You could buy Vauxhall’s wild press-fleet Monaro VXR500

An ultra-rare Vauxhall Monaro VXR500, with a special ownership history, is currently listed for auction on the Collecting Cars website. 

The car was part of Vauxhall’s press fleet, used for testing and evaluation by journalists across the UK. After retiring from front-line duty, it has been maintained as part of the brand’s heritage fleet.

With Vauxhall having to move its heritage vehicles to a new location, a number of models from the collection have recently been sold.

Thunder from Down Under

In the early 2000s, Vauxhall began importing the Australian-built Holden Monaro into the UK. 

Adding the Vauxhall badge to a handsome coupe with a 5.7-litre V8 and affordable pricing meant nearly all the cars allocated for 2004 sold out immediately. 

For 2005, the Monaro’s engine was upped to a 6.0-litre Chevrolet LS2 V8 for the VXR-badged version. This offered 404hp and a potential top speed of 180mph. 

However, the final hurrah for the Monaro would be the 2006 VXR500. Created as a special project by Greens of Rainham in the UK, just 18 examples were made.

Charging up the power

Greens added a Harrop supercharger to the Monaro’s V8 engine, pushing it to 493hp and 500lb ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard for all cars, as was the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. 

The particular VXR500 up for auction benefited from an AP Racing brake upgrade, installed when new. With ventilated and grooved discs, it improves stopping power for the heavy Monaro.

VXR models also came with stiffer suspension, although handling is still likely to be more ‘muscle car’ than ‘BMW M-car’.

Good enough for Richard Hammond

As a member of Vauxhall’s press fleet, the Monaro VXR500 will have been subjected to some ‘rigorous’ performance testing by journalists.

Most notably, the car featured in the December 2013 issue of Top Gear magazine. There it was driven by muscle car fan Richard Hammond, as part of his ‘Icons’ series. 

You can still find images of V55 VXL going very sideways on the Top Gear test track. 

Although there is no documented service history, the Monaro was maintained by Vauxhall’s own in-house heritage fleet technicians.

A ‘fair dinkum’ interior

Paint colour choices were limited for the Monaro, and this VXR500 is finished in its original Quicksilver hue. Some stone chips are noted on the bodywork, but a genuine Holden Special Vehicles touch-up paint pot is supplied.

Although the Monaro’s cabin has black leather upholstery, there is little in the way of extravagant style. However, standard specification was strong, with cruise control, climate control, rear parking sensors and a Blaupunkt sound system.

With the car having just 8,553 miles on the clock, the interior is said to be in excellent condition. All original handbooks, tools, the jack and fire extinguisher will be included with the sale.

Griffin history for sale

With such low numbers sold in the UK, finding a Vauxhall Monaro is not the easiest task. Trying to source one of the 18 VXR500s made is near-impossible. 

The chance to own the VXR500 kept on Vauxhall’s own heritage fleet will thus be a unique experience. For fans of the Griffin brand, or lairy Australian V8s, this is a unicorn moment.

Being sold with no reserve, bidding on the Monaro has already been enthusiastic. With the auction due to run until Tuesday 18 October, there is still time to grab this Anglo-Australian legend.

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