1:18 Commodore VL SS

[Nick Short]

I was wondering whether Biante were ever going to produce any more VLs after the slow sales of the Bathurst winner. I'm not trying to do Biante a disservice here, but I remember comments about the silver road car ("the silver flake is too big") and the race car ("the tyres are too tall") etc (I bought both models, by the way!). Now it's true that Biante quality has always been better than most, but they've come on in leaps and bounds since then. A VL SS, either a Brock or Walkinshaw, to today's quality would be awesome (red Brock road car or Allam/Walkinshaw Bathurst car anyone?) and I'd hate to think Biante felt they had their fingers burned by previous releases. Not sure if I remember right, but it does seem that Ford are outnumbering Holden in the Classic road and race releases so far, and certainly there haven't been any other Commodore road cars have there? Or did I miss them?

[V8SS]

Nick, I have both models as well and was only thinking the other day how underused this cast was. I guess the demand for other Walkinshaw racing VL's might be the problem given the slow sales of the Bathurst winner.
I guess in time we will see the red Brock VL Group A. I'm hoping anyway and possibly Brocks '87 Bathurst winning car.

[Ford Boy]

Id love to see a white VK HDT SS. We've got a white, Red and Blue ones here in Bendigo, and regualry see them crusing... the VK is the best of all Commodores, in my Humble Ford Opinion, and the VK HDT would make an awesome addition to my collection.

[GRPIII]

other good walkinshaw race cars would be, the perkins/hulme sister car to the walkinshaw/allam
and another great looking car of that time, was larry's bob jane sponsored commodore.
as for the slow sales of the 1990 bathurst winner, cant understand why, cause it was such a popular victory on the mountain for the great aussie v8, against the much more fancy cars from japan & europe.
as for the brock road & race cars, im sure there not to far down the track.

[frosty]

Admin,
The next VL road car has to be the VL BT1 Turbo canary Yellow (ex police car)... My son has one.... You are more than welcome to use our photos for the model... :)

[KRAKA05]

87 BROCK Bathurst winner.....oh yeah.

[GRC01S]

Originally posted by GRPIII
other good walkinshaw race cars would be, the perkins/hulme sister car to the walkinshaw/allam
and another great looking car of that time, was larry's bob jane sponsored commodore.
as for the slow sales of the 1990 bathurst winner, cant understand why, cause it was such a popular victory on the mountain for the great aussie v8, against the much more fancy cars from japan & europe.
as for the brock road & race cars, im sure there not to far down the track.

I too have wondered why they have not made the original race cars that were run under the SVR banner these two cars were a superb livery and for Holden / SVR / TWR / HRT fans they are a very important part of the history for this team especially the bathurst cars with all the debarcle of the race and the tantrums of the poms and their homemade (UK) version Number 20 car. I am about to do the 1989 Perkins / Mezera car and the 1990 sister car Jones / Crompton conversions, will post pics when complete.

The other great VL was the FAI Grice car

[zeitgeist]

Originally posted by GRPIII
as for the slow sales of the 1990 bathurst winner, cant understand why, cause it was such a popular victory on the mountain for the great aussie v8, against the much more fancy cars from japan & europe.


I've given up trying to determine why one car is more popular than another. Now nobody send me nasty PMs, but I think the '90 Bathurst winner is MUCH better looking than the '92 Skyline and, while the '92 was released in smaller numbers, I cannot fathom why it is worth so much more.

BC

[Nick Short]

Hi GRC01S - what tantrums, and what home made version? I'm not taking issue, I don't know a huge amount about it!

[GRC01S]

In 1990 uncle tom turned up to the race with a big box fresh from the UK inside was a special build VL batmobile just for him and Allam. Perkins and the other Aussies were pissed as it divided the team effectivly into two teams within the team. Toms car stopped in the race and he demanded to be put into the 10 car, the contract said he could. Problem was it was set up very different and after his stint it was knackered therefore killing two cars, one that was challenging for the lead (the 10 car). Larry departed from the team that summer.

Hope this fills the gaps

[KRAKA05]

My 1990 Bathurst winning vl sits pride of place in the cabinet. I too think it is one of the best looking models. I remember sitting in front of the telly when it won the race and i thought to my self...no way.

Check out that boot detail and you will see. I think you will find that this model will appreciate in years to come.

[the_goldie]

Originally posted by KRAKA05
My 1990 Bathurst winning vl sits pride of place in the cabinet. I too think it is one of the best looking models. I remember sitting in front of the telly when it won the race and i thought to my self...no way.

Check out that boot detail and you will see. I think you will find that this model will appreciate in years to come.

Kraka05 - couldn't agree more. This is one of my favourite models. The detail on the engine and especially in the boot is amazing. I love it. I am still surprised as to why it has not sold out.

I am not a big fan of the road version of the walkinshaw but in race trim they look GREAT! Bring out more I say.

[KRAKA05]

Originally posted by the_goldie
Kraka05 - couldn't agree more. This is one of my favourite models. The detail on the engine and especially in the boot is amazing. I love it. I am still surprised as to why it has not sold out.

I am not a big fan of the road version of the walkinshaw but in race trim they look GREAT! Bring out more I say.

Goldie...couldnt agree with you more. The other thing is that the VL was my 2nd car (after the HB Torrie). Its still going strong with my old man .... the only change being brakes and a muffler (in over 18 years). The nissan engine is a treat and we have yet to change the clutch.

Bring on the 87 Brock Bathurst winner i say. Some of the other Walkinshaw and Perkins cars would look great too.

[Dingo]

Originally posted by GRC01S
In 1990 uncle tom turned up to the race with a big box fresh from the UK inside was a special build VL batmobile just for him and Allam. Perkins and the other Aussies were pissed as it divided the team effectivly into two teams within the team. Toms car stopped in the race and he demanded to be put into the 10 car, the contract said he could. Problem was it was set up very different and after his stint it was knackered therefore killing two cars, one that was challenging for the lead (the 10 car). Larry departed from the team that summer.

Hope this fills the gaps
Not to mention they were both found to be illegal, and would have been disqualified from the race had they not DNFed...

[GRC01S]

I should have said the 1988 race not the 1990 sorry I was looking at the 1990 car at the time of typing

[Graeme]

Looking at the known drivers already associated with Biante, I reckon there are at least two Walky VL Grp A race cars that could or should be in the list of future diecast models ....

Has anyone considered the 1988 VLs of Grice / Percy ( white/blue FAI Insurance car ) and Harvey / Bartlett ( orange Forbes / Catamaran car).

An outsider that would be a real standout livery item is the Chris Lambden 'Beaurepaires' car.