Holden Commodore (VH)

For a complete overview of all Commodore models, seeHolden Commodore.

TheHolden Commodore (VH)is amid-size carthat was produced byHoldenfrom 1981 to 1984. It was the third iteration of the first generation of theHolden Commodore.

Holden Commodore (VH)
1982 Holden Commodore (VH) SL sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Holden(General Motors)
Production	October 1981 – February 1984
Assembly	Australia:Adelaide, South Australia(Elizabeth), Melbourne, Victoria(Dandenong) New Zealand:Wellington(Trentham)
Designer	Leo Pruneau
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size
Body style	4-doorsedan 5-doorstation wagon
Platform	GM V platform
Related	Opel Rekord E Opel Senator Vauxhall Carlton
Powertrain
Engine	Inline-four 1.9 L 54 kW (72 hp)Starfire Straight-six 2.85 L 73 kW (98 hp)Blue 3.3 L 83 kW (111 hp)Blue V8 4.2 L 100 kW (134 hp)Blue 4.2 L 115 kW (154 hp)Blue 5.0 L 117 kW (157 hp)Blue 5.0 L 126 kW (169 hp)Blue
Transmission	4-speedmanual 5-speedmanual 3-speedautomatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,668 mm (105.0 in)
Length	4,706 mm (185.3 in) 4,730 mm (186.2 in) (Wagon)
Width	1,722 mm (67.8 in)
Height	1,363 mm (53.7 in)
Curb weight	1,152 kg (2,540 lb) – 1,326 kg (2,923 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Holden Commodore (VC)
Successor	Holden Commodore (VK)

This new Commodore was an evolution of the previousHoldenVC seriesmodel, and was released on 5 October 1981. The frontal appearance was mildlyfaceliftedwith a new horizontal-slat grille and new lighting components designed to give a lower, wider look, and for interest ofaerodynamics.It continued to be available assedanandstation wagon,with new taillight clusters utilized on sedan models.

History

The engines were carried over but revisions were made to the 1.9- and 2.85-litre engines to improve fuel economy. Gains of 12.5 and 14 percent respectively were made to the city cycle fuel economy figures.

Mechanical specifications were as before, except for an additional five-speedmanual transmissionwhich was an option only (due to the limits of the transmission-box) on the 1.9-litre four-cylinder and 2.85-litrestraight sixversions. A 4142 cc V8 engine (marketed as the 4.2 litre V8) was also available from the beginning.This was later complemented by the more powerful 5.0 litre V8.

At the same time a reshuffle was made to the range—SL was now the base model and SL/X was introduced as the mid-range car, with SL/E remaining the top-of-the-line sedan. The SL/E also came available with optional cruise control and a trip computer. The trip computer measured average speed and fuel consumption. Wagons were available in SL and SL/X variants.

September 1982 saw the release of the Commodore SS,a model that was a Commodore mainstay until 2017. The abbreviation stands for "Super Sport". Offered with Holden's 4.2 LV8as standard, the factory SS was supplemented by three up-spec versions produced byPeter Brock'sHDT Special Vehiclescompany. The HDT models were named "SS Group One", "SS Group Two" and "SS Group Three", with the lattermost also featuring the Holden 5.0-litre V8 in a higher state of tune). The SS sedans were initially exclusivelyMaranelloRed in colour, but were later also made available inAlabasterWhite. The Group Three-tuned V8 produces 184 kW (250 PS; 247 hp) at 4750 rpm.

• 
  Holden Commodore SL Sedan (VH)
• 
  Commodore SL/X sedan
• 
  Commodore SL/X wagon
• 
  Commodore SL/X Interior
• 
  HDTVH Commodore SSGroup Three.

In 1983 an 'Executive' pack of the base Commodore was introduced, primarily directed to fleet buyers. These cars featured automatic transmission and air-conditioning as part of a Commodore SL package, but had no distinguishable external identification badges. Special editions of Commodore released around Christmas 1981, 1982 and 1983 were badged 'Vacationer'.

With the effects of the1979 energy crisisending, buyers gravitated towards the largerFord Falconrival, rather than the mid-size Commodore. Thus for the first time, the Holden Commodore lost its position as Australia's best-selling car.

Production of this model ceased in February 1984, to be replaced by the much further faceliftedHolden Commodore (VK).

Export markets

In Indonesia the only engine available was the 1.9-liter four, in SL/X trim and with a five-speed manual. Because of the absence of emissions controls in that market, power was higher than for Australian cars, at 59 kW (80 PS; 79 hp).After having been absent from the Malaysian market for nearly a decade, Almas Motors Corporation (AMC) brought the Holden brand back in 1983 with the VH Commodore. While Japanese cars had supplanted European imports in most of the market, there was still room for non-Japanese brands in the larger segments of the market.

Motorsport

Peter BrockandLarry Perkinsdrove this Group C Commodore VH in the1983 James Hardie 1000but did not finish the race. The car is pictured in 2018

The VH Commodore was first used in AustralianTouring car racingin the1982 Australian Touring Car Championship.Unfortunately controversy reigned as theHolden Dealer Teamattempted to runPeter Brock's car with yet-to-be homologated parts. Brock actually scored enough points to win the 1982 ATCC (using both the VC and VH), but was disqualified from all but two races of the series.

Better was to come in the late season endurance races. With the HDT VH Commodore SS now properly homologated,Allan Gricedrove his Commodore to pole position in the1982 James Hardie 1000atMount Panoramawith a time of 2:17.501 after earlier having been the first driver to lap the 6.172 km (3.835 mi) circuit in a touring car at better than 100 mph (161 km/h) with a lap of 2:17.8 in official qualifying. The Holden VH Commodore SS went on to fill the top four places in the race with the HDT Commodore of Peter Brock andLarry Perkinswinning the race.

The Commodore was still a major force in the1983 Australian Touring Car Championshipwith both Grice and Brock each winning two of the eight round series. However, they were forced to give best toAllan Moffatand his smaller, lighter (and thus much better suited to the tight Australian tracks)Mazda RX-7.Moffat won four of the eight rounds, and with the emergence of the smaller capacityNissan Bluebird turboofGeorge Fury,Brock and Grice finished only 3rd and 4th at the end of the championship.

Further homologations grants from theConfederation of Australian Motorsport(CAMS) in August 1983 saw the VH Commodore SS once again the car to beat. Peter Brock set pole position at the1983 James Hardie 1000(VH Commodores filled seven of the top 10 spots on the grid), and although his own car suffered a rare engine failure on lap 8 of the race, he and Perkins then moved into the team's second car with its lead driverJohn Harveyto go on and win the race. The second HDT car was in fact the 1982 winning car giving the Commodore the distinction of being the only car to twice win theBathurst 1000.The VH Commodore would fill six of the top 10 finishing positions in the race.

The VH continued to be a major force into1984,with Brock winning the opening two rounds of the1984 ATCCbefore finishing second to Moffat's Mazda in Round 3. Unfortunately however Brock was to miss two rounds of the series while racing aPorsche 956at the1000 km of SilverstoneandLe Mans 24 Hours.Brock would eventually finish second in the championship behind theFord XE FalconofDick Johnson.The VH Commodore SS has the distinction of winning the final ATCC race held under the locally developedGroup Cregulations when Allan Grice won the 7th and final round of the championship at theAdelaide International Racewayon 1 July.

The VH Commodore SS was succeeded by theHolden VK Commodorein the last half of 1984, though it was only the HDT, Roadways and Warren Cullen's team who would race the new model. The VH remained the Commodore of choice for the privateers. The model's touring car racing life ended at the completion of the1984 seasonas CAMS had decided that new rules based on theFIA's internationalGroup Aregulations would apply to Australian Touring Cars from the beginning of1985.

The VH Commodore also proved to be popular inSports Sedanracing as well as inspeedway.