"HSV Improved" Ecotec Caprice?

[premium]

Hey Guys,

I've just bought a '97 VS Caprice, it's a naturally aspirated ecotec.
it's been optioned up, and sports a 'HSV Improved VS' badge above the glovebox, and a HSV logo on the sunroof handle.
I can't seem to find anything on these 'HSV Improved' cars, and I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me where it differs from the standard Caprice?

Thanks,
Premium.

[someguy360]

I have never heard of them.....can we have some pics?

I know my old mans VE International (V6) has HSVi Compliance plates etc but never heard of an HSV V6 VS

[premium]

It's still at the dealership getting a roadworthy and I should have it mid-week.
I'll upload some pics then

[ephect]

i'm pritty sure caprice and grange are HSV versions of the statesman

[someguy360]

i'm pritty sure caprice and grange are HSV versions of the statesman

I'm fairly sure the VS Caprice's weren't badged as a HSV.

Fairly sure the badges including the interior were usually just "Caprice" or Statesman/Caprice "By Holden"

To the OP, you may have gotten your hands on quite a rare and unique VS here :P (looking forward to when u get it back so we can have some pics :P)

[ParkwayDrv]

Most defiantly someone has got them from ebay or the likes and put them there. HSV Enhanced Options were available but as far as i know they weren't a option on v6's back then.

[ParkwayDrv]

i'm pritty sure caprice and grange are HSV versions of the statesman

No.The grange is a hsv and were all v8's.

[premium]

I'm fairly sure the VS Caprice's weren't badged as a HSV.

Fairly sure the badges including the interior were usually just "Caprice" or Statesman/Caprice "By Holden"

To the OP, you may have gotten your hands on quite a rare and unique VS here :P (looking forward to when u get it back so we can have some pics :P)

We can hope! :P

Most defiantly someone has got them from ebay or the likes and put them there. HSV Enhanced Options were available but as far as i know they weren't a option on v6's back then.

You might be right there, but it all appears to be pretty genuine, and the car doesn't appear modified in any other way.

[someguy360]

Is there any HSV compliance plates in the engine bay?

[premium]

Is there any HSV compliance plates in the engine bay?

Embarrassingly, I didn't look. Perhaps I should have posted this after I'd actually collected it.

[ephect]

ahh yes! thankyou, the grange was based on the statesman

[Adds_05]

and a HSV logo on the sunroof handle.

more than likely this is probably the reason for the badge,to do with the sunroof...

[premium]

high-performance sunroof?

[premium]

Most defiantly someone has got them from ebay or the likes and put them there. HSV Enhanced Options were available but as far as i know they weren't a option on v6's back then.

The previous owner was a woman, and the car was a company car, but still a possibility that someone else has done it.

[Cameron P]

I'm fairly sure the VS Caprice's weren't badged as a HSV.

Fairly sure the badges including the interior were usually just "Caprice" or Statesman/Caprice "By Holden"

To the OP, you may have gotten your hands on quite a rare and unique VS here :P (looking forward to when u get it back so we can have some pics :P)

When i bought my car i had a HDT sticker in the engine bay... does that mean my car is rare?

[GAMBLR]

Could be an early version of HBD or HSVi. Holden by Design were dealer fitted options, including sunroof installs. Could be possible the car was purchased through a Holden/HSV dealer and they put a plate/logo on the sunroof after it was fitted.

[slammedvz]

Get me the vin number and ill check, probably the sunroof.

[Adds_05]

high-performance sunroof?

no smartarse but if you have a read around the forum,all you needed to do was option up a level 3 cluster in an executive for example to have a hsv enhanced build plate put on the car...
i guess the idea of it being there for the sunroof doesnt sound so stupid after all?

[GEN3RATD]

90% sure ( dont quote me on this) all HSV did was add a sunroof, and then it was "HSV enhanced". ive seen a few of these.

[ParkwayDrv]

Yeah hsv enhanced car's have legit hsv vin numbers, but i've never heard or seen of it done on a v6, Maybe the sunroof is was not factory fitted to the caprice? Check the vin on the hsv site though.

[premium]

Just to clear this up, turns out it's 'HSV Enhanced' because it has a sunroof and extractors.