MINI GUIDES
WITH MAXUMUM INFO
Trying to run a car company in the 1980s must have been one of the most bewildering jobs in the world.
The Oil Crisis that everyone said would destroy the industry had disappeared without trace but now there were 299 different authorities making rules about how to make motor vehicles and anyone who wasn’t smitten by the rumble of a V8 was demanding a turbocharger.
Where that left Holden was in a mess. Its ancient overhead-valve six-cylinder engine couldn’t be effectively modified to handle Unleaded Petrol (ULP) and a V6 replacement was three years away. The only option left was to buy someone else’s engine and Holden stumbled upon a beauty.
Nissan’s 3.0-litre RB30 was simple, rugged and begging to be given the chance to produce some more power. As a stock engine it made 118kW but with a turbocharger and very modest application of boost that climbed to 150kW. More was available if you didn’t mind the effects that increased boost had on engine longevity.
Most VLs fitted with the Turbo motor were SL or Executive models and came with four-speed automatic transmission. Some carried big signs down both sides as well – reading ‘POLICE’.
Adding turbo power to the VL Calais produced a sports sedan that was competent and very well-equipped. On the list of factory-installed goodies were distinctive 15-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control and power windows. Leather trim was optional but most buyers couldn’t see the value in it and stayed with the velour.
In conjunction with its new powertrain, Holden had done plenty of work on noise abatement. More extensive use of sound deadening made the VL a noticeably quieter car than the VK and that was helped by reworked suspension. Modifications included softer springs to improve ride comfort and faster-ratio power steering for better feel but they didn’t spoil the Commodore’s cornering balance at all.
Performance was of course the reason people bought Commodore Turbos and the magazine road test data panels told an encouraging story. Top speed extracted from a five-speed manual Berlina was 223km/h, with 0-100km/h taking 7.6 seconds.
Ten years ago it was possible to find high-kilometre VL Turbo Executives at less than $10,000. Today those cars if they indeed still exist can reach $25,000. Because Turbo Commodores remained relatively cheap for so long and insurance rates were relatively high they often weren’t fully covered against accidental damage or theft.
Thefts and crashes saw cars scrapped for parts which diminished numbers and helped push values even higher. That is good news for people who have treated their cars with care and protected them against criminal attention.
Some survivors do come with fancy paint, huge wheels and seriously potent engines, yet it is the preserved, documented and minimally modified cars that bring big prices.
Top of the tree is the turbo VL Calais. These with genuine low kilometres can sell for more than $40,000 and will climb further even in a market where buyers are being cautious.