VN COMMODORE [215,180 BUILT]

AT LAUNCH IN early 1988, the VN was available as SL (fleet buyers only) Executive, S, Berlina and Calais; the Calais and S were sedan only. There was also a Toyota Lexcen version – but that’s a story for another day. All were powered by the torquey 125kW V6 with either five-speed manual or four-speed auto trans. The fuel-injected 5.0-litre V8 option – and the SS model – arrived in 1989. Due to the wider body being built on the VL’s front track, VNs had a knock-kneed appearance especially on the base-spec 14-inch wheels. The VN was where the fledgling Holden Special Vehicles really got into gear, beginning with the SV3800 before SV89, the 200kW-powered SV5000, the Club Sport and the Ute-based Maloo arrived with Holden’s freshly fuel-injected 5.0-litre V8. The number of VNs built – more than 215,000 – is testament to its broad appeal to the family and fleet markets. It received ‘Car of the Year’ gongs from most motoring media organisations including our sister title Wheels.