.. I’d love your wagon for sure,
Something that makes those early HSV and SV models feel exclusive.. love to do another wagon on the channel someday