Well, I've turned to the dark side.
I now have a 2008 HSV VE GTS in my garage.
I almost have the wiring out of it and hopefully the motor and transmission sitting on the floor soon after.
The car is a 6.2litre LS3 with a 6 speed auto and LSD.
The car is a total loss having suffered an huge front 3/4 hit that drove the dogleg into the rear tyre.
4 airbags went off as did the seat belt tensioners so it was big. The roof, 1 B pillar and 3 dorrs were removed at the scene to get the occupants out.
There's still the driver's left boot jambed between the A pillar and the transmission tunnel. He took his foot with him and interstingly I haven't found a drop of blood in the car. The dash board is 200mm narrower than before the acident.
The engine is the 317kw version and as the whole car cost 3 times the price of a 1UZ half cut so I think I've done well.
I can sell off 4 wheels (the spare is the same as a front wheel so it replaces the shattered wheel) ,both tiallights, a door, a boot spoiler, the magnetic suspension from 3 corners and Brembo brakes for the same 3 corners and sundry switch panels. If I get back a grand ot two I have a very cheap engine.
If I can get the stereo and navigation running I'll use it in my project.
I figure I spent $40,000 getting simillar power out of my 1UZ and this engine has it stock so I can use the factory ECU and all the pllution gear so it will pass the ADR's without a problem.
The only damage to the engine is 2 broken coils, a smashed turtle and a damaged plastic belt idler. The headers are undamaged but the centre section of the exhaust is toast thankfully all 4 cats are good and all 3 mufflers are good.
The fuse box was right in the firing line and is beyond salvation.
I plan of getting Sideshow to look at the wiring and we'll delete what we don't need and then try and coax it into life.
I found half a hubcap off a Mazda buried amongst the carnage. Wouldn't want to have been in that car.
The wheels have yellow spray paint on them from the Police Accident Investigation Squad so it was most likely a fatal for the other vehicle.
I've been around a lot of heavilly damaged vehicles in 30 years as a motor insurer and this really impresses me with how well the car has absorbed the impact and protected the occupants.