Corsa Specialised Vehicles (CSV) is a small-scale automaker established in 1994 that is based in Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
Since its founder, Peter Dichiera (an engine builder and 1970s drag racer),[1] decided that CSV would not simply build modified versions of existing Holden cars, in 1996 it obtained government approval under the Australian Design Rules (ADR) scheme.
[2] In so doing, CSV became a "secondary manufacturer"[3] in the same mold as its established large-scale rival, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).
The interest arising from the favourable results of this new high performance sedan against an HSV equivalent, as published in a national automotive magazine,[5] caused CSV to build a further two vehicles by special order and begin exhibiting at Australian motorshows.
For example, the Mondo was offered as the GT305 (featuring a 5.7-litre LS1 producing 305 kW (409 hp), stainless steel high output headers, stainless steel exhaust, Harrop brakes, Koni suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels and 245/35ZR19 tyres), a "Stage 2" GT350R (featuring a blueprinted version of the base engine) and the GT400R (instead powered by a 6.5-litre V8 engine).