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The Holden Commodore Archive: 1978–2017

The Commodore was the heartbeat of Australian motoring for nearly four decades. Launched in 1978 as a radical, European-inspired response to the global fuel crisis, it evolved into a homegrown powerhouse that dominated the suburban driveway, the sales charts, and the podium at Mount Panorama.

The First Generation (1978–1988) Explore the "Opel-era" Commodores—compact, sophisticated, and agile.

  • The VB to VL Series: High-resolution ads documenting the original VB launch, the introduction of the Blue and Black motors, and the legendary VL, which famously combined Holden's styling with the turbocharged Nissan RB30 engine.

The Wide-Body Revolution (1988–1997) When Australians demanded more room, Holden delivered the longer, wider, and more powerful second generation.

  • The VN to VS Series: Featuring the debut of the 3.8L V6 and the return of the 5.0L V8. This era saw Holden maximize a single platform to create a massive range, including the Statesman, Ute, and Wagon.

The Final Legends (1997–2017) Documenting the era of the VT through to the final VFII. These were the cars that took the Commodore to the world, featuring high-tech IRS, the LS-series V8s, and the most refined engineering in Holden’s history before local production ceased in 2017.

Models Featured: VB · VC · VH · VK · VL · VN · VP · VR · VS · VT · VX · VY · VZ · VE · VF

Tap images for full screen. Rotate phone for wide ads and use the info icon for details.

View fullsize  1978 Holden VB range - SL/E, SL and Commodore. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1978 gold Holden VB Commodore SL sedan with beige interior - original print ad.
View fullsize  1979 red Holden VB Commodore SL/E sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1979 Holden VB Commodore SL/E red velour interior - original print ad.
View fullsize  1978 blue Holden VB Commodore sedan on the road - original print ad.
View fullsize  1980 green Holden VC Commodore sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1980 Holden VC Commodore SL/E sedan with optional ‘Shadow Tone’ (Tuxedo Black over Aztec Silver). Original print ad.
View fullsize  1980 Holden VB Commodore SL/E blue velour interior - original print ad.
View fullsize  1980 Holden VC Commodore SL/E sedan with optional ‘Wine over Rose’ Shadow Tone featuring dark claret over Venetian red. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 silver Holden VH Commodore SL/E sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 Holden VH Commodore SL/E appointments - original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 Holden VH Commodore SL/E dashboard in claret, featuring the single-spoke steering wheel - original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 Holden VH Commodore SL/E claret interior with velour upholstery - original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 blue-over-silver Holden VH Commodore SL/E sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1981 claret over mercury silver Holden VH Commodore SL/E - photographed from the rear to highlight the unique SL/E tail light treatment. Original print ad.
View fullsize  Mid 1980s magazine ad for AC-Delco and GM parts featuring Peter Brock posing with his famous 05 VH Commodore V8 race car.
View fullsize  1983 red Holden VH Commodore SS sedan with standard 4.2ltr or optional 5ltr V8 - original print ad.
View fullsize  1983 Holden VH Commodore print ad highlighting the advantage of optional V8 engines.
View fullsize  1983 Holden print ad detailing the optional V8 engines on the VH Commodore range. The 4.2ltr V8 would be discontinued when the VH model was superseded.
View fullsize  1985 white Holden VK Commodore photographed from the front to highlight updated styling. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1984 Holden ad showing the updated 308 cubic inch 5.0ltr V8.
View fullsize  1985 silver Holden VK Commodore SS V8 sedan ‘O-400 in a mere 14.9 seconds.’ Original print ad.
View fullsize  1985 Holden VK Calais sedan with the new ‘Asteroid Silver’ skirts. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1985 Holden VK Calais with optional leather trim in light brown - original print ad.
View fullsize  1985 VK Calais instrument panel with single-spoke steering wheel and Holden’s first digital instrumentation. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1985 3.3 litre (202 cubic inch) fuel injected six cylinder engine - Holden’s first locally built and developed EFI system. Original two-page magazine ad.
View fullsize  1985 white Holden VK Commodore SS V8 ‘Body by Holden. Soul by Brock’ - original print ad.
View fullsize  1986 Holden VL Commodore range - original promo photo.
View fullsize  1988 VL sedan ‘the most stylish Holden Commodore ever’ - original print ad.
View fullsize  1987 red VL Commodore V8 sedan ‘The great Aussie V8 is back’ - original print ad.
View fullsize  1986 red Commodore VL Calais sedan ‘one of the world’s most advanced luxury cars’. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1986 red VL Commodore Group A SS V8 - Holden’s first unleaded V8 featuring a cold air intake and 137kW. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1988 silver VL Commodore Group A SV ‘Holden Welcomes You to the Six Second Club’ - original print ad.
View fullsize  1988 Holden VL Commodore Group A SV V8 specs - original print ad.
View fullsize  1988 Zupps Holden, Logan Qld dealer newspaper ad for ‘The world’s fastest production sedan’ - VL Commodore Group A 5.0ltr V8 for $41, 490.
View fullsize  1989 Holden VN Commodore range. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1989 red Holden VN Commodore S sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1988 VN Commodore V8 details - Holden’s first fuel-injected V8. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1989 Holden VN Commodore V6 and V8 engine details - original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 Holden VP Commodore range. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 silver Holden VP Commodore - new front styling. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 silver Holden VP Commodore photographed from the rear to show mild styling updates from the VN model. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 red Holden VP Commodore S V6. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 black Holden VP Commodore SS V8. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1992 Holden VP Commodore HSV Senator 5000i with 200kw V8 -original print-ad
View fullsize  1993 Holden VR Calais - original print ad.
View fullsize  1994 Holden VR Series II Commodore S V6 and SS V8  sedans ‘For those who enjoy power. And those who like to flaunt it’. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1995 Holden VS Commodore Acclaim sedan in a dark metallic green - original print ad.
View fullsize  1994 Holden VR Series II dashboard and appointments - original print ad.
View fullsize  1994 dark metallic green Holden VR Series II Commodore Acclaim photographed on St KIlda Pier, Melbourne - original print ad.
View fullsize  1996 red Holden VS HSV Commodore V8. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1998 orange Holden VT  Commodore SS V8 sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  1998 Holden VT Calais - original print ad.
View fullsize  1998 Holden VT Calais grey leather interior - original print ad.
View fullsize  1998 Holden VT Calais interior featuring grey leather power front seats and woodgrain appliques - original print ad.
View fullsize  1998 silver Holden VT Calais sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  2000 silver Olympic Edition Holden VT II Commodore sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  2001 ‘Hyper yellow’ Holden VX Series II Commodore SS V8 sedan - original promo photo.
View fullsize  2002 ‘hothouse green’ Holden VY Commodore SS V8 sedan - GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2003 red Holden VY Commodore SV8 - original print ad.
View fullsize  2004 silver Holden VZ Commodore SS V8 sedan - GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2006 orange Holden VE Commodore SS V8 sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  2006 blue Holden VZ Commodore SSZ special edition V8 sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  2006 red VE Commodore SS-V - print ad for Genuine Holden Parts.
View fullsize  2011 orange Holden VE Commodore HSV E-Series 3 V8 sedan - original print ad.
View fullsize  2013 orange Holden VF Commodore SSV Redline V8. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2013 Holden VF Calais V sedan in ‘Regal Peacock’. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2013 silver Holden VF Commodore Evoke sedan. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2016 ‘Spitfire’ green Holden VF II Commodore SS-V Redline sedan. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2016 ‘Slipstream’ blue Holden VF II Commodore SS sedan. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2016 red Holden VF II Commodore SS-V Redline sedan. GMH press photo.
View fullsize  2016 ‘Heron’ white Holden VF II Commodore SS-V Redline sedan. GMH press photo.

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