How rare would this SLE be

[d_v_s_01]

View media item 530I am looking to buy an SLE. I have just looked at one for sale and am wondering how rare it might be.
It has been bogged and painted previously and is showing signs of rust again. Honestly it is pretty gone but repairable. Its got vk bumpers and is missing some of the sle chrome trims. It has a 202 and 4 speed in it. However when you look at the compliance plate it tells a different story. Can someone confirm what i am thinking that it should be 308 factory.
And should i buy it anyway.

 

[SL/ENUT]

It was originally Indigo blue over Mercury Silver.
Yes, factory 5 litre. Trimatic trans and 2.60 diff.
Even had Indigo blue leather seat facings, rest is vinyl factory too.

As for being rare, I've seen a fair few on some facebook groups.

 

[d_v_s_01]

That is what i thought.
I hadn't seen the leather seats too often. It was a family pack or something like that.
Thinking that i will just have to buy it anyway. The price is right.

 

[gtrboyy]

Seen a few,the real rarity would be finding one still in original & immaculate condition.

Majority were 253 powered...if buyers wanted a 308 a Brock was better alternative for the price jump.

Factory Indigo/silver cars have always been well liked combitination especially when still retaining sle goodies.

 

[DerekP]

Majority were 253 powered...if buyers wanted a 308 a Brock was better alternative for the price jump.
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I am not sure I agree with this statement entirely; Brocks were a different market altogether, aimed at young blokes with cash, they were basically a base model 'SL', with a tricked up donk and stiffer suspension; I mean VH Brock's didn't even have retractable seat belts in the rear (optional) whereas the SL/E had factory air and 'luxury' interior etc as standard. Although the SL/E had many options to choose from the target market was more executive level, especially the 308. Having said that I could never understand why anyone would ever opt for a 253 over a 308, it just doesn't make sense, I don't think the fuel consumption was so much better in a 253 that it would be enough to warrant buying one. Since the 253 was dropped after the VH I can only assume 253's were significantly cheaper than a 308, enough to encourage buyers to choose a 253 over a 308.....

 

[gtrboyy]

One argument was holden needed get rid of leftover 253 engines before vk series hence most sle were built with them otherwise most would have ticked 5 litre option if given the choice.

Read that dealers were adding silver/mercury to move cars quicker like factory two tone versions.

5 litre option was big price jump...holden was set to kill off holden v8 with the vk series or maybe end it with the vh untill streetmachine mag got involved

 

[Smitty]

nothing rare about a 382 pack VH SL/E

308 auto... in the upmarket sedan, pretty common

 

[figjam]

Just looked on line sales for SLEs. Asking prices from $20K to $30K, and rare as. Stuff me ! Didn't think they were in the 'classic' category yet.

 

[Smitty]

don't believe it

the only people saying SL/Es are rare... are the sellers!

 

[SL/ENUT]

Dunno, i consider mine rare Smitty