When the original Holden Commodore was released back in 1978, it garnered rather mixed reviews as it was just a rebadged Opel instead of a true blue Aussie sedan. The car designed to replace the Kingswood focused more on efficiency, lacking both firepower and space compared to the outgoing car, giving Ford a massive advantage heading into the ’80s. The XD Falcon and it’s subsequent versions slaughtered the Commodore in the sales charts, on account of it having the things that Aussies wanted in a car. Holden were far from satisfied, and after much bartering with the folks at GM, they secured the funding they needed for a brand new car. That car was the VN Commodore and it became a hit.
So why was this car soo successful? Let’s start with the body because it was a revolution in Aussie car design. On the previous generation, the lines were stiff, straight and geometric with hard edges that were not overly conducive to the air. For the VN, Holden went with a smoother, more aerodynamic design that contained softer edges for increased fuel efficiency. For a sedan, it was a huge shift in philosophy and propelled the Commodore into a new age, making the previous generation look ancient. Moreover, the car was bigger and therefore far roomier on the inside, allowing for more comfort over long journeys. These factors were highly attractive to buyers who wanted to replace their ageing Kingswoods.
One of the biggest issues with the previous generation was the lack of good engines. They used old, inefficient units which lacked the firepower and economy required to meet modern standards… hence why most VLs (aside from a few specials that used V8s) had 6 cylinder Nissan engines. In order to meet the new brief, Holden grabbed a 3.8 L Buick V6 from the US as it had the power, torque and efficiency that Holden needed and buyers soo desperately craved. It passed the emissions regulations as it had a modern fuel injection system. A locally-built 5.0 L V8 with fuel injection was also offered for those who wanted something a bit more burly. No longer did people have to spend up for a V8 motor.
With Australia being such a vast nation, owning a car that could put up with everything from suburban streets to outback dirt roads was quite important. Holden engineered the VN to be tough, durable and comfortable in all sorts of conditions. It was designed to last a lifetime, easily racking up thousands of kilometres with only a few service items getting replaced every so often. The superb versatility, reliabilty and quality was ideal for Aussie buyers, allowing Holden to beat Ford at the top of the sales charts. The Commodore then became an intrinsic part of the Australian motoring landscape, kickstarting a 2 decade streak of sales success.
Many VNs got thrashed and used for many, many years, so coming across a clean one that looks factory fresh was such pleasing sight – a real window into the past. It’s the sort of car that wouldn’t look out of place at the Festival Of The Unexceptional – something which I highly recommend searching for on YouTube. Truth be told, the VN was a hugely significant model for Australia, and they’ve had a resurgence in recent times amongst younger enthusiasts. Relatively standard models are considered cool nowadays because of all the reasons listed above. It seems as though our love for this home-grown motoring icon will never die.
