VL COMMODORE [151,801 BUILT]

HOLDEN HAD TO kill-off the Aussie-made sixes (by then a 20-year-old design) and buy-in a Japanese-made engine from Nissan for the VL in 1986. It was doom and gloom until everyone realised what a honey of a donk the 114kW overhead cam, fuel-injected, alloy-head 3.0-litre RB30E Nissan six was. Mated to a four-speed auto or five-speed manual, Commodore went even harder with the optional 150kW turbocharged six. Outside, the Commodore had a lower, smoother snout, shallower but wider headlights (with integrated inboard driving lights) and a higher boot-line. With the across-the-range optional Turbo 3.0-litre being the pinnacle of Australianmade performance, the modified-for-unleaded 122kW 5-litre V8 was marketed as the choice for no-nonsense van and boat towing.