Holden VB Commodore

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Holden VB Commodore
Manufacturer:	Holden
Parent company:	General Motors
Production:	13 October 1978–March 1980
Predecessor:	Holden HZ Kingswood
Successor:	Holden VC Commodore
Class:	Mid-size
Body style:	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Platform:	GM V platform
Engine:	I6 2.85 L 64 kW Red 3.3 L 66 kW Red V8 4.2 L 87 kW Red 4.2 L 96 kW Red (dual exhaust) 5.0 L 114 kW Red
Transmission:	4-speed manual 3-speed automatic Tri-Matic Turbo-Hydramatic 350 (5.0 L V8 only) Turbo-Hydramatic 400 (5.0 L V8 only)
Suspension:	Front Independent MacPherson 'wet' strut design, linear rate springs, 22 mm stabiliser bar Rear Salisbury type rear axle, rigid axle, 5 link with parallel short upper and long lower trailing arms and a panhard rod between axle and under body, progressive rate coil springs, vertically mounted telescopic shocks, 18mm decoupled stabiliser bar mounted on the axle
Steering:	Type Coaxial rack and pinion, direct linkage (rear of front wheels), ratio 19.8:1 Power hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering standard on SL/E, optional on SL Turning Circle Commodore: 10.2 m SL: 10.2 m SL/E: 10.8 m Turns lock to lock 2.6 (power steering)
Brakes:	Front Discs (268 mm) with single piston, sliding head and lightweight caliper Rear I6: Drums (230 mm) self-adjusting leading trailing shoe drum V8: Discs (230 mm) solid disc, fitted with light weight caliper
Wheelbase:	2668 mm
Length:	Sedan Commodore:4705 mm SL: 4705 mm SL/E: 4729 mm
Width:	1722 mm
Height:	1371 mm
Front track:	Sedan Commodore:1451 mm SL: 1451 mm SL/E: 1449 mm
Rear track:	Sedan Commodore:1417 mm SL: 1417 mm SL/E: 1422 mm
Curb weight:	Sedan Commodore:1220 kg SL: 1255 kg SL/E: 1400 kg
Fuel capacity:	63 L

The Holden VB Commodore was the first ever model generation of the Holden Commodore, a large car produced by Australian automobile manufacturer Holden (however, up until the introduction of the Holden VN Commodore in 1988, the Commodore was classed as 'Mid-size' as is the VB).

It was launched in October 1978, with the wagon being released on 6 August 1979. Production of the VB only lasted 17 months, the shortest reign of any Commodore. The VB Commodore was the successor of the Holden HZ Kingswood and was preceded by the Holden VC Commodore in March 1980. In that time, however, VB sold 95,906 units and in 1979, its first full year on sale, the VB became Australia's number one selling car.

Also in 1979, the VB won the first of the Commodore's four Wheels magazine Car of the Year awards, with the car being praised in the media for its value for money and sophistication for its time.

The VB Commodore was loosely based on the 1977 Opel Rekord E bodyshell but with the front grafted on from the Opel Senator to accommodate the larger Holden six-cylinder and V8 engines. Overall, the body was strengthened substantially to withstand the harsh conditions of the Australian outback. Total cost of development is reported to be over AU$110 million.^[1]

The Commodore represented a major shift in thinking for Holden since it was significantly smaller than the previous family car, the Holden Kingswood, in response to the 1973 oil crisis and the need to produce more fuel-efficient cars. However, the larger models still continued to be sold alongside the Commodore until the VC model. The VB was available in three specification levels: Commodore, SL, and SL/E. A station wagon variant, was introduced in August 1979 and featured a large cargo area and an easy access one-piece lift-up tailgate. The station wagon was available on base VB Commodore and VB Commodore SL only.

The OHV engines were largely carried over from the Kingswood: a 64 kW 2.85 L straight-six, 71 kW 3.3 L straight-six, 87 kW 4.2 L V8, which was also available with dual exhausts to produce 96 kW of power. A 114 kW 5.0 L V8. The engine blocks on these motors were painted red and are therefore commonly referred to as the Red motors. The VB was also available with either a four-speed manual or a three-speed Trimatic automatic, with the additional option of a Turbo-Hydramatic 350/400 automatic transmission with the 5.0 L V8.

Contents 1 Specification Levels 1.1 Commodore 1.2 Commodore SL 1.3 Commodore SL/E 2 Notes 3 References

[edit] Specification Levels

All V8's came with power steering. On the station wagon, there was no 15x6 inch alloy wheels option.

[edit] Commodore

The Commodore was the baseline variant, and was available as a sedan or station wagon. The sedan was priced from AU$6,513.

The VB Commodore standard features included:^[2]

• 2.85 L 64 kW Red I6
• 4-speed manual
• Featured body colour tail panel
• Silver finish on instrument surrounds
• Vinyl trim
• Steel wheels

The VB Commodore standard optional included:^[3]

• 3.3 L 66 kW Red I6
• 4.2 L 87 kW Red V8
• 3-speed automatic
• Air conditioning
• Corded cloth interior
• Power steering
• European Pack which incorporated:
  • 3.3 L 66 kW Red I6
  • Full instrumentation
  • Four wheel discs
  • Headlight washers/wipers
  • 15-inch alloy wheels
• Sport Pack on manuals only, which incorporated:
  • 4.2 L 87 kW Red V8
  • Full instrumentation
  • Four wheel discs brakes
  • Headlight washers/wipers
  • 15x6 inch alloy wheels

[edit] Commodore SL

The Commodore SL was the mid-spec variant, and was available as a sedan or station wagon. The sedan was priced from AU$7,813.

The VB Commodore SL standard features included:^[4]

• 3.3 L 66 kW Red I6
• 3-speed automatic
• Bright door mouldings
• Chrome wheeltrim rings
• Extra gauges
• Featured vertical accent bars on the grill
• Inertia reel seatbelts for the outer rear passengers
• Plusher interior trim and carpet
• Rear centre armrest
• Rosewood dash finish
• Silver tail panel
• Twin exterior mirrors
• Variable intermittent speed wipers
• Steel wheels

The VB Commodore SL optional features included:^[5]

• 4.2 L 87 kW Red V8
• Air conditioning
• Corded cloth interior
• Power steering
• Full instrumentation
• Four wheel discs brakes
• Headlight washers/wipers
• 15x6 inch alloy wheels

[edit] Commodore SL/E

The Commodore SL/E was the top of the line variant. It was available as a sedan only, and was priced from AU$10,513.

The VB Commodore SL/E standard features included:^[6]

• 4.2 L 87 kW Red V8
• 3-speed automatic
• Air conditioning
• Black door frames and tail panel
• Blacked out grill
• Burr walnut dash
• Chrome exhaust
• Extended rear bumpers
• Eurovox stereo radio cassette player which incorporated:
  • Electric aerial
• Four wheel discs brakes
• Headlight wiper/washers
• Power steering
• Reading lights
• Tachometer
• Velour trim and cut pile carpet
• 15x6 inch alloy wheels

The VB Commodore SL/E optional features included:^[7]

• 5.0 L 114 kW Red V8 witch incorporated:
  • Turbo-Hydramatic 350 or 400 transmission
• Central locking

[edit] Notes

[edit] References