As a lad growing up in Australia, I could never have imagined any local car commanding a six-figure sale price. Then again, nobody could have imagined the country without local offerings from Holden and Ford. Those manufacturers dominated the market, and between their market-leading models, they “owned” more than 50% of new car sales at the dawn of the new millennium. That Ford would be gone as a manufacturer by 2016 was a shock to the system. That Holden, once considered to be “Australia’s Own,” would follow brands like Pontiac into extinction, was unthinkable. Both scenarios have played out, and now enthusiasts are clamoring to get their hands on some of the more desirable and potent offerings from either company. That’s where our feature vehicle fits into the equation. It is 1-of-600 examples of the 2017 HSV Maloo GTS R Ute. However, it isn’t any old Maloo because this one is #600. That makes it the last of its kind, and it pushes the desirability stakes even higher. Add in the fact that it has 21 kilometers (15 miles) on its odometer, it has never been through pre-delivery, and it still wears most of its protective plastic, and this HSV is getting close to a museum piece. However, whether that is its fate will be determined by a new owner. The Maloo is located in Cannington, Western Australia, and is listed for sale here on Carsales.com. The owner has set the sale price at an eye-watering A$749,998.

The owner supplies some interesting photos of his Maloo. This shot was taken of the vehicle on Holden’s production line before it was shipped to HSV to weave their own brand of magic on it. HSV was formed as a joint venture between Holden and TWR. Their role was to take standard Holden models and transform them into vehicles that would provide visual appeal and improved performance. Some of their tuning work was mild, while some of their offerings were wild. This GTS R would easily fit into the latter category.

The ute, or the coupe utility, was a uniquely Australian invention. There had been pickups in the past, but the coupe utility was an integrated design that combined practicality with comfort. They are designed to carry loads, but this Maloo is an exception to that rule. I personally can’t see this vehicle crossing paddocks and pastures with pieces of machinery or fence posts rolling around in the bed. The hinged hard cover makes it impossible to carry tall loads, while the wide tires and low ride height would make it utterly impractical in the scenario that I just described. HSV took the humble ute and transformed it into something mind-blowing. The vehicle includes a wild aerodynamic body kit with an enormous front bumper/spoiler. This is not merely for show because that spoiler not only provides downforce but it improves engine and brake cooling when a driver gets a bit enthusiastic. With such low mileage, there’s nothing about the ute’s appearance that would justify criticism. The Phantom Black paint shines beautifully, with no signs of faults or defects. The panels are laser straight, and the fit is perfect. Early cars modified by HSV would often have significant gaps between the genuine Holden panels and those that HSV produced. By the time this vehicle was built, such issues were a distant memory. As part of the GTS R package, the Maloo features blacked-out exterior badging. It rolls on unique 20″ alloy wheels, and as you will see, these are as much a matter of necessity as they are about good looks.

If you fancy healthy helpings of horsepower, you’ve come to the right place. HSV didn’t merely fit body kits to Holden products. They also provided some incredible mechanical updates. The Maloo was no exception, and opening the hood reveals the amazing 6.2-liter LSA V8. This monster is backed by a 6-speed Tremec-6060 manual transmission and an HSV-specific limited-slip differential. With all sorts of niceties like a supercharger, a special low-restriction exhaust, and a unique engine management system, this V8 pumps out an incredible 583hp and 546 ft/lbs of torque. This makes the GTS R fast. Seriously fast. How does a ¼-mile ET of 12.1 seconds sound? It doesn’t sound bad to me. Equally as impressive is the 0-60mph figure of 4.14 seconds. This Maloo is supercar-fast, but it would need to be when you consider what it cost the buyer back in 2017. He slapped down a whopping A$99,490. Since then, he has accumulated less than 20 miles, meaning that this ute is in mechanically as-new condition. The owner also holds a letter from HSV verifying the authenticity of this classic, and this is included in the sale.

The Maloo doesn’t just go fast in a straight line because it has received suspension upgrades. These include improvements to springs, shocks, and other suspension components. The big one, though, is brakes, and these are why the enormous wheels were a necessity. The ute features 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The front discs are an incredible 16½” cross-drilled and ventilated discs, while the rears are a mere 14″ items. These are clamped by 4-piston AP Racing calipers, which help the GTS R stop yesterday.

While utes were designed to be hard-wearing workhorses, any ute that rolled out of the HSV factory was loaded with luxury. The plastic dash features suede leather highlights, while the seats are upholstered in a combination of leather and quilted Alcantara. Occupant safety is catered for by six airbags, while climate-control air conditioning helps keep life comfortable under the blazing Aussie Summer sun. This interior is in as-new condition and still retains its original plastic covers from when it left the factory. Its condition is museum grade, which is hardly surprising when you consider the life that it’s led.

The driver was treated to just as much comfort as the passenger in a GTS R. Their seat features power adjustment, while the leather-wrapped wheel features controls for the entertainment unit and the cruise control. The entertainment system features an 8″ touchscreen with a reversing camera, while safety concerns are catered for by the inclusion of parking sensors, lane departure sensors, and blind-spot detection. The driver is confronted by clear and concise gauges, while the car also features a user-programmable heads-up display.

Many enthusiasts outside Australia struggle to comprehend why vehicles like this 2017 HSV Maloo GTS R can command a stratospheric price. Even some Australians are forced to scratch their heads. The best analogy that I can draw is this. Holden was the face of General Motors Down Under and was once the undisputed market leader. When its brand was retired, hardly anyone could believe that something that was once unthinkable had come to pass. For our US readers, it would be the equivalent of General Motors choosing to kill off the Chevrolet brand. Once the initial shock had worn off, enthusiasts and speculators would be moving in to get the more desirable examples of cars like the Camaro and the Corvette. Some would buy them as long-term investments, while others would hand over their cash because they would know deep in their hearts that there would never be another car built that would wear the company’s badge. That is why these vehicles sell for such enormous amounts, and it’s why I am sure that this one will go to a new home very soon.