The Holden Commodore is 30 years old this week.

[LDV60]

30 Years of Commodores – 25 October 1978 – Current.

Thought I'd throw together some consolidated info to celebrate.

As you all know pretty well the G8 is based on the VE Commodore. Well the VE is the 4th generation Commodore, which debut 25 October 1978.

Below are some details. I'm sure I've got some wrong, but here it is anyway.

VB - (1978-79)- 173ci, 202ci, 253ci, 308ci, 350ci (I think)
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/18-vb_sle-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/18-vb_sle-02.jpg

VC – (1980-82)- engines as above (I think from memory)
http://members.home.nl/godriespijkers/holden16.jpg

VH- (1982-83) 202, 253, 308
Last model with the SL/E and SL/X variants
253ci V8 rated at approximately 114kw
308ci V8 rated at approximately 122kw
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/20-VH_JPG.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/20-VH-ss-grp3.jpg

VK (1984-85) 202, 308
253ci engine no longer available.
First year model with the Calais (now the top of the line short wheel base model)
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/21-vk_calais-05.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/21-VK_ss-grp3.jpg
(Group 3 Production Car racing homologation)

VL ( 1986 – 1988)
First UNLEADED version of the Commodore.
Holden purchased the 3 Litre RB30 engine from Nissan for fitment rather than redisgn the old 202ci for UNLEADED fuel, which poved to be the strongest 6 ever in a Commodore.
Modified the 308ci (5Litre) V8 to run UNLEADED
VL Group A SS (Walkinshaw Commodore) is the precursor to the HSV marquee.
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/22-vl_range-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/22-VL-walkinshaw-02.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/22-VL-walkinshaw-01.jpg

VN (1989 -1990)
This is the Second Generagion Body style of the Commodore. (some chassis changes not incorporated in this body change)
Incorporation of the 3.8Litre Buick engine as the 6 cylinder option.

http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/24-VP_executive-04.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/23-VN_calais-05.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/23-VN_ss-01.jpg

VP (1991-1993)
Minor cosmetic, but reasonably major chassis upgrades for this model.

http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/24-VP_range.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/24-VP_JPG.jpg

VR (1993-1995)
First clear alteration to the Second Generation body design
V8 was rated at 195kw
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/25-VR_executive-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/25-VR_ss-01.jpg

VS (1995-1997)
HSV sold a stroked 308 (355ci) V8 rated at 215kw
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/26-VS_JPG.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/26-VS_ss-01.jpg

VT (1997-2000)
Third Generation body design implemented
Series 2 of the VT range incorporated the LS1 Gen3 V8
HSV sold a C5R Callaway LS1 powered GTS. (300kw)
Standard LS1 powered models rated at 250kw
The VT re-established the Commodore as Australia’s highest selling car, a mantle it held for 12 years.

http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/27-VT_executive-00.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/27-VT_range.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/27-VT_ss-01.jpg

VX
Second offering of the Third Generation body design with only slight cosmetic changes.
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/28-vx_ss-02.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/28-vx_executive-01.jpg

VY
Third offering of the Third Generation body design
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/29-vy_ss.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/29-vy_ss-wagon-01.jpg

VZ
The Fourth offering in the Third Generation body design, was leading up to the release of the VE (Fourth Generation) range of Commodore.
This model saw major engine changes.
The L76 6.0Litre (364ci) engine was introduced, with a rated power of 270kw.
The 3.6Litre Alloytec engine was introduced for the V6 range.
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/30-vz_ss-02.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/30-VZ_acclaim-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/30-vz_calais-01.jpg

VE
The Fourth (and current) Generation body style for the Commodore.
Sold as a number of derivatives, with variations of body and trim, in a number of locations.
Chevy Lumina in South America and South Africa and the Middle East.
Pontiac G8 in the US
HSV derivatives are also sold as Vauxhaul in the UK.
The engine offerings are as follows:
3.6 Litre Alloytec V6 (4 speed auto) 180kw
3.6 Litre Alloytec V6 (5 speed auto) 190kw
6.0 Litre L76 V8 270kw (inc AFM)
6.0 Litre L98 V8 270kw (NON AFM)
6.0 and 6.2 Litre (LS2 and LS3) in the HSV and GXP range
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/31-ve-omega-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/31-ve-sportwagon-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/31-ve-calais-01.jpg
http://richardlewis.is-a-geek.com/pictures/thumbs/images/commodore/31-VE_SS_V-01.jpg

[-Ray-]

Thanks for the history lesson.

[GM_Fan]

Wow. Thanks.

I'm not too fond of some of those earlier versions. There seemed to be some up and down years. The last 10 years or so have been very good to Holden. The designs are strong and I've seen alot of mention of Holden in several media outlets.

[jnak]

Some of those look surprisingly like Fords. The VH looks like a 4 door Mustang and the VP reminds me of a Taurus.

[GRRRR8]

Some of those look surprisingly like Fords. The VH looks like a 4 door Mustang and the VP reminds me of a Taurus.

Thats exactly what I thought too! Thanks for the history. I have one I need to post on here about Holden and how they were started. It was recently in MotorTrend I believe.

[LDV60]

I agree, the VP was a pretty ugly car. But then lots were at that time.

I actually owned a VH Commodore, in Blue. Was my first V8. Gutless but nicely loud. :)

The biggest change in the range over the years has been the body size. With the early Commodores being around 2700pounds and the size of a Camry. To now being a really proper sized "large car".

Then of course there being the huge power increases and conversely fuel savings.

I think my old 150hp VH V8 used to get about 10 or 11MPG