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Commodore Pictures

Holden introduced the Commodore in 1978, with the VB commodore, to replace the larger Kingswood series. Petrol prices were considered high at the time, so the smaller Holden Commodore was the answer to this.

Early model Commodores had similar engines to the Kingswoods, such as 186, 202 6 cylinders, and the 253 and 308 ci V8s. The first 3 models, VB, VC and VH all had chrome bumpers. This was discontinued in the VK, which was the first to sport plastic bumpers.

Electronic fuel injection (efi) was introduced in the VK commodores, but Holden's straight six, which had been around for decades, was reaching its limits. The VL Commodore saw Holden use a Nissan engine, the injected RB30 straight 6, which was also available from the factory as turbo. The VL was the last commodore to have a carburettor, which was fitted to the V8s. until the VL commodores, which used a nissan rb30 straight 6.

Significant differences occured in 88 when Holden bought in the VN. The body was bigger, we were back to an Aussie built engine, a 3.8L V6, and the V8 was now EFI.

The VS V6 were the first to introduce ecotec, and then the VT series II saw the introduction of the Chev Gen3 V8s. Then when the VZ commodores were released, the 3.6Litre alloytec V6 was introduced.

Holden's latest commo, the VE, is fitted iwth The current model Holden Commodores, the VE, has a 6.0 litre V8 engine, known as the L98, or the 3.6 litre V6.