Magnificent version of the early models. I did my driving test in my Dad's VB Commodore, bring back a lot of good memories. Having owned 6 Holden's I still have trouble believing it's ended up how it has.. Never ,ever thought Holden would close down in my lifetime .
Thanks for showing us this, and thanks to the owner. I had a blue VB SL manual back in the day. The engine was nothing flash, but it sure cornered well. Brings back a lot of memories. Couldn't help noticing the ranger in the mirror tailgating your lovely heritage car when you were doing the speed limit.
Interesting that's exactly what my dad said. Granddad had a 1980 VB SL/E, and Dad's memory of it? "Beautiful car, still one of the best handling I've ever driven (still remembers Radial Tuned Suspension) but couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding!"
Absolutely stunning VC Holden Commodore.My first car was an 1979 Holden VB Commodore in 1985 3.3 manual base model.Love these cars so much.Thanks for the video mate.
Family friends had a grey VC wagon back in the day. Red velour interior. Such memories of rolling in the back seat. The plush feel of it all. And them hitting the carby with a hammer on a cold Tasmanian morning. Our family had a VL sedan, so electronic injection. To a little lad, I was perplexed with hitting the carby/air filter when our car worked perfectly every start. What a time warp.
Growing up in the 80s these were by far the most common car I saw on the road. VB-VK models were practically infesting the roads back then and I don't often see one today. I love the design. It was some of Opel's best work ever. Very efficient, handsome and clean. A lot of people think Leo Pruneau of GM designed it, but it was actually a German guy at Opel. He designed the Record, which was identical from the A pillars, back. Holden demanded the Aussie version be designed with Senator front panels and wheelbase.
Been driving old commodores for many years. My current daily has been with me 16 years now. A 1988 VL 5 speed manual. It has a/c, power steering, and 4 wheel disc brakes. All original and used a lot. Never get tired of the attention it gets when I use it for normal driving to the supermarket or post office and general use, road trips, dirt roads, on the beach, and even towing on occasion. Not on club rego, it's driven not hidden. And it is a dream to drive too. Light, nimble, economical, and very comfortable. Not to mention small and compact compared to the endless amount of Ford Rangers and Dodge Wankers on the road these days. Fits in Woolies carpark with room to spare. What's not to like?
I find some irony with the venetian blind. In VC & VH Holden offered them as an accessory in white. When they released the VK they changed them to black. Now you see dozens of VLs running around with white venetians, and this VC is running a black one! This is a car that defines the era of being able to pick & choose from a vast array of factory and dealer options - first kicked off with the HK, but wound right down by VK. I got a broadcast sheet out of a similar VC L that was optioned up with factory fitted Harrison AC (same as the SLE) controlled by a dial to the left of the steering column. dealers could only fit Air international AC. It also had cloth trim, power steering, 202/trimatic, LH mirror, dipping interior mirror, drivers seat height adjustment, intermittent wipers and retractable rear seat belts. All of this was noted on the broadcast sheet too. It was the same colour as this one - Torquay Sand. You can see why Holden were starting to lose money. So many options. They did consolidate options into packs to try to simplify things, and pushed a lot of the options out to dealer level - all in an effort to streamline production and save money. Another reason for the rarity of L14/M20 (202 & Aussie 4 speed) is because NSW had tighter standards for ADR27 and the blue 3.3 manual didn’t pass. Only the auto did. Even if you brought one in from interstate, they wouldn’t let you register it). To get a manual 6 in NSW you had to buy a 2.85 and these often came with the MC6 trans (the Filipino box). I work with a Filipino guy who did his fitting/machining apprenticeship in the toolroom at that gearbox plant in the 80s, before moving to the naval yards doing hydraulic fitting as a contractor when the gearbox factory closed. When he came to Australia in the 90s he wanted to buy a Holden, because as a kid he lusted over the locally made Holden Torana, but his family were too poor to afford a car.
Holden were losing money due to having too many production plants and models vs the volume in the late 70's, pack options on early Commodores had little to do with it. Additionally, there is a difference between ADR 27 & ADR 27A with the latter being enforced nationwide from 1976 onwards. It is true NSW had a stricter interpretation of 27A for a period. The MC6 transmission was used predominantly in 4 Cyl Commodores due to its lighter weight & lower first gear ratio but did make its way on sixes occasionally depending on the plant.
I had a VB with that air conditioning system fitted. There was a dial where you stated that worked in conjunction with two slide controls further left. I never did figure out how it worked, and it used international symbols which made no sense to me. The windshield demister was so pissweak that you had to use the air conditioning to clear it, but it was a useless system that neither cooled or heated the car properly. An HG Kingswood I earlier had, used a far simpler system of slide controls for every function, and the demister was powerful. The heater was was not intensely warm, but warm enough to keep you from freezing once underway. Holden quality slipped once the Commodore era began. The VB had many other quality issues which I won't go into, but they where bad enough to be a nuisance when used everyday. I've owned a 2012 Corolla sedan since 2013 and after 147, 000 km, have never had a drama with her. Toyota understands that the car serves you, rather than the other way around.
@@jb7591 Well.......I've had my big, powerful cars. Don't worry about that. An XE Fairmont with a worked 302 being one. Once you get older, you place a priority on reliability, comfort and safety. I can now drive a "boring" car knowing I've I tried a lot of variety in my youth. Given most of tomorrow's car's will be driverless EV's, a day will come when people hanker for cars like the one I drive now.
I owned a VC Commodore back in the 1980s it was agood car the one l owned had cloth seats air-conditioning height adjustable drivers seat and variable speed wipers and the VC was automatic only had two problems with the VC the main seal went simply had another engine fitted and were the drivers seat belt attached to the floor it started to pull and break the metal and a panel beater welded up
Ah man flashback to my youth in the 90s where i would pick up these as grandpa specials for cheap, hammer them into the ground then buy another. Owned five of these during that period autos and manuals, modified and unmodified. Wish i still had one
The VC Commodore was the introduction of the Blue motor with the electronic distributor and varijet carby. They were a step up from the VB series but the brakes were still rubbish.
i had a blue 1 in the same specs this 1 looks like it has a/cond and what other switches up there whow brings back memories i ended up getting my converted from manual to auto dumb move now i look back
5 speed? Was that an option? The 173 was a great little engine in my opinion. Smoother and less thirsty than the 202, although you could tell it had to work a bit harder. It was absolutely perfect in the LH SL.
presumably the owner of this vc used the VL diff with the lower ratio to get the car off the line quicker. The standard ratio for the 4 speed manual 6 was 3.36 which is not a big difference.
Almost in the orange at idle, I'm guessing that's the heads and cam making it read a bit hot, stock it should be about bang on 40 and lifting off and coasting should shoot it straight to the end at 60. I'm not real cluey as to what can make it go out of calibration though short of a vacuum leak
Holy shit mate are you driving around the Baxter/Pearcedale area? Ive seen that old girl getting around I usually take my VC two tone SL/E around there for a spin quite a bit.
@@Eric-kn4yn this is true. First owner lived at Valla Beach and she sold it when it was about 5 years old. When I bought it, there was just a small bubble under he window rubber. FYI, Endrust treatment does nothing. Original Holden dealer did an Endrust treatment in 1987.
Magnificent version of the early models. I did my driving test in my Dad's VB Commodore, bring back a lot of good memories. Having owned 6 Holden's I still have trouble believing it's ended up how it has.. Never ,ever thought Holden would close down in my lifetime .
Standard ratio for 202 auto was 3.08 (GU4) on early Commodores.
Thanks for showing us this, and thanks to the owner.
I had a blue VB SL manual back in the day. The engine was nothing flash, but it sure cornered well. Brings back a lot of memories.
Couldn't help noticing the ranger in the mirror tailgating your lovely heritage car when you were doing the speed limit.
Interesting that's exactly what my dad said. Granddad had a 1980 VB SL/E, and Dad's memory of it? "Beautiful car, still one of the best handling I've ever driven (still remembers Radial Tuned Suspension) but couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding!"
Absolutely stunning VC Holden Commodore.My first car was an 1979 Holden VB Commodore in 1985 3.3 manual base model.Love these cars so much.Thanks for the video mate.
Thanks mate! I loved it making it!
Family friends had a grey VC wagon back in the day. Red velour interior. Such memories of rolling in the back seat. The plush feel of it all. And them hitting the carby with a hammer on a cold Tasmanian morning. Our family had a VL sedan, so electronic injection. To a little lad, I was perplexed with hitting the carby/air filter when our car worked perfectly every start.
What a time warp.
Growing up in the 80s these were by far the most common car I saw on the road. VB-VK models were practically infesting the roads back then and I don't often see one today.
I love the design. It was some of Opel's best work ever. Very efficient, handsome and clean. A lot of people think Leo Pruneau of GM designed it, but it was actually a German guy at Opel. He designed the Record, which was identical from the A pillars, back. Holden demanded the Aussie version be designed with Senator front panels and wheelbase.
Been driving old commodores for many years. My current daily has been with me 16 years now. A 1988 VL 5 speed manual. It has a/c, power steering, and 4 wheel disc brakes. All original and used a lot. Never get tired of the attention it gets when I use it for normal driving to the supermarket or post office and general use, road trips, dirt roads, on the beach, and even towing on occasion. Not on club rego, it's driven not hidden. And it is a dream to drive too. Light, nimble, economical, and very comfortable. Not to mention small and compact compared to the endless amount of Ford Rangers and Dodge Wankers on the road these days. Fits in Woolies carpark with room to spare. What's not to like?
My second car was a vc auto. Nice car. A/C came in handy for summer.
Sure does bring back memories. I had exactly the same interior an manual an a " L" . Mine was white with the gold P8n Stripping
Sweet! Brings back some amazing memories.
My first car was a VC commodore L 3.3 Auto.. no air no steer.. loved that car it was written off by a rear end accident.
Need to find a 5.0 V8 manual VC or VH SL/E to a review
This VC Commodore brings back good memories of the three VB Commodores I owned in the 90's.
Thats so neat, even a high km one would be an awesome daily to get around in
I find some irony with the venetian blind. In VC & VH Holden offered them as an accessory in white. When they released the VK they changed them to black. Now you see dozens of VLs running around with white venetians, and this VC is running a black one!
This is a car that defines the era of being able to pick & choose from a vast array of factory and dealer options - first kicked off with the HK, but wound right down by VK.
I got a broadcast sheet out of a similar VC L that was optioned up with factory fitted Harrison AC (same as the SLE) controlled by a dial to the left of the steering column. dealers could only fit Air international AC.
It also had cloth trim, power steering, 202/trimatic, LH mirror, dipping interior mirror, drivers seat height adjustment, intermittent wipers and retractable rear seat belts. All of this was noted on the broadcast sheet too. It was the same colour as this one - Torquay Sand.
You can see why Holden were starting to lose money. So many options. They did consolidate options into packs to try to simplify things, and pushed a lot of the options out to dealer level - all in an effort to streamline production and save money.
Another reason for the rarity of L14/M20 (202 & Aussie 4 speed) is because NSW had tighter standards for ADR27 and the blue 3.3 manual didn’t pass. Only the auto did. Even if you brought one in from interstate, they wouldn’t let you register it). To get a manual 6 in NSW you had to buy a 2.85 and these often came with the MC6 trans (the Filipino box).
I work with a Filipino guy who did his fitting/machining apprenticeship in the toolroom at that gearbox plant in the 80s, before moving to the naval yards doing hydraulic fitting as a contractor when the gearbox factory closed. When he came to Australia in the 90s he wanted to buy a Holden, because as a kid he lusted over the locally made Holden Torana, but his family were too poor to afford a car.
Holden were losing money due to having too many production plants and models vs the volume in the late 70's, pack options on early Commodores had little to do with it. Additionally, there is a difference between ADR 27 & ADR 27A with the latter being enforced nationwide from 1976 onwards. It is true NSW had a stricter interpretation of 27A for a period. The MC6 transmission was used predominantly in 4 Cyl Commodores due to its lighter weight & lower first gear ratio but did make its way on sixes occasionally depending on the plant.
I had a VB with that air conditioning system fitted. There was a dial where you stated that worked in conjunction with two slide controls further left.
I never did figure out how it worked, and it used international symbols which made no sense to me. The windshield demister was so pissweak that you had to use the air conditioning to clear it, but it was a useless system that neither cooled or heated the car properly.
An HG Kingswood I earlier had, used a far simpler system of slide controls for every function, and the demister was powerful. The heater was was not intensely warm, but warm enough to keep you from freezing once underway.
Holden quality slipped once the Commodore era began. The VB had many other quality issues which I won't go into, but they where bad enough to be a nuisance when used everyday.
I've owned a 2012 Corolla sedan since 2013 and after 147, 000 km, have never had a drama with her. Toyota understands that the car serves you, rather than the other way around.
@@noelgibson5956 mate, a Corolla is boring as bat shit.
@@jb7591
Well.......I've had my big, powerful cars. Don't worry about that. An XE Fairmont with a worked 302 being one.
Once you get older, you place a priority on reliability, comfort and safety.
I can now drive a "boring" car knowing I've I tried a lot of variety in my youth.
Given most of tomorrow's car's will be driverless EV's, a day will come when people hanker for cars like the one I drive now.
I owned a VC Commodore back in the 1980s it was agood car the one l owned had cloth seats air-conditioning height adjustable drivers seat and variable speed wipers and the VC was automatic only had two problems with the VC the main seal went simply had another engine fitted and were the drivers seat belt attached to the floor it started to pull and break the metal and a panel beater welded up
Ah man flashback to my youth in the 90s where i would pick up these as grandpa specials for cheap, hammer them into the ground then buy another. Owned five of these during that period autos and manuals, modified and unmodified. Wish i still had one
The VC Commodore was the introduction of the Blue motor with the electronic distributor and varijet carby.
They were a step up from the VB series but the brakes were still rubbish.
Vc was a pretty unique model ive got a vk berlina in good order sitting in a shed
Great under rated cars the VC ( this comes from a Ford bloke hence my name ) good stuff commodore man :)
Oh memories……
nice video mate, I enjoyed it
i had a blue 1 in the same specs this 1 looks like it has a/cond and what other switches up there whow brings back memories i ended up getting my converted from manual to auto dumb move now i look back
vc's are nice
I would like to drive one today, lucky man you are.
@@kajak012 extremely!
I had a 79 L model VB
173/5 speed
So long ago now on my Ps 1983
5 speed? Was that an option? The 173 was a great little engine in my opinion. Smoother and less thirsty than the 202, although you could tell it had to work a bit harder. It was absolutely perfect in the LH SL.
Great Video
Thanks!
presumably the owner of this vc used the VL diff with the lower ratio to get the car off the line quicker. The standard ratio for the 4 speed manual 6 was 3.36 which is not a big difference.
3.36 is about right, 3.08 is pretty sluggish for a 202 and whatever the 4 cylinders got is very responsive, but wrong bolt pattern
I think the rev tacho is broken... 😂
Almost in the orange at idle, I'm guessing that's the heads and cam making it read a bit hot, stock it should be about bang on 40 and lifting off and coasting should shoot it straight to the end at 60. I'm not real cluey as to what can make it go out of calibration though short of a vacuum leak
Holy shit mate are you driving around the Baxter/Pearcedale area? Ive seen that old girl getting around I usually take my VC two tone SL/E around there for a spin quite a bit.
@@asphodelraven8023 Certainly was! Good spot!
I'd rather the 202 with the trimatic and blue interior.
Cool
@@commodoreman1 2 likes {so far) for a Holden 202 (with a Trimatic) comment.
I wouldn't mind the manual or baby poo interior either!
Rust was a killer & ford had the same problem around the same time with the XD, XE, XF.
UA-cam the crash test of one of these models 😂
Commodores didnt rust.
Oh, they do lol
LOL. My VL completely rusted out under the rear window.
@@dougodyssey50 has car been near the sea beac.hside burb
@@MuscleCarLoverhas car been at beach side burb.
@@Eric-kn4yn this is true. First owner lived at Valla Beach and she sold it when it was about 5 years old. When I bought it, there was just a small bubble under he window rubber. FYI, Endrust treatment does nothing. Original Holden dealer did an Endrust treatment in 1987.