27 replies to this topic

[dascind]

Members

 

Today, we recognised the 40th anniversary of when the first Commodore was made here.

 

Yes, a time when we made things in this country .....

[Balfizar]

Members

 

Today, we recognised the 40th anniversary of when the first Commodore was made here.

 

Yes, a time when we made things in this country .....

Historically - probably the the "most successful"  circuit/rally Holden ever raced. more than likely due to its longevity as a production car.

[Shiney005]

I've got a VH SS, and it is such a nice car to drive. Light years ahead of the Torana. This is why the nameplate has been around so long. The Commodore has always been a bloody good car.  

[Indy Orange]

I've got a VH SS, and it is such a nice car to drive. Light years ahead of the Torana. This is why the nameplate has been around so long. The Commodore has always been a bloody good car.

I agree Laurie,I owned a VH SL/E 4.2 ,so nice to drive ,it had a blue velour interior ,electric windows ,all the gear and sounded great .Miss that car.

Edited by Indy Orange, 27 October 2018 - 10:30 AM.

[Ice]

I've got a VH SS, and it is such a nice car to drive. Light years ahead of the Torana. This is why the nameplate has been around so long. The Commodore has always been a bloody good car.  

Pick of the bunch for me was my VL Calais i owned for 15 years most reliable car ive owned
i still think the VL was the best car Holden ever made imho

[Shiney005]

V8 or 6 Gene?

[Ice]

V8 or 6 Gene?

Only the 6 Non turbo unfortunately Laurie

[Indy Orange]

Very nice car!

Attached Files

•  image.jpeg   278.54K   5 downloads

[Shiney005]

I don't know much about them, but all of the VH SS that I've seen have that colour interior on the brochure, but mine has the maroon the same as the Group 3s for some reason. It was a one owner when I bought it, and the VH side skirts and bonnet scoop, along with the VC front spoiler were already on it. The original 15 inch rims came with it though, so I will end up restoring it back to factory one day.

 

 2 V.H. SS small (1).jpg   108.19K   7 downloads

[Shiney005]

Only the 6 Non turbo unfortunately Laurie

They still went good though.  I had the injected 202 in a VK, and although it would have had around the same horsepower of the Nissan unit, it was nowhere near as smooth. Or as good on fuel.

[Balfizar]

I don't know much about them, but all of the VH SS that I've seen have that colour interior on the brochure, but mine has the maroon the same as the Group 3s for some reason. It was a one owner when I bought it, and the VH side skirts and bonnet scoop, along with the VC front spoiler were already on it. The original 15 inch rims came with it though, so I will end up restoring it back to factory one day.

 

2 V.H. SS small (1).jpg

I was so impressed I bought 2.  I can't drive both at once so I put my sons in the other and race them.

https://photos.app.g...tyKdSSimw762BD6

Edited by Balfizar, 28 October 2018 - 12:00 PM.

[dascind]

Nice pics

[RallyRed]

linky no worky?

[lx308]

The old man had just ordered his 1st ever new car at that time, 5.0 auto SL Kingswood. He was offered an equalivant VB Commodore for the same money. He turned it down because it was the 1st of it's model.

 

He'd just sold his red HQ SS because the compression test indicated the motor was on it's way out. Turned out the compression tester was on it's way out, not the old 253...

[Shiney005]

Unfortunately, my old man never got to buy a Commodore. Not after the experience he had with his 253 HJ Kingswood. It was an absolute bucket of pus. Had to be a Monday car. Up until then he had owned an EK, EH, HR, and HQ, but the HJ was the last Holden he ever bought. I took him for a drive in the VF a couple of months ago and he was blown away by it.

 

EK with the old man on the left.

 474. Terry & Larry Ferris. c. 1963a..jpg   184.81K   3 downloads

 

EH in a Tingle tree near Walpole.

 512. Giant Tingle, Vally of Giants. 1964..jpg   189.62K   3 downloads

 

EH in background while "bush shearing".

 (2022) Crutching Emu Downs, Apr.1971.jpg   130.91K   2 downloads

 

The only pic of the HR I could find.

 (2050) The new home on Cootamundra, 1972.jpg   149.64K   3 downloads

 

My old man and the next door neighbor took their HQ and XY utes to Mitchell Falls in 1974 despite the fact that only the army had used that particular road up until then. It was considered too dangerous for the four wheel driving public in the late 80s, so the government built the road that exists today.

 (2184) Steady as she goes, 1974.jpg   262.79K   2 downloads

 

 (2185) Terry makes the grade, 1974.jpg   240.92K   3 downloads

 

The car that finished it with the youngest of my siblings trying out his new set of wheels.

 1978-12-25, 1. David on new bike1..jpg   726.89K   2 downloads

 

[Indy Orange]

Great pics Laurie.A Harvey EK eh?

[Ice]

frOck me look at the size of that shotgun you couldn't miss lol

[Shiney005]

frOck me look at the size of that shotgun you couldn't miss lol

I have it here. It's a Webley and it kicks like a mule.

Great pics Laurie.A Harvey EK eh?

Yep. He grew up in Brunswick. When he moved out to this block after he finished school, he took the EK into Boyup Brook to get some local plates and was handed BU 275.  If my son takes my ute to town he still gets grief from old timers who reckon that we shouldn't have got such a low number, and he is third generation in this district!!!

I should mention that after owning 11 Commodores, I reckon I have more than made up for dads lack of enthusiasm for them. I just don't know what I will be buying in 5 years time.

Edited by Shiney005, 30 October 2018 - 10:51 PM.

[Indy Orange]

That's it Laurie,lots of competition in small towns as you probably know ,to get the lowest possible number you can ,like BU 5 or KO 6 .They stay in the family for a very long time ,handed down.I think the shire has BU 1 .Is Peters in Brunswick still used ? Nice old building with history .

Attached Files

•  image.jpeg   85.04K   4 downloads

Edited by Indy Orange, 30 October 2018 - 11:16 PM.

[Ice]

Brunswick Juction driven past that a few times back in the day on the way to Margs

[Shiney005]

The Peter's Creameries Building is still there, but it is only a depot. There is no value adding or packaging going on any more. Peter's, Browne's, Master's and Harvey Fresh are all overseas owned now. 

Anyway, back on topic. I found a rare colour photo of the Commodore development mule the other day.

 

 Wheels Dec 78 LH with Commodore running gear1.jpg   410.83K   2 downloads

 

This one is supposedly the first licenced prototype.

 

 .5.JPG   71.13K   2 downloads

 

It could have been much worse. They almost gave us a super basic Statesman as a new Kingswood.

 

 Holden_WB_Kingswood_Sedan_prototype_(1979)2.jpg   152.96K   3 downloads

 

And there was also this.........

 

 .6.JPG   49.77K   2 downloads

[Shiney005]

Having the Arabs dictate the price of oil in the 70s certainly didn't help either. It's why Chrysler ended up being a Sigma, and even Ford made the XD smaller than the XC in response to it.  If the VB came out with the injected red 202 that eventually came with the VK it would have blown everyone else out of the water. (It would have also been the end of the Holden V8 though.) 

[dascind]

The pic above of the HR in the driveway brings back a memory - got my licence on one - the station wagon model. More body roll than a ship at sea!