The best cars never sold in the UK: General Motors

In this new feature, Footman James is exploring the most interesting and exciting cars that were never offered to UK buyers. First, we explore American automotive giant General Motors, in a celebration of the best we never had…

Holden Commodore VL SS ‘Walkinshaw’ Group A SV (1988)

Despite nomenclature longer than the summer in Sydney, Holden’s eighties super saloon remains an Australian legend. After a fall out with existing racing partner Peter Brock, Holden Special Vehicles turned to Tom Walkinshaw to support the Group A touring car entry for 1988. Only 750 roadgoing examples of the ’88 SS Walkinshaw were built for homologation, each with Panorama Silver paintwork and a thunderous 5.0-litre V8 that offered almost as much drama as the painfully-eighties aero kit.

While the UK did eventually enjoy a taste of Aussie V8 supercar through the Vauxhall-badged Monaro and VXR8 models, the SS Walkinshaw retains an air of mystery in the UK.

 

General Motors EV1 (1996)

Many regard today as the age of electrification within the car industry, but GM’s first stab at sustainable motoring happened over a quarter of a century ago. It produced over 1,000 EV1s between 1996-1999, with almost all finding homes via a California-based vehicle leasing scheme.

A real-world range of 50-70 miles did little to curb demand from environmentally conscious Californians and the EV1 would receive a refresh in 1999 to increase performance. Two years later GM recalled the whole lot, destroying the entire EV1 production run in a decision which remains controversial to this day.

 

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 C4 (1990)

In the UK, we’re used to being overlooked when it comes to the Corvette – after all, it only took 67 years for Chevrolet to build one in right-hand drive. Consider that the 1990 ZR-1 was developed by Norfolk’s very own Lotus Cars and you might feel a little cheated…

The highest performing C4 used a Hethel-designed, all-aluminium 5.7-litre V8 that was good for 375hp at launch. Today it remains a bona fide classic; just don’t mention the time it was embarrassed by a truck…

 

GMC Syclone (1991)

In mid-1991 when road testing the new GMC Syclone pickup, America’s Car & Driver magazine requested a Ferrari 348 for rival comparison. Modena’s press office must have been amused - right up until the mag hit the shelves in September. Not only had the Syclone trounced Ferrari’s mid-engine supercar in a 0-60 sprint, but it also beat Porsche’s 911 Turbo and Chevrolet’s Corvette ZR-1. Not bad, for a truck.

The Syclone’s secret was a turbocharged 4.3-litre V6, producing 280hp through all four wheels via a crude four-speed automatic gearbox. Less than 3,000 were built during a two-year production run.

 

Cadillac CTS-V (2004)

Though a right-hand drive Cadillac saloon car was offered to UK buyers in the mid-noughties, Cadillac kept the highest-performing version for home turf. It’s a shame, as the CTS-V would have made an ideal usable modern classic - and a great cut-price alternative to the Mercedes E55 AMG.

Powered by an LS V8 engine sourced from the Chevrolet Corvette, the 400hp luxury saloon car was capable of a 13-second quarter mile sprint. It even had a manual gearbox... While period UK buyers were treated to the 2.8-litre, front-wheel drive BLS that shared a platform with the Vauxhall Vectra.

Which car from our General Motors list do you lust after the most? Let us know in the comments…