Walkinshaw Takes On HSV...

csv8 · 25-01-2007, 09:21 AM

House of hot Holdens

A Commodore with Walkinshaw Performance modifications.
23 January 2007

Gavin McGrath

There's a new player on the hot Holden tune-up shop scene, and this one has serious racing cred.

Motorsport guru Tom Walkinshaw has opened a new aftermarket "fun factory" specialising in turning Commodores and Astras into fast track and street machines.

Walkinshaw Performance was launched last week with a range of upgrades, including superchargers, sports exhausts, AP Brakes packages, and suspension and lowering kits.

The new division is completely (and deliberately) separate from Walkinshaw's official Holden-based performance company HSV, operating from the same Braeside factory as the Elfin sports car company.

Walkinshaw Performance CEO Chris Payne, formerly of HSV, says there is no clash between Walkinshaw's aftermarket add-on department and HSV. He says the new department is for more extreme modifications than a manufacturer such as HSV is allowed to do.

"You could say that HSV has created this thriving aftermarket industry of copy and replica high-performance Commodores.

"HSV customers, like Commodore customers, have been buying the extra stuff from hundreds of tuning shops, so Walkinshaw Performance is an alternative to those aftermarket shops."

Modifications start from $590 for lowered sports springs to $11,690 for a supercharger kit fitted to a VE Commodore V8.

All upgrades are supplied and fitted by the company rather than handed over to do-it-yourself home mechanics. Most of them are performance-related.

GM Holden spokesman Jason Laird says people will have to consult the carmaker before fitting any aftermarket product.

"The warranty on the parts and quality of workmanship is 12 months, so we don't support any better warranty than the best aftermarket companies out there," he says.

"In a lot of cases, the customer is not overly concerned about that because they are just looking for ways to make their cars a little bit sweeter, look a bit more aggressive, to handle better and to have a better exhaust note," Payne says.

"Some of those things may not affect a new car warranty, while in some cases we are doing older cars close to warranty expiry anyway."

Unlike some tuning shops, all products have been tested by Walkinshaw Performance and racing drivers Rick and Todd Kelly.

"Quite often in the backyard operations, the customer's car is actually the prototype. In our business we run development cars," Payne says.

"This is aftermarket but it is designed with a mind to OE (original equipment). It's not just about kiloWatts because we look at reliability, durability and the total car. With every product you have to own it for five years — still going to the track, but also down the street."

Herald-Sun

-=FoRdEseries=- · 25-01-2007, 09:52 AM

Yeah this is in a magazine, lol sorry forgot which one though. it has a whole write up about it, its a supercharged VE HSV GTS and it is green. has something like 370kw (i think)

vandrsxr6 · 25-01-2007, 09:55 AM

It is in this months motor. The Astra with the walkinshaw kit would be made fun.

**Grunter** · 25-01-2007, 10:00 AM

Wow, with the bagging the CEO has given the performance industry, he won't be winning to many friends. Not to mention the potential customers who may have already used the "backyard operations" to get the results they wanted and are looking for some more mods.

I could just see the conversation now. - "You used "insert well know performance shop here", they are a shower of ****, so your obviously an idiot for using them.
Here let me sell you a AP brake kit!! Rick Kelly has tested them!"

drcook · 25-01-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grunter

Here let me sell you a AP brake kit!! Rick Kelly has tested them!"

they didnt work very well at phillip island

Ghiadude · 25-01-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcook

they didnt work very well at phillip island

TOUCHE!!!

BA Turbo · 25-01-2007, 05:09 PM

I tought walkinshaw was for FPV and falcon after market parts.

Oh well holden r **** any way

rodderz · 25-01-2007, 05:25 PM

I would rather spend my money at an established aftermarket tuning/performance outlet, they have been doing it day in day out for quite a few years now specifically in LS1's, probably cheaper too. G & D would be a good example, having a lot of records in that scene for the last few years

The bodykit in the pic looks a bit much imo

FPV8U · 25-01-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

I would rather spend my money at an established aftermarket tuning/performance outlet, they have been doing it day in day out for quite a few years now specifically in LS1's, probably cheaper too. G & D would be a good example, having a lot of records in that scene for the last few years

The bodykit in the pic looks a bit much imo

Couldn't agree more, i would much rather use G&D, BPR, RDP, Autotech, Etc, than use a Ford equivelent of this...

The only up side to Factory based upgrades is Warrenty, which to some is more important than the results they get.

I also agree the the car looks a fair bit "overdone" :MrT_anim:

After reading this article i would love to see a G&D Performance Tuned LS1/2 or L98 Versus a Walkinshaw one, i think the results would be quite amusing...

The Company just like the man it's named after seems to love it's self a bit... :togo:

MITCHAY · 25-01-2007, 05:35 PM

Hmm Walkinshaw for Holden and Herrods for Ford. They are the equivalents correct?

FPV8U · 25-01-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Hmm Walkinshaw for Holden and Herrods for Ford. They are the equivalents correct?

No, Herrods is an Independant tune shop, like G&D or Bluepower, where Walkinshaw is Holden Based, allowing you to keep a full warrenty.

MITCHAY · 25-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV8U

No, Herrods is an Independant tune shop, like G&D or Bluepower, where Walkinshaw is Holden Based, allowing you to keep a full warrenty.

Cheers didn't know that. Maybe Herrods should have an affiliation like that?

Herrod factory Falcons and Walkinshaw factory Commodores. Rock on! :sm_headba

Ghiadude · 25-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Walkinshaw as in Tom... OWNS HSV the company WTF are these people on about...?

Stevo · 25-01-2007, 05:41 PM

i thought he just owned the racing team ?

MITCHAY · 25-01-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

i thought he just owned the racing team ?

Some will tell you he owns AVESCO and TEGA too

:

XR8putts · 25-01-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Some will tell you he owns AVESCO and TEGA too

:

Oh god you shouldn't have done that.

Their hush-mob will pay you a visit reaaal soon. RIP MITCHAY

:

MITCHAY · 25-01-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puts99

Oh god you shouldn't have done that.

Their hush-mob will pay you a visit reaaal soon. RIP MITCHAY

:

Bring it! I got 3 empty longnecks on hand that are ready to sacrifice themselves

:

All else fails I'll let the turbo do the talking :P Catch me if they can!

yift · 25-01-2007, 11:58 PM

**** walkingshaw (cheating scum)
**** avesco (supporting the cheating scum)
**** tega (as above)
**** hsv (sister company of the cheating scum)
**** holden (suppliers to the cheating scum)
and a big **** off to the red branded mother ****ers.

yift · 25-01-2007, 11:59 PM

by the way the cars look like ****, seen afew on the road and that plastic crap reminds me of the plastic pig that the mother ****** produced back in 87 with the vl's

irsa76 · 26-01-2007, 08:37 AM

I think Walkinshaw performance is HSVs way of doing more extreme stuff without the expense and red tape of full GM approval.

HOON69 · 26-01-2007, 08:52 AM

the pic reminds me of a warped looking walkinshaw
plastic plastic plastic

nothing beats old skool metal/chrome
something paint cant even duplicate ;)

HSV/walkinshaw their prices will be too much fo the young p platers and aftermarket shops will thrive as always
why pay 11-12k to them when you can get that and more from a aftermarket performance shop ;)

Ryan · 26-01-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yift

by the way the cars look like ****, seen afew on the road and that plastic crap reminds me of the plastic pig that the mother ****** produced back in 87 with the vl's

It was actually 88, that the plastic pig aka VL Walky was produced.

Anyway yeah I agree Classic not plastic, but I don't mind the over topness of the VL Walky.;)

Sledgehammer · 26-01-2007, 09:46 AM

useless thread with mindless information...

jabba · 26-01-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Cheers didn't know that. Maybe Herrods should have an affiliation like that?

Herrod factory Falcons and Walkinshaw factory Commodores. Rock on! :sm_headba

Herrod Mods use to be very Ford warranty friendly..you use to be able to order a new Falcon with the whole Herrod upgrade and maintain your warranty... But the John Bowe saga raised it's head and got out of hand and upset Ford and FPV to a degree it even strained the relationship with Herrod... Ford looked at as, if we endorse Herrod, then we will have to endorse John Bowe Signature upgrades. And if they endorse both off them, then every backyard tune-shop will want to be Ford endorsed.. So Ford just shut the whole modifying stuff down

Miller · 27-01-2007, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOON69

plastic plastic plastic

My first thoughts exactly.

335JET · 27-01-2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabba

Herrod Mods use to be very Ford warranty friendly..you use to be able to order a new Falcon with the whole Herrod upgrade and maintain your warranty... But the John Bowe saga raised it's head and got out of hand and upset Ford and FPV to a degree it even strained the relationship with Herrod... Ford looked at as, if we endorse Herrod, then we will have to endorse John Bowe Signature upgrades. And if they endorse both off them, then every backyard tune-shop will want to be Ford endorsed.. So Ford just shut the whole modifying stuff down

Now thats a big shame, Bowe why couldnt you just stay with FPV and let Herrods do all the after market stuff.