Holden HSV HRT Maloo Concept - unique sports pickup with a fat V8.

Recently updated on February 23, 2022 at 12:45 am

Cars from down under are largely unknown in Europe. Many of you may have heard of the Holden brand, but the independently developed Australian models are fairly unknown in this country. Regardless of whether it is a large limousine or the typical Utes, they are probably only known to absolute car experts in Europe. And after GM finally destroyed the subsidiary Holden at the beginning of the year, that will probably not change anymore.

Sportiness and utility are connected

A typical Australian body shape is the so-called Ute, a limousine-based pickup, which has two doors and usually a loading platform, but is hardly higher than its limousine counterpart, and is offered with large-volume V8 engines. These super sporty commercial vehicles are currently no longer built, but the models from Holden (HSV) and Ford (FPV) enjoy a real cult status Down Under. Now a former cover model of the Australian car magazine whichcar.com.au, the unique Holden HSV HRT Maloo Concept, is for sale. And we envy the new owner of this cult ute, which is currently advertised on carsales.com.au, and of which the former head of development of the biggest competitor FPV once said that he was "insane" and "irresponsible".

Supersport pickup with body kit - built in 4 months

In 2001, this brutal maloo was set up in just 4 months to be able to present a very special vehicle at the 2001 HSV booth at the Sydney Motor Show, which at that time raised the bar once again in terms of power utes put. With its widebody look, the flared side skirts and the aerodynamic platform cover, which can be opened like a tailgate, and is firmly screwed to the body, it already visually showed the main competitor of FPV, the sporty Ford division for down under, where the Hammer hangs.

tuned 6,2-liter V8 gasoline engine provides steam

However, the real treasure of the power pickup sits under the hood, and was made by US car tuners Callaway tuned. It is the GM V8 petrol engine, which listens to the factory code LS6, and provides 476 hp and 600 Newton meters. And this very special performance model is even a hand switch with Tremec six-speed gearshift, which also does the job in various US sports models, and rumors say that the HSV HRT Maloo scratches at the 300 km / h mark and sprints in breathtaking 4,5 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h. This makes it by far the fastest commercial vehicle in the world, although the subject of utility has been reduced to a minimum in order to emphasize the sporting insignia of this unique concept.

The price of the single piece is staggering

All fans of Australian Utes will flinch when they read what the good piece should cost. The HSV HRT Maloo actually costs AUD 248.888 if you want to call it your own. That is the equivalent of just over 144.000 euros, and thus a hefty price for a very special "utility vehicle" that can compete with various super sports cars on the motorway and on the drag strip. But that also corresponds to a used Porsche 991 GT3, a restored Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster and even a cutting-edge Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 Coupé 4Matic with 639 hp. But only the HRT Maloo is unique! So it is very likely that this unique concept car will find its way into good collectors' hands and that it may not be moved much in order not to reduce its value. If you have now gotten a taste for such an unusual vehicle, then you now have the opportunity to look at a picture gallery (at the bottom) of this darling and then to express your interest with the provider. Have fun looking at the pictures and stay true to us!

(Photo / s: carsales.com.au)

Of course that had not been the case. Our tuning magazine has tens of thousands more tuning reports in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. Or are you particularly interested in the rare vehicles of the Holden brand? Then the following excerpt is definitely the right thing.

2001 Holden HSV HRT Maloo Concept

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