VG UTE [5690 BUILT]

DURING THE second-half of the 1980s the made-in-Japan Isuzu-sourced Rodeo had been Holden’s offering to the farmer or tradie, but the Australian development of the VN Commodore’s long-wheelbase wagon and luxury Statesman/Caprice versions gave Holden the chance to once again offer a traditional passenger-car based ute, complete with the option of three-seat bench and a column-shift auto. The Holden Ute (it wasn’t actually badged Commodore) was powered by the same engines as the Commodore range; 3.8-litre V6 or 5.0-litre V8. Unlike every previous Holden ute that had used leaf springs under the tail, the 1990 VG had coil sprung rear suspension shared with the wagon but, with its carrying capacity increased with helper springs.