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1997 VT Build dates.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#1 Posted : Monday, 21 July 2014 11:32:09 PM(UTC)
1997 HRT GTS PILOT

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Hi, can anyone confirm the first build month of 1997 VT Holden.
I know the release launch month was August September but were cars going down the line any earlier than August or September?
The VS was still going down the line around that time.
Thanks in advance.
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HK1837 Offline
#2 Posted : Tuesday, 22 July 2014 4:51:36 AM(UTC)
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Volume production always starts a month or so prior to release so cars are available at dealers and in stock ready to deliver to dealers.
VS was built until late 2000.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#3 Posted : Tuesday, 22 July 2014 8:01:51 AM(UTC)
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So what month do you think the VT would have been plated at the earliest?
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HK1837 Offline
#4 Posted : Tuesday, 22 July 2014 5:26:36 PM(UTC)
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Only as a guess, the first VT's with a VIN plate may have been up to a year or more earlier than release. Limited production would probably have begun around May-June with volume production in July. Remember this was a whole new car. For HQ the first cars were built in the 60's with a lot produced around May 1971 for a July release. Commodorenut or Dr Terry may have a better idea on these if they see this post.
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Dr Terry Online
#5 Posted : Tuesday, 22 July 2014 5:51:27 PM(UTC)
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As HK1837 has said, volume production usually beings a month or 2 ahead of release. The VT news release date was 26 Aug 1997 so there would be plenty of July plated cars built.

I've personally not seen any VTs plated earlier than 7/97. Most early cars used for testing or long lead press releases often do not have VIN plates. The ones I've seen (even at launch ceremonies) have a red plate in lieu of the VIN plate, simply stamped PILOT. These cars are usually not sold to the general public & often end up against the crash test barrier at Lang Lang. Having said that, some must get re-certified & then sold off as demos, I know of 2 such test drive cars that met this fate.

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HK1837 Offline
#6 Posted : Tuesday, 22 July 2014 6:07:23 PM(UTC)
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You've just jogged my memory Terry, I have seen Monaro pilots with the PILOT plate on them. A few of these escaped captivity. Those very early cars built would have a PSN assigned but not a VIN plate affixed.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#7 Posted : Wednesday, 23 July 2014 3:04:04 AM(UTC)
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So would cars with build dates prior to July be prototype or pilot cars?
Did all pilot cars have no vin plate and what do you class as vin plate?
The engine and trans code plate or build plate with the month built and vin number on it?
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#8 Posted : Wednesday, 23 July 2014 3:08:46 AM(UTC)
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Also, what is meant by limited production?
What would those cars have been for?
I mean, if your going to start producing cars for release date, why build a limited number first?
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#9 Posted : Wednesday, 23 July 2014 3:36:35 AM(UTC)
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Also, what is meant by limited production?
What would those cars have been for?
I mean, if your going to start producing cars for release date, why build a limited number first?
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HK1837 Offline
#10 Posted : Wednesday, 23 July 2014 3:57:47 AM(UTC)
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Probably not, prototypes are really early, pilots are marked as PILOT. Limited production is when they produce cars to make sure the assembly process goes OK, plus there are cars for display, shows, advertisements etc. Volume production is to get bulk cars built ready for release.
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#11 Posted : Wednesday, 23 July 2014 4:33:46 PM(UTC)
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The VN was launched in August '88, and the first production VN went down the line in early July '88 (Warren T has the production broadcast where it is celebrated as the first VN).
I would suggest similar dates for the VT based on the fact it's almost a repeat, only 9 years later.


The "first VN" VIN number is some 3-4000 tag numbers earlier than the latest VLs we have recorded from the Adelaide plant, so they ran both together for some time - maybe a week or 2.
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Mick
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#12 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 12:52:19 AM(UTC)
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So if you had a 1997 VT with a build date of June 1997 and can confirmed a date of 18th of June 1997, what would you suggest it was? ?

Thanks.
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Dr Terry Online
#13 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 1:33:52 AM(UTC)
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I would say it was a very early regular production car. 18th June is only round 5 weeks prior to release. This car was likely built in the first week of production, possibly even on the first day.

Long lead press releases & brochure photos, would've been over & done before June.

Dr Terry
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#14 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 5:25:58 AM(UTC)
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18th june is not 5 werks prior to release date.
18th june is at least 2 months prior to release date.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#15 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 5:28:08 AM(UTC)
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Release date is Sept 97
But I believe 26 August was the actual date.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#16 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 5:31:00 AM(UTC)
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Do you have 26th Aug as the actual date Terry?
Thank you.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#17 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 5:33:42 AM(UTC)
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The car I have in question I know and have documentation for as being a press and test car.
It is also a HSV.
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Dr Terry Online
#18 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 6:09:33 AM(UTC)
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Yes, the date of the GM-H press release is 26th Aug 1997. The VT went on sale on the 5th Sept.

5 weeks was a mistake on my part, 2 months+ would make it prior to full time regular production.

Dr Terry
If at first you don't succeed, just call it Version 1.0
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#19 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 7:18:43 AM(UTC)
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Thanks for that Terry.
So two months prior to full production would mean what in your opinion?
You seem to have very good knowledge of these cars.
Thanks in advanced.
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1997 HRT GTS PILOT Offline
#20 Posted : Thursday, 24 July 2014 7:27:07 AM(UTC)
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Interesting you say the press release date us 26th of August!!!!! Reason being, the car I have is HSV plated 25th of August 1997 and was the press car so they must of plated it the day before the launch!
You have just filled in a very important piece of this cars puzzle. We could never work out why the car has a holden build of 18-6-97 and wasn't HSV plated until 25-8-97. We knew it was a prototype tedt car but it never had a hsv built plate fitted till August, still a month earlier than any other GTS.
Hats off to you Terry, incredible.
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