Holden VB Commodore

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Holden VB Commodore
Manufacturer	Holden
Parent company	General Motors
Production	13 November 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 kilowatt Red 3.3 L 66 kilowatt Red V8 4.2 L 87 kilowatt Red 4.2 L 96 kilowatt Red (dual exhaust) 5.0 L 114 kilowatt 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)
Wheelbase	2668 mm
Length	4705–4729 mm
Width	1722 mm
Height	1371 mm
Fuel capacity	63 L

The Holden VB Commodore is a car that was produced by the Australian subsidiary of General Motors, Holden.

The car was officially launched on 13 November 1978, with the station wagon body style being released on 6 August 1979. Production of the VB only lasted seventeen 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. 95,906 units were manufactured during the car's lifespan, 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 five 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 2.85 litre 64 kilowatt straight-six, 3.3 litre 71 kilowatt straight-six, 4.2 litre 87 kilowatt V8, which was also available with dual exhausts to produce 96 kilowatt of power. A 5.0 litre 114 kilowatt 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 transmission or a three-speed Trimatic automatic transmission, with the additional option of a Turbo-Hydramatic 350/400 automatic transmission with the 5.0 litre V8.

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

[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 litre 64 kilowatt Red I6 engine
• 4-speed manual transmission
• Featured body colour tail panel
• Silver finish on instrument surrounds
• Vinyl trim
• Steel wheels

The VB Commodore standard optional included:^[3]

• 3.3 litre 66 kilowatt Red I6 engine
• 4.2 litre 87 kilowatt Red V8 engine
• 3-speed automatic transmission
• Air conditioning
• Corded cloth interior
• Power steering
• European Pack which incorporated:
• 3.3 litre 66 kilowatt Red I6 engine
  • Full instrumentation
  • Four wheel discs
  • Headlight washers / wipers
  • 15 inch alloy wheels
• Sport Pack on manuals only, which incorporated:
• 4.2 litre 87 kilowatt Red V8 engine
  • 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 litre 66 kilowatt Red I6 engine
• 3-speed automatic transmission
• 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 litre 87 kilowatt Red V8 engine
• 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 litre 87 kilowatt Red V8 engine
• 3-speed automatic transmission
• 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 kilowatt Red V8 engine which incorporated:
  • Turbo-Hydramatic 350 or 400 transmission
• Central locking

[edit] Notes and References

[edit] External links

1. Golden Holdens : VB Commodore (1978-1980)
2. Holden Model History - Holden Commodore - VB Series November 1978 - March 1980
3. The Commodore Info Page - Holden Commodore - VB Series November 1978 - March 1980
4. The Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive - VB Commodore
5. The Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive - VB Commodore Specifications
6. Unique Cars and Parts: Holden Commodore VB