When the doors of the Holden plant closed in October of 2017, it marked the end of the manufacture of Australian designed and developed cars that dated back to 1948. It also marked the end of the V8-engined Holden, a line that has produced some very impressive and desirable motor vehicles over the years. With a strong band of enthusiasts in the motoring community, these types of cars will always remain highly coveted. This 2010 Holden Caprice is a perfect example of a car that has the potential to increase in value in the coming years. We wouldn’t normally feature something this new, but this is no ordinary Caprice because as you will see, it is a car that really is an iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove that is sure to go up in value as it becomes a modern classic. It is located in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, with the owner setting the price at $45,000 OBO. You can use the contact form at the bottom of this article to make inquiries about this hot Holden.
The Caprice comes finished in Alto Grey, and the paint across the entire car is original. This is a vehicle that has been well cared for, and it has always been garage-kept by its current owner. I have had the opportunity to inspect this car personally, and its presentation is close to flawless. There are only a very minimal number of minute stone-chips in the paint, which has a great depth of shine to it. A close inspection will reveal that this is a car that is completely rust-free. The glass is all perfect, with no chips or scratches. The external trim and chrome is in impressive condition and provides a nice contrast to the Grey paint. While the Caprice comes as a fully-loaded luxury car, the addition of a set of new 18″ Chip Foose Legend wheels give some indication that this isn’t your average luxury car. Those wheels are quite a rare addition to any Australian car, but if they aren’t to the new owner’s personal taste, then the original wheels and tires are included in the sale. Also included is a custom-made locking car cover, which will afford the Caprice additional protection when it is parked in the next owner’s garage.
Standard fitment in the 2010 Caprice was the 6.0-liter L98 V8, producing 362hp. This power was then sent to the rear wheels via a GM 6L80E 6-speed automatic transmission. As I said, this is a car with an iron fist, because it has received quite a few mechanical upgrades, which were funded by the current owner as a “money is no object” exercise. For Australian performance car enthusiasts, the name Ron Harrop is synonymous with meticulous engineering of performance components for both road and race. This V8 reaps the benefits of this knowledge, as it now wears a Harrop Engineering supercharger. In addition, the engine has been fitted with a custom-grind camshaft, high-capacity injectors, a Z/1 fuel pump upgrade, ceramic-coated exhaust headers, and a powder-coated 3″ stainless steel exhaust with polished mufflers. The result of all of this work is that the engine no longer produces 362hp, but is now in excess of 600hp. To cope with the increased performance, there is a 3,000rpm high-stall torque converter, and the ABS brakes have been upgraded with RDA discs all round, fitted with ceramic pads. However, it really is a velvet glove as well. I have had the opportunity to travel in this car, and in normal city commuter traffic, it drives quite smoothly, with only a deeper exhaust note giving any indication that the engine isn’t standard. When you bury the right foot, the Caprice certainly grabs your attention. The performance that it provides should be enough to satisfy any performance enthusiast.
When you open the door of the Caprice, the first thing that you notice is the aftermarket sheepskin seat covers. The owner is fastidious about the care of his car, and those sheepskins are there to offer protection to the spotless leather-upholstered seats. The rest of the interior presents beautifully, and once you slide inside the car, there are no indications of the beast that is at your disposal. What you find is life in the lap of luxury. The largely grey interior upholstery is highlighted by a number of brushed aluminum trim pieces on the doors, dash, and console. The leather front seats feature 8-way electrical adjustment, while the Caprice also comes with climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, reversing sensors, seven airbags, a leather-wrapped wheel adjustable for tilt and reach, and a premium Bose entertainment system.
Of course, it would be wrong to exclude the rear-seat passengers from the fun, so they also receive the leather upholstery and aluminum trim. In addition, tri-zone air conditioning will keep them comfortable, while twin LCD screens and a separate DVD player should help to keep them amused on long journeys. The Caprice is built on the same basic platform as the Holden Commodore, which is a car that was sold as the Chevrolet SS in the US between 2013 and 2017. However, the wheelbase of the Commodore was stretched to create this larger car, and all of that additional length provides rear-seat passengers with greatly improved legroom.
In the medium to long term, there is little doubt that values on the later V8-engined Holdens are going to follow the trend of earlier examples such as the Monaro and Torana, and they will increase. If past history is any indication, then these increases will be quite significant over time. The simple and sad fact is that cars like this Caprice mark the end of an era in Australian motoring history, and we will never see their type again. That could potentially make this a car that in the short term will put an enormous smile on the next owner’s face while providing a solid long term investment.
List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!
Or you can buy a used Chevy Caprice cop car and then convert it for a lot less.
Apples to oranges, this car is attractive and well built , while a caprice cop car is an ugly pos .
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I bought a 2012 Caprice PPV 9C1 two years ago. Wonderful car, 355 Hp, 384 lb/ft torque, 6 speed auto, rear wheel drive with independent rear suspension and locking differential, quick steering, twin batteries, limo-like leg room in the rear seat, etc, etc. Best road car I’ve driven/ridden in. If you need to pass someone quickly, it goes from 30 to 100+ in seconds (not that I ever would!) Most fun daily driver I’ve ever had. Also less expensive than a used Toyota appliance.
Are you thinking of the 90s Caprice or the Holden built one of a few years ago?
They didn’t use the a Chevy Caprice as a cop car in Australia.
Steve R
Yes you could but that Chev Cop Car was built in Australia
What I love most about this is that it is still a V8 rear wheel drive and it’s that new. Do I have a burning desire to own it? No. If I wanted something in the class of vehicle that this car is I’d be all over it. Damn shame the Ford and GM shut down in Australia. Just like here in the states you guys had some odd or ugly ones but you also got some that were incredibly cool that we didn’t get here.
Don’t forget about the Charger. That’s still around and with several flavors of more-than-enough-power-for-anyone V8 choices.
I might humbly add that the Charger is a great choice for a RWD powerful sedan.
If you were considering something the last of the Falcon in line 6 cylinders with just a factory turbo would give you a thrill as well, While driving my truck one early morning, it looked like 2 guys heading to work and a Turbo Falcon ute and an SS Commodore were at the lights, when the light went green the ute just walked away from the SS, what made me laugh at the time, the ute had a concrete mixer in the back, obviously a tradesman’s work ute to by the condition. Don’t underestimate an in line 6 Falcon engine, 4 litre overhead cam.
Was this the same as the last GTO that GM imported from Australia? Something that caught my attention: 6.0-liter L98 V8, producing 362hp. By 2010 GM USA had moved onto the LS engine, but having a L98, it has nowhere the hp that this one has which I assume is due to smog rules strangling power. It’s attractive but with the right hand steering wheel I assume it would take a little getting used to.
Wish the seller all the best, it’s a good looking car but I expect it would be a tad expensive to import.
Yes. The GTO was a Holden as was the late, great Chevrolet SS. (Not the bloated Impala SS of the 1990’s)
Not the same car as the GTO. GTO was a Holden Monaro. This is a Holden Commodore. Pontiac G8 and Chevy SS were Holden Commodores.
Love the powerplant, the idea of rear wheel drive V8 performance and sound, overlook the steering wheel on the otherside, but the car itself is kinda boring in overall appearance. Still a neat ride.
Although I’m generally not a General Motors car enthusiast, there are some GM cars I’ve admired over the years. Among my favourites were designed, tested, and built, in Australia. This one is no exception. Very nice. I imagine that since GM is no longer producing cars in Australia, that this Holden Caprice will become a collector’s item.
I would suspect shipping is $5000 added to the over priced car. Plus can you import this new of a car without going thru perhaps more stringent U.S. emissions. He better go back and have another drink with the Tasmanian Devil.
$5K would be a bargain.
he’s dreaming at 45 gs
Compere the Aussie dollar at about .60Cents to the U.S dollar makes this about $27,000 U.S. shipping etc would be about 5K
Nice car.
How would one import this car to the USA?
…with very great difficulty! Until it reaches 25 years old the Feds (EPA, DOT and Customs) would require a substantial bond be posted before it could be released from Customs, and with a prescribed amount of time to prove — with documentation — that the vehicle had been modified to meet ALL applicable Federal safety and emissions standards. That sort of thing was doable in the 1970s and ’80s, on cars like Countaches, Alpina BMWs, R5 Turbos and other ‘unobtainables.’
For a car like this one, buy a ‘2004-2006 GTO (the Holden 2-door coupe) or a Chevrolet SS (four door sedan) as mentioned above by ‘Frank Sumatra.’ Both are relatively plentiful and already US and California legal. And if more power is needed, add a Magnuson or other similar smog-legal supercharger. I have a ’99 Corvette Fixed Roof Coupe with an intercooled Magnuson system, plus CA-smog legal headers and some other minor mods that passes CA smog tests, runs on 91 octane pump gas and made 474 rear-wheel horsepower (app. 555-560 flywheel) the last time it was on a Dynojet for some calibrations). A Chevy SS, with the later and improved LS engine should have no problem making 500 rear wheel horsepower — legally and on pump gas — with a manual trans.
OMG! The steering wheel is on the wrong side!
Looking at the car, I can see the steering wheel on the right side. Lol.
P.S. We own 5 RHD cars in CA. You get used to it within a day.
I’d buy an RHD car in a heartbeat if I knew where to look.
Considering that it would be an ungodly pain to title this car in the states—if even possible at all—it would make more sense to look for a Pontiac G8 GXP or Chevrolet SS. They are EXTREMELY similar to this mechanically and visually, have the steering wheel on the correct side, and are fully-legal to drive in this country.
(Though if you DO live in Australia, this Caprice looks fun!)
We call these Boganmobile in Australia !
….but usually only by those precious and snotty owners of Euro vehicles who look down on the local products and those who drive them!
That’s right.
Export only to US and I think, UAE.
Locally, we used the SWB SS Commodore
Variant as a HWP Car and also the local Blue Oval XR6 Turbo and Blown XR8
Yup.. I’ll enjoy my ‘11 Chevy Caprice that came from municipal police service.. bought for $6000… far more fun and leaves plenty of room for upgrades..