Expensive lawn ornament

Number 82 of 750, 20ks on the clock, “arguably the lowest milage and most original VL Commodore Group A Walkinshaw in the country”.

No doubt you’ve already heard about the car being sold by our very own Richmond’s. It comes with an authentic layer of barn find dust and even the dealer’s original seat and steering wheel covers from way back when. Richmond’s touts this car as “a genuine survivor with an exceptional story and provenance.” But is it really though?

To me the story is pretty lame. A guy bought this exceptional car and never even sat in it. And the survivor part doesn’t really make much sense either. To me, a survivor car is one which, against the odds has managed to survive its duty and continues to live on as a car. You could take anything and chuck it in a shed for 45 years, it'll still be there when you can next be assed to check. Time capsule seems like a better description (which Richmond’s also calls it to their credit). Because who wouldn’t want to pretend they’re taking delivery of a brand new Walkinshaw VL? That’s the problem though. 

 

This car has 20ks on the clock. Whoever buys it doesn’t intend to put any more on it, lest they lose title of lowest mileage car. That’s not even mentioning the amount of work likely needed to get this car running mint. Never been driven, but every rubber in it is almost 40 years old. 

There might be a side to the car we aren’t being told as well. The owner still chose to give it a Greek flag and Bathurst 1989 sticker. To me that shows maybe an initial intention to show the car off. Perhaps they realised how “original” their specimen was (even for 1990) and became obsessed with keeping it that way, we’ll never know.

Theres a funny divide in the car community between people who like to modify and “upgrade” their automobiles and those who see value in keeping the original battery. I know people will claim this car was merely intended as an investment, and the capital gain on the sale will be enormous, but there are still better, safer investments. The car itself is a work of art as well, it’s next home will probably be some guys living room. But it clearly hasn’t been admired in decades.

My question for the next owner is do you intend on removing the dust from the car? Or would that ruin its provenance? My main hope is the new owner has a kid, and that kid has seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off… Now that might give this car a story worth telling.

 

YOU CAN VIEW THE LISTING HERE