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1981 Holden VH Commodore Industry Evolution Review

September 2008
Filed under: HOLDEN Car News | HOLDEN Headlines

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This year, Holden will commemorate the 60th anniversary of Australia’s own car, the 48-215. In the countdown to this significant anniversary, Holden is revisiting the iconic models that cemented its place in Australian history.

In the 1980s, Holden’s world changed dramatically. In what proved to be a particularly turbulent era for the company, Holden partnered with other automotive manufacturers and shared engineering solutions as it adapted to a rapidly changing market place.

On the back of the first big oil shock in the 1970s, Holden introduced the smaller VB Commodore, based on a European design. The company invested $110 million in Commodore’s design and development, with the drivetrain, suspension and steering developed locally by Holden engineers.

Commodore would kick-start a new era of cars specifically designed for the decade we know as “the eighties”.

Holden VH Commodore – 1981-1983

The VH was the third Commodore series in just four years and signified the model’s gradual refinement.

Improved NVH characteristics and city cycle fuel economy were VH’s significant achievements, with 14 per cent better six-cylinder economy and a 12.5 per cent gain in four-cylinder fuel economy.

A subtle reworking of the vehicle’s front end gave the VH Commodore a longer, lower appearance. A choice of seven exterior colours was offered and a newly designed leather interior was added to the options list.

Perhaps the most significant advance was the introduction of sophisticated computer electronics, including the electric spark selection black box (four-cylinder only) and a seven function trip computer (SL/E model only). It was the first time such a system had been fitted to a local mass-produced car.

VH Facts

Base price at introduction: $8,366 (SL four-cylinder sedan); $9,066 (SL six-cylinder sedan); $14,861 (SL/E six-cylinder sedan).

Total number built: 141,018

Models: SL sedan, SL station wagon; SL/X sedan, SL/X station wagon; SS sedan; SL/E sedan.

Engines: 1.9-litre four-cylinder, 2.85-litre six-cylinder, 3.3-litre six-cylinder, 4.2-litre V8, 5.0-litre V8.

Transmissions: Four-speed manual, five-speed manual gearbox, three-speed Trimatic automatic and three-speed Turbohydramatic 350 automatic.

Dimensions (basic sedan): Length – 4706mm

Width – 1722mm

Wheelbase – 2668mm

Also in 1981-83:

The four millionth Holden, a VC Commodore, was produced. It was driven off the line by Sir Laurence Hartnett, Holden’s managing director from 1934-1946, in recognition of his role as the father of the Holden car project.

A new version of the Gemini TE sedan, with a 1.8-litre diesel engine, reaches the market and was the first diesel passenger car to be manufactured locally.

The Camira sedan was launched as Holden’s version of the new international ‘J-car’. It was the first front-wheel drive car produced by Holden.

Production at Holden’s Fishermans Bend Family II engine plant reached 1000 units per day. By the end of 1983, Holden exported its 250,000th engine from the plant.

VL Commodore – 1986-1987

Although it did not represent a major model change, the advent of the very well received VL Commodore model series signified Holden’s most aggressive market entry since the introduction of VB.

Its predecessor, the VK, had brought markedly upgraded specifications and equipment levels, including a new six window styling concept that made Commodore appear larger and helped to arrest a serious sales slump.

Equally big news, in line with the new era of unleaded petrol, was the introduction of a high-tech (Nissan-sourced) 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, teamed with electronically- controlled automatic transmission.

The new engine boosted power by 33 per cent while delivering 15 per cent better fuel economy. A turbocharged version, bringing “European sophistication and sports car performance” soon followed, and next, an unleaded petrol version of the famed Holden V8 made its return.

Reinforcing the performance image, the VL Commodore was produced in two striking SS Group A race-homologated versions: the first (1986) a Brock HDT Group A SS, in deep red featuring a bonnet air intake scoop, the second (1988) the fuel-injected ‘Darth Vader’ Group A supercar in silver blue, produced by the newly formed Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).

VL Facts

Base price at introduction: $13,830 (SL six-cylinder manual sedan); $15,150 (Executive six-cylinder automatic sedan); $18,381 (SL six-cylinder turbo manual sedan), $23,540 ( Calais automatic sedan).

Total number built: 151,801

Models: Commodore SL sedan and station wagon, Commodore Berlina sedan and station wagon, Commodore SS sedan, Calais sedan and station wagon.

Engines: 3.0-litre EFI six-cylinder, 3.0-litre turbocharged EFI six-cylinder, 4.9-litre V8.

Transmissions: Five-speed manual, four-speed automatic and three-speed Trimatic automatic (V8 only).

Dimensions (basic sedan): Length – 4776mm

Width – 1722mm

Wheelbase – 2668mm

Also in 1986-1987:

Holden offered a limited edition, high-performance Group A version of the VL Commodore V8 with a five-speed manual gearbox. Eagerly snapped up, it would be the last official product from the collaboration between Peter Brock HDT and Holden.

The pending formation of a new joint venture company was announced by Holden’s Motor Company Ltd, AMI/Toyota Ltd and Toyota Manufacturing Australia Ltd. The new company was to coordinate design, engineering and formulate product-sharing strategies for locally-produced Holden and Toyota passenger cars, to ensure the most efficient use of existing production facilities.

VN Commodore – 1988-1990

In a major generational change, the aero styled VN returned Holden to the full-sized family car fold. It won all three automotive magazine 1988Car of the Year awards and was a sales winner right from the start (the Executive model confidently targeted at fleet buyers), taking Holden back to its accustomed position on top of the Australian passenger car market in 1989.

Holden designers and engineers took a wind tunnel-influenced Opel Omega design and altered it substantially and ingeniously; widening, re-styling and re-engineering to meet Australian criteria. Interior roominess, torquey performance and chassis dynamics topped the list.

Reflecting an emphasis on aerodynamics as a way of improving performance and fuel consumption, the VN offered such features as flush-fitting side glass, steeply raked windscreen and low-profile headlights.

Holden also introduced as standard a larger, Buick-sourced 3800 EFI V6 (delivering as much power as the previous carburettored V8), teamed with locally made five-speed manual or premium imported four-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission. Standard on SS and optional across the range came a fuel-injected 5.0-litre V8 producing 165kW.

For the first time, the Commodore wagon was built on a longer wheelbase. Entirely new interiors featured a one-piece dash fascia with wide centre console and binnacle-style controls.

After an absence of nearly seven years, the Holden passenger car derived ute made a comeback in 1990 with an all-new VB-based VG Utility and S Utility.

VN Facts

Price at introduction: $20,0140 (Executive six-cylinder manual sedan); $21,665 (S six-cylinder automatic sedan); $25,375 (SS V8 manual sedan), $31,265 ( Calais six-cylinder sedan).

Total number built: 215,180

Models: Commodore Executive sedan and station wagon, Commodore Berlina sedan and station wagon, Commodore S sedan and station wagon, Commodore SS sedan, Calais sedan, VG Utility, VG S Utility, VQ Statesman saloon and VQ Caprice saloon.

Engines: 3.8-litre EFI six-cylinder, 5.0-litre EFI V8.

Transmissions: Five-speed manual, four-speed Turbohydramatic 700 automatic.

Dimensions (basic sedan): Length – 4850mm

Width – 1794mm

Wheelbase – 2731mm

Also in 1988-1990:

The one-millionth Holden Family II four-cylinder engine was exported.

Model sharing with Toyota starts, leading to the Toyota Lexcen (Commodore), Holden Nova (Toyota Corolla) and Holden Apollo (Toyota Camry).

The Holden Commodore was Australia’s best-selling car for 1989, selling 70,831 units against Ford Falcon’s 64,281 and Mitsubishi Magna’s 36,423.

The five millionth Holden rolled down the production line, highlighting more than twice as many Holden cars have been built in Australia than any other model.

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