For you guys who havnt seen the original VB Holden Commodore
Discussion
Some dude selling one off. Looks a shocker. But thats basically what the Monaro started out from. Actually it might be a VC model. About 135KW for the 5L. I think there was also a 4.2L model, which was a 253ci. Yeah looks like an opel rekford. 4 speed manual. M21 or Trimatic 3 speed trans.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/144704.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/144704.htm
It looks just like an early '80s MK1 Vauxhall Carlton/Viceroy, which was the Vauxhall version of the Opel Rekord E/Commodore C. Absolutely zero street cred in the UK I'm afraid. It would only be of interest to some one into 'odd ball' cars - like me! I once owned a RHD South-African version of the Opel Rekord D saloon - a 1974 Chevrolet 4100 saloon. Same body as the Rekord (except for twin headlamps) under the bonnet it had a hefty 4.1 litre cast iron straight six - and no power steering!
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 14th March 20:09
AussieRules said:
"Bodywork in excellent condition" ?????????????
And if all he managed to do was remove the front grille I don't think he was very committed to the project.
And if all he managed to do was remove the front grille I don't think he was very committed to the project.
Hehe, well there aren't any fist sized holes in it but it probably wouldn't take long to find some horribly rusty bits. Looks like it'll need a complete strip down, welding where needed and a LOT of work to make it good. Could be a good kit donor but it'd be a shame to bin such a rare car (in this country) for parts.
Its true they were almost direct copies of the Opels of the day, and used the longer Senator front on the Rekord body with local drivetrains and rack and pinion steering.
If the truths known, he probably decided it was too far gone to proceed with any resto work! hehe
Even down here it would most likely have gone to the wreckers yard ages ago.
But in good nick, those oldies arent too bad, especially the early Brock ones.
I had a few of them years ago, a 78 VB SL 4.2lt (253), a 80 VC Brock 5.0lt (308) #25, and a 82 VH SL/E 4.2.
When the old Holden 6's couldnt pass emissions back in about 86, Holden turned to Nissan to supply one of their engines, the RB30 3.0lt 6 for the VL as a stop gap engine till the 3.8lt V6 Buick engine was ready for the VN Commodore in 1988.
A 2.0lt version, the RB20 was also exported to a few countries.
Holden also did a turbo version of the RB30, which were quite quick in their day, and you'd probably know the RB26 twin turbo version that Nissan used for quite a few years in the GTR.
If the truths known, he probably decided it was too far gone to proceed with any resto work! hehe
Even down here it would most likely have gone to the wreckers yard ages ago.
But in good nick, those oldies arent too bad, especially the early Brock ones.
I had a few of them years ago, a 78 VB SL 4.2lt (253), a 80 VC Brock 5.0lt (308) #25, and a 82 VH SL/E 4.2.
When the old Holden 6's couldnt pass emissions back in about 86, Holden turned to Nissan to supply one of their engines, the RB30 3.0lt 6 for the VL as a stop gap engine till the 3.8lt V6 Buick engine was ready for the VN Commodore in 1988.
A 2.0lt version, the RB20 was also exported to a few countries.
Holden also did a turbo version of the RB30, which were quite quick in their day, and you'd probably know the RB26 twin turbo version that Nissan used for quite a few years in the GTR.
ringram said:
But thats basically what the Monaro started out from. Actually it might be a VC model.
Oooh! The pedant in me wants to nail you for that Ringram!!
Technically the Monaro had nothing to do with that car. The name Monaro was applied to a coupe version of a VT commodore (probably the commodore least linked to a model from outside Australia) - thats true. But the Monaro (as Im sure you know) started from one of these:
Gents (Monaro owners), I present to you, the first ever incarnation of your current car:
Bring on the corrections from those more knowledgeable than me
madazrx7 said:
Reminds me of the old VH dunnydore that my (ex)wife used to have. 4.2L V8 auto with (gasp) 100KW!! (about 130BHP!) and that was with a big 4 barrel carburettor!
Gday, another Perthite I see Beer o'clock here now 
V-Car said:
stuff.
Gday, another Perthite I see
Beer o'clock here now Edited by madazrx7 on Friday 16th March 08:55
Perthites unite!!
V-Car said:
Its true they were almost direct copies of the Opels of the day, and used the longer Senator front on the Rekord body with local drivetrains and rack and pinion steering.
The front and rear suspensions were unique to Holden as well, along with items like HVAC. Still, I'm not certain Holden remember the VB-VK/Camira days with any fondness....
FFD said:
The front and rear suspensions were unique to Holden as well, along with items like HVAC.
I think you'll find that the suspension of early ones were exactly the same as the Opels, though strengthened.
However it took Holden over 10 years to introduce the IRS in the VQ Statesmans in 1990 that the Opel Senator had had from day one in 78.
Even the extra rear suspension control link that was introduced in the VX II Commodore in 2001, had also been around for over 10 years in the Lotus Carlton.
The VE is the first Australian Commodore to have its own unique design suspension and platform.
The VH was the first to get slightly altered panels and lights, more so in the VL, and then, though looking similar to the Omega, the VN was slightly larger in all dimensions.
V-Car said:
FFD said:
The front and rear suspensions were unique to Holden as well, along with items like HVAC.
I think you'll find that the suspension of early ones were exactly the same as the Opels, though strengthened.
The VE is the first Australian Commodore to have its own unique design suspension and platform.
The VH was the first to get slightly altered panels and lights, more so in the VL, and then, though looking similar to the Omega, the VN was slightly larger in all dimensions.
The rear suspension of the VB-VL was pretty must a carry over from the HQ-HZ, complete with the same Holden built axle, drive shaft and transmission. The front was different in detail; it did need to support the all cast iron Holden 5L V8 of the day, and "fit" with the variable ratio rack and pinion steering. The Holden V8 was much heavier engine than the 2.8L 6 that was the largest engine that Opel used.
There were plenty of pre Commodore Holdens that had unique styling, engines and suspensions etc, as did the VB Commodore's larger brother, the WB Statesman. http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10
Edited by FFD on Sunday 18th March 22:16
Edited by FFD on Sunday 18th March 22:22
Edited by FFD on Sunday 18th March 22:26
FFD said:
The rear suspension of the VB-VL was pretty must a carry over from the HQ-HZ, complete with the same Holden built axle, drive shaft and transmission.
The only similarity of the VB's Opel rear suspension to the Holden HQ/WB was that they both had upper and lower arms, and coil springs.
The Commodores arms were parallel, with the diff located by a panhard rod, whereas the Holden's upper arms were angled out which located the axle centrally.
The diff was Holdens, but the tail shaft was a two piece unit with a centre bearing.
The Holden had a one piece tailshaft.
The Holdens had 'walk-off' front panels via a bolt on sub-frame/chassis, and upper and lower control arms with coil springs, the Commodore had a MacPherson strut front end.
Really, the Commodore owes nothing to the earlier Holdens, except they both shared similar local engines, gearboxes and (narrower) diffs, except the short lived first 4cyl local Commodore which used the Opel 1.9lt engine.
The next 4cyl model (Sunbird) had the 'Starfire' 4 which was the Holden 6 with 2 rear cylinders chopped off.
Toyota even tried using this Holden 4 in its Corona for one model, but went back to their own engines as the Starfire was such a poor design.
The only other 4cyl Commodore was an export only version of the VN/VR which used the GM 'Family Two' (Camira) engine.
The last true Aussie designed Holden was the HQ/WB from 71/84 until the release of the VE last year.
The Commodores were all German Opel designs, adapted to local conditions with similar styling, less so in later years.
Edited by V-Car on Sunday 18th March 23:27
V-Car said:
FFD said:
The rear suspension of the VB-VL was pretty must a carry over from the HQ-HZ, complete with the same Holden built axle, drive shaft and transmission.
The only similarity of the VB's Opel rear suspension to the Holden HQ/WB was that they both had upper and lower arms, and coil springs.
The Commodores arms were parallel, with the diff located by a panhard rod, whereas the Holden's upper arms were angled out which located the axle centrally.
Edited by V-Car on Sunday 18th March 23:27
Yes, but a pretty minor evolutionary step for "solid" rear axle designs.
V-Car said:
[quote=FFD]
Really, the Commodore owes nothing to the earlier Holdens, except they both shared similar local engines, gearboxes and (narrower) diffs, except the short lived first 4cyl local Commodore which used the Opel 1.9lt engine.
The next 4cyl model (Sunbird) had the 'Starfire' 4 which was the Holden 6 with 2 rear cylinders chopped off.
Toyota even tried using this Holden 4 in its Corona for one model, but went back to their own engines as the Starfire was such a poor design.
Really, the Commodore owes nothing to the earlier Holdens, except they both shared similar local engines, gearboxes and (narrower) diffs, except the short lived first 4cyl local Commodore which used the Opel 1.9lt engine.
The next 4cyl model (Sunbird) had the 'Starfire' 4 which was the Holden 6 with 2 rear cylinders chopped off.
Toyota even tried using this Holden 4 in its Corona for one model, but went back to their own engines as the Starfire was such a poor design.
Edited by V-Car on Sunday 18th March 23:27
Wasn't Sunbird a Torana variant?
Edited by FFD on Monday 19th March 00:44
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