Holden VL Commodore - Turbo Talk.

[@markbehr88]

Here is my latest video in the Holden Commodore Auto History Series - the VL Commodore. Please be sure to Like 👍 the episode as it really helps the channel and doesn’t cost a thing. Please also Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Plus, check out all the past episodes on a whole range of different old cars. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Red motor may be ridiculed but back in the day my HT monaro GTS 4sp 186S got me to the magical ton when 100mph😊 was consideŕed fast and was quiet stable compared to VF valiant sedan 225 auto 160hp ? which was done at 93 / 94 mph

[@Eric-kn4yn]

How popular was turbo and numbers sold what did turbo do to insurance of car.

[@markbehr88]

@@Eric-kn4yn I don’t have that information. I would say less than 10% of volume. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@Eric-kn4yn Yes but no emissions then. 🤔👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​​​@@markbehr88 2BBL carby header pipes and warm cam ? the 186s revved hard for what it was.

[@onz76]

Arguably the best six-cylinder Holden ever.

[@markbehr88]

@@onz76 Yes, I agree. 👍

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

Agree

[@markbehr88]

👍

[@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760]

Not arguably, easily.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Factory supercharged 3800 V6 is a contender, as well as the much improved V6 in the 91 VN and VP.

[@NeilMac-s6f]

I have to say I really enjoy these reviews of Australian motor manufacturing regardless of the brand.

[@markbehr88]

@@NeilMac-s6f Thanks very much. I try to include the relevant competitive info to make it more interesting. 👍

[@stevezurek7281]

Great vid mate. I bought my VL berlina 5.0L in 1993 and still driving it.🇦🇺👍👍

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. Good on you. 👍

[@MercedesW2O5_C250]

Another great informative and nostalgic video... Can't wait for the VS. My favourite Commodore I never got to have I had a VT Series 1 Calais V8 (179kw) for 5 years in the 2000s. I wish I never traded it and just kept it for a weekender current day!

[@markbehr88]

@@MercedesW2O5_C250 Thank you very much for the Super thanks! 🙏. I had a few VS company cars, including V8 Calais with the 185 HSV option. And a Series 1 VT Calais with the Holden V8. Coming soon. 👍

[@mikewaters6980]

@@markbehr88very nice. Was it series 1 or 2? Loved the vs series 2 Calais from the first time I saw it

[@markbehr88]

@@mikewaters6980 Series 1

[@Coastmac2001]

Bloody legendary cars. They still look great even now. That Nissan RB30 engine was a gem

[@markbehr88]

@@Coastmac2001 Agree. I love the Calais. 👍

[@Coastmac2001]

@markbehr88 the Calais was really well equipped . Wasn't a bad drive either. Pity there doesn't appear to be too many examples of any VL still surviving

[@markbehr88]

@@Coastmac2001 I am sure there are some lovely ones tucked away but you are right, the original owner cars are long gone. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

I was given a lift in one. It was eerily silent.

[@Coastmac2001]

@@jamesfrench7299 they were probably one of the best built cars here . Reliability was very decent. A few niggles in early variants , but overall the VL nailed it

[@stevemcintyre4398]

Gee, that brings back some memories. I used to work at DASFLEET in Canberra and they looked after all Australian Federal Police vehicles. The weapon of choice for pursuit was the VL Turbo BT1. From memory they were damn near bullet proof as I recall only one diff failure in the time they had them. The traffic cops never complained. The RB30 with it's girdled crank was well advanced for strength for most vehicles at the time. Impressive vehicle...

[@markbehr88]

@@stevemcintyre4398 Agg I used to do the Mitsubishi contract price for DASFLEET too. Memories flooding back. I haven’t even heard or thought about DASFLEET for about 35 plus years! 😳👍

[@theairstig9164]

No comment about the Qld police traffic branch sending three VL turbos back with twisted frames

[@markbehr88]

@@theairstig9164 That is not available info. Tell us more. 🤔

[@garrylearmonth9313]

I bought a SL Turbo, maranello red VL in 86, it had 5km on the clock when I drove it out of the car yard.............best car I ever owned.

[@markbehr88]

@@garrylearmonth9313 Very cool. 👍

[@louiskats5116]

G'day Mark, Finally get the time & day to watch this killer video. The VL good mate of mine Jamie bought the first batch of Canary Yellow Vic Police interceptor whilst Vic Police still had them on the road. Boy did we have fun with that car even in stock form it was quick. Can't write what we did with it. Even as late as 1994 whilst living in Adelaide, SA Police was still getting around in VL V8 Auto's , I don't think SA Police bought Turbo VL's. My neighbour next door to me in Port Melbourne upto 2019 was parking his one owner immaculate VL Executive on the street. Every week people knock on my door to enquire about it, unfortunately a L Plater apparently rammed it in a quiet back street in Port Melbourne avoiding a possum. Car written off gone to auction, I think it was a set up for the parts. Absolutely immaculate one owner, Greek old man. I recently read a book regarding HDT great read. Nothing & I mean nothing was mentioned in the book regarding what you mentioned about the Director. It pointed the finger to the polariser, & this was written by one of the managers at the time. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Cheers Louis Kats 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@louiskats5116 Thanks Louis. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the polariser gets blamed but that was not the deal breaker. 👍

[@louiskats5116]

@@markbehr88 👍👍👍

[@JohnB28]

Used to drive up the Hume and back quite regularly back in the day. I remember a Walkinshaw VL sitting in the showroom window of Holden in Holbrook for the longest time. Wish I had the money to afford it back then. I owned a 6 cylinder Executive VL at the time and it went hard for a six.

[@markbehr88]

@@JohnB28 Very cool. I remember when used, they went as low as $25k. 🫣

[@keithhayes5839]

The late great Bill Tuckey started the V8 Til 98 campaign.

[@markbehr88]

@@keithhayes5839 Yes. 👍

[@kimboDragon]

Great video mate love the VLs I own a Morning blue over asteroid silver genuine VL Calais 5.0 stroked to 355, 3:9 diff gears and building an evening blue VL Director clone based on a power pack Berlina 800hp 3.0 but fitting a twin cam head and tremec magnum 6 speed Plus 4:11 diff gears

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. Very nice. 👍

[@breemsp591]

Loved this video Mark, its would be funny for Holden to know what they created back then with the cult following of the VL. I have been waiting for this one since you started the Holden series hopefully one day I get to work on my Berlina Turbo and get it back on the road great video.

[@markbehr88]

@@breemsp591 Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. Your Berlina Turbo sounds great. Well worth fixing up. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

The turbos at least were a target for thieves. One guy recounted how they moved another car out of his garage to get to his.

[@markbehr88]

Most of the Commodores were. 👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

Yeah, sadly early Commodores are shockingly easy to get into. Definitely get a set of aftermarket locks for one with a higher market value

[@jamesfrench7299]

VNs were the most stolen car I heard at one point. Ford Lasers were the most broken into car.

[@davidburnette5158]

Thanks again, Mark! I'm enjoying your history series almost as much as I enjoy driving my VF SS!

[@markbehr88]

Thank you. I will get to VF eventually. 👍

[@Tomkatoz]

Thanks for doing these videos Mark. The level of detail you include is amazing. An Americas Cup edition was also released in the VL range. Not much info around on them though - may have been a special for the WA market given the cup defence being held in Fremantle in '87?

[@markbehr88]

@@Tomkatoz Could be a WA only model I think? 🤔👍

[@markbehr88]

@@Tomkatoz Thanks very much. 👍

[@Tomkatoz]

@markbehr88 yeah I think so. Was basically an Executive with some "special" pin striping with the outline of the cup and a yacht on the boot. 🙂

[@markbehr88]

@@Tomkatoz Probably the WA dealer group did a special. We used to do those in Sydney for our Direct Hit Deal sales. 👍

[@commodorenut]

We had the opera house specials in NSW. All white (colour coded bars too) and blue trim - but with Camira pattern stitching. They were all V8, based on an exec - maximum profits to prop up the losses they were making on base model 6s in ‘88. There was a couple of limited edition runs too, one even featured the Pirelli 14” white band P44 tyres. All in the name of profit.

[@lundsweden]

The best Holden engine Nissan ever made!

[@markbehr88]

@@lundsweden Ha yes. 😀👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

Funny enough I witnessed at least one backfire when started. It put me off them for a while. I'm no longer affected in my view of them though.

[@markbehr88]

👍

[@tedpalmer5552]

Or perhaps the best six that Holden never made.

[@markbehr88]

@@tedpalmer5552 Yes, there’s that one. 😀👍

[@1BIGFROGGY]

I remember my white with blue interior VL Turbo fondly! I remember putting on a set of the Calais headlights which much improved the look as well as repairing some rust around the front windscreen which was a common thing for them. I parked it out the front one night and got a knock on the door the next morning to find the police when I opened it. They told me my car was stolen and was involved in a high speed chase! I didn't beleive them at first and was instantly gutted to find out this was true when I couldn't see the car where I'd parked it. I sold it after getting it back as I'd fealt it'd been defiled by the b-rst-rds that stole it. It had finger print dust all over it and was pulling to the right when I picked it up from the police station. She was very nice to drive and handled pretty well as she was lighter than the earlier commodores I'd driven.

[@markbehr88]

@@1BIGFROGGY What a shame. Terrible when that happens to a car you really love. 🫣

[@aussie8114]

I had a VL Calais back in the late 80s. White with a body kit and white wheels. Blue velour interior. Looked really nice.

[@jamesfrench7299]

I used to notice a metallic one (goldy from memory) a few doors down in 88/89 and immediately thought they were doing well. XF Fairmont Ghia didn't quite elicit the same level response.

[@markbehr88]

Very nice. 👍

[@markbehr88]

Although the XF Ghia did have a very nice interior to be fair. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@markbehr88 especially the rear seats. The Calais had an overdrive transmission and OHC six. Would choose that I think, even though I always idolised the XF Ghia.

[@markbehr88]

@@jamesfrench7299 Yes, the 4 speed auto especially. The injected 4.1 wasn’t too bad and it had good torque but the VL engine was more sophisticated for sure. The Ghia did well in terms of digi dash and all the velour trim incl on the doors. It was pretty cosy. 👍

[@chriss1905]

Great vid Mark, really interesting stuff included which was really enjoyable to watch. Cheers

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. I like to cover “surrounding” elements as well to give the car more context of the time. 👍

[@shannonireland9057]

Great Video Mark! A real trip down memory lane.

[@markbehr88]

@@shannonireland9057 Thanks very much. 👍

[@mrdoiii]

Beautiful cars - my father had a dark blue Berlina as a company car. Was one of my favorites growing up. A dark era for V8s, similar to now in a way. Thanks again for the videos Mark.

[@markbehr88]

@@mrdoiii Happy memories hey? Thanks 👍

[@grantharrison5307]

Another great Video loved it, PB also did a entry level HDT called the Nitro and Holden realised one called Formula. I read in Motor or wheels magazine late 80s PB built a AWD VL Calais thinking turbo drove it around Manhattan. What could have been if PB and Holden didn’t bust up. Thanks Mark

[@markbehr88]

@@grantharrison5307 Thanks very much. I included a pic of the Formula in the episode but didn’t mention it. It was a sporty dress up package basically. Yes, what might have been although HSV realised the Coupe 4 years later. 👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

Oh man, there's an Atlas Grey VN SS Formula in my area, kept in pristine working condition. As a result however, I don't see it much, but it takes my breath away every time I set eyes on it due to just how factory fresh it looks

[@markbehr88]

@@MuscleCarLover Best of the 3 colours. 👍

[@aussietaipan8700]

Great video mate. After the Ford ESP, my next car was the VL Calais Turbo, it was a great car. It was traded in in 1990 for a VP Magna wagon as we started our family expansion. Ouch!

[@markbehr88]

@@aussietaipan8700 Thanks. At least you had some cool cars. 👍

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

Was watching a porsche video but saw this and had to switch to the mighty VL 💪 Had a VL exec wagon NA RB with a T5, white with blue velour interior, thing was a rocket ship and handled like a dream

[@markbehr88]

@@jesus_built_my_hotrod Very cool. Welcome to the channel. 👍

[@Low760]

T5 behind an rb? Did you do a conversion?

[@markbehr88]

@@Low760 Maybe NZ spec?

[@danozism]

Great job as always, Mark. The VL Calais remains one of my all time favourite Holden vehicles. I've never actually driven one myself, but I can imagne the 5L V8 would have also been great in this, although the Turbo 6 in the SL would have been a beast! The Cordia looks pretty cool too... Cheers.

[@markbehr88]

@@danozism Thanks. Yes, I love the VL Calais too. You could order a turbo in any model, including the wagon, so a Turbo Calais would be cool also. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​@@markbehr88 turbo VLs all came with upgrades brakes suspension wheels .?

[@markbehr88]

@@Eric-kn4yn Yes, brakes per what I mentioned in the episode. 👍

[@Jason-BMWM5]

Hey Mark, great video, a walk down memory lane. I had two mates who bought the VL Calais Turbo, one a wagon, one a sedan, both 5 speed manuals. Great cars for their time, I bet they wished they’d held on to them now as they’d be a collectors item.

[@jamesfrench7299]

It was a different time when such cars were viewed as a dime a dozen.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. Nice cars for sure and I bet they do wish they had of kept them. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​@@markbehr88$ everytime i read that id be wealthier than musk.

[@markbehr88]

@@Eric-kn4yn Yes, if you could buy them all back in the day. He would probably still be wealthier though🤔

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@markbehr88 easily.

[@adrianmclean9195]

Excellent 👍 - it certainly shows what the staff could do on a limited budget and foundation. Aussies are good at that. We even did it with the F1 Mirages.

[@markbehr88]

@@adrianmclean9195 Thanks. Absolutely. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​​​​@@markbehr88australia mirage 3 O&D dassault/ bloch 🇮🇱👍.

[@atomikauto9333]

After taking a friend of myn for a spin in the RB30ET, who owned a 351 Cleveland in a XB, simply said " what do you need a V8 for".....

[@noelgibson5956]

.........the rumble.

[@markbehr88]

The sound! 😀👍

[@markbehr88]

Yes. 👍

[@351tgv]

@@markbehr88 - okay but the turbo WHOOSH from BOOST is also a great sound.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv True. 👍

[@jasoncarpp7742]

G'day Mark. Another great video. I've heard of the Holden VL Commodore. Nice looking car. 🙂

[@markbehr88]

@@jasoncarpp7742 Thanks Jason. It is well loved here, especially the Turbo. 👍

[@gregidour7315]

Excellent work Mark. Bring on the Buick

[@markbehr88]

@@gregidour7315 Thanks very much. Like you, I like the Buick V6. 👍

[@Mike-4bes]

Owned a 87 white vl manual thing was like a magic carpet at 130 klm Best Nissan errr holden ever made

[@markbehr88]

Fair enough. 👍

[@Luke-er6pg]

Excellent video Mark! The VL Calais in particular, was a very nice beast when it was released!

[@markbehr88]

@@Luke-er6pg Thanks very much. I agree. Love the VL Calais. 👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

It just looks so smart, like it's wearing a tuxedo

[@markbehr88]

@@MuscleCarLover yes 👍

[@pgilb70]

They drove great, Brilliant powertrains. Those Cordias were terrifying in the wet-amazing the cops bought them! Excellent vids-perhaps some common weak points could be mentioned

[@markbehr88]

@@pgilb70 Thanks very much. Regarding weak points, I would only cover that if they occurred while the car is new, rather than later service life, plus that is not my area of expertise. 👍

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

Rust around the front and rear screens

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

Rust around the front and rear screens

[@markbehr88]

@@jesus_built_my_hotrod More rust 😀

[@commodorenut]

The Cordia info gives a good insight into government fleet cars in the 80s. Councils, Cops, Corrections, Telecom, AusPost etc - all the govt departments in the 80s ran cars for 20,000km then turned them in. Later this was pushed out to 40K. As Mark noted, the lack of sales taxes and other duties on cars for govt purchases saw them bought well below what a private buyer would pay, and most times they made a profit selling them at 20k (and then 40k). This loophole died out when the GST wiped out all the various state sales taxes.

[@Jacacatt]

Had plenty of mates with VL turbos, but the best was a mate who had a HDT Group A with a genuine Brock 5.6 stroker in it. I've never owned a Holden , but that Group A was one you wanted. I believe that it was one of two with the stroker.

[@markbehr88]

@@Jacacatt Wow that is pretty cool. 👍

[@commodorenut]

My HDT Calais Sport wagon was optioned up with the 5.6 stroker. It’s a one-piece crank (not cut & welded like others in the day) with a small counterweight on the rear flange. It’s so smooth and well balanced.

[@markbehr88]

@@commodorenut That would have been a terrific car. 👍

[@commodorenut]

@@markbehr88 it still is 😀. Only had it out 3 days ago for another drive. My profile pic is my VL. BTW my wife has an original ‘86 VL Group A.

[@markbehr88]

@@commodorenut Very cool. Glad you still have those two cars. 👍

[@rocknral]

Thanks Mark for the trip down memory lane with the Cordia. I had the turbo and it was great car. If you were stopped by Qld coppers, they always liked to have a look at it considering their NSW counterparts had them at pursuit cars.

[@markbehr88]

@@rocknral Thanks very much. Maybe I’ll do a full episode on them one day. 👍

[@rocknral]

@@markbehr88 That would be fantastic. Cordia never got enough love in my opinion. Starion was always in the limelight. The little buggers went pretty hard for a 1.8L

[@markbehr88]

@@rocknral Yes. The torque steering was on another level. Starion was nice to drive but heavy to get off the line. I drove the JB and JC when they were new. Maybe even JD? Cordias I drove were AB and AC models. 👍

[@351tgv]

@@markbehr88 - Maybe? Nope Mark you have to do the entire Sigma (including the 1st ever Australian made from the factory Turbo Sigma GSR) to Magna to 380 + Scorpion (ok maybe not the Scorpion) and Cordia cars ... lets from forget the STARION Group A, yes that was real in 1985.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv I remember the Starions racing when I was at Mitsubishi. I used to order them ex Japan and the race ones went to Sutherland Mitsubishi 👍

[@arokh72]

Got to love how the Vacationer came with free accommodation (probably a single night at Cockroach and Rat Inn), and free luggage. These days, you'd be lucky to get free floor mats and a full tank of fuel, or even delivery on time.

[@markbehr88]

@@arokh72 True. 👍

[@Gokizzmass]

From memory the cops in WA held on to the XE 351 until the turbo came out, but there were a few bitsashitty turbo starions (?) in perth in between. They loved that turbo dunnydore.

[@markbehr88]

@@Gokizzmass I don’t recall any Starion police cars as they were a very dear car. Only the Cordia Turbos we sold into NSW police. Maybe WA were evaluating the Starion but I wasn’t aware of that? 🤔👍

[@Gokizzmass]

@@markbehr88 might have been the Cordia then. Stepfather was a cop, that's why i remember this stuff.

[@markbehr88]

@@Gokizzmass Yes, probably a Cordia Turbo. 👍

[@jefftoll604]

I recall the WA Police using unmarked Cordia Turbos.

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes, I vaguely remember now that they may have put a smaller order in after our sale to NSW Police? 🤔

[@LeTessier916]

Another great video Mark. I hope you are going to cover the Magna/Verada range after you've done the Valiants. Cheers

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. Yes, I do plan to do Sigmas and Magnas at some stage. 👍

[@Gengargamer2_]

I’ve been looking at VL Calais rims for my in progress VB project because they still look very good today and especially on the older commodores, but I’m leaning more towards the HDT aero’s at the moment because they look good with or without the Center cap, unlike the Calais rims.

[@markbehr88]

I like both wheels. The Aeros were excellent. 👍

[@davidhope7899]

Very interesting, the blue Calais and the Gold Series 200 belong to me, the majority of the photos by a friend Suellen Saidee Photography she did for a Unique Cars article, one small clarification, the Series 200 is based on a Berlina with some Calais upholstery material not an SL. Good research and posting, cheers….

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. You must be very proud. They are both beautiful examples. My source material said the Series 200 was SL based, which I thought a little odd. Thanks for clarifying that and glad you enjoyed the episode. 👍

[@davidhope7899]

If you look on the back of the Series 200 brochure it describes the model it’s based on I think….

[@markbehr88]

Great thanks. I do have that leaflet. 👍

[@petermurgatroyd2002]

Great information on the VL Commodore. I wrote to Holden as well to save the V8 and got a reply but I did not keep the letter unfortunately. Wish I had kept it.

[@jamesfrench7299]

It would be collectable now.

[@markbehr88]

Very cool. I still have mine. Ran out of time to find it and put it in the episode. 👍

[@markbehr88]

Yes. I still have mine. Signed by Chuck Chapman. 👍

[@Seiskid]

I remember the excitement whenever a new commodore came out. Hard to imagine being excited about ANY new car today. My uncle had a white executive. He loved the nissan engine and I remember him picking me up from school one day and flogging it around the streets of our country town. Question, I seem to remember they softened the spring rate compared to the earlier VK (which handled great). Did this actually happen, and did it improve the car, or downgrade it?

[@markbehr88]

I agree re the excitement of a new Commodore or Falcon, or Fairlane or Statesman etc. Those days are gone now sadly. I am not certain of the spring rates but the cars were also slightly larger so that may also have helped the ride? 🤔👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

I guess it's time for me to mention my favourite fact, that being that under Group A ruling, the exhaust system must remain stock to the road car up to the first join, so the Walkinshaw has that first join a few cm after they exit the head, allowing the race cars to run whatever headers they wanted. Gotta love how people finesse the rule book to benefit them. Also yeah, that box of crystals was a joke. Not really Commodore related, but RB30 related. I find it funny that the most powerful version was never available in a Nissan, and that the lowest output RB30 was exclusively in the Patrol. I have no idea what they were thinking when they came up with a carburetted version just for the biggest and heaviest application

[@markbehr88]

@@MuscleCarLover Very cool 👍

[@drainaudio]

I owned a very clean, low-mileage, 84 Executive Wagon for a few years 94-96. The Nissan 3.0 drivetrain was lovely, as was the AC. Overall, that was just a great car to drive & it was very easy to sell (for top dollar) when a sudden opportunity/move to Europe called. Almost 30 years later I'm 8 years into owning an even cleaner, lower mileage Mercedes 280E (the W124, naturally a dream car for an Aussie Gen-X kid). Both the styling & the overall driving/ownership experience remind me a lot of the VL in a good way.

[@markbehr88]

Very good. The VL had great resale as many people liked the smaller size versus the VN and the VL was more refined. 👍

[@mrivantchernegovski3869]

here in New Zealand tho we got a lot of RB20E 6 cly VL commies both in manual and auto as the years went on people figured you could put a RB25DET twin cam head on a RB30 ltr block then you got a RB30DET in your R32 skyline and now you got a big bore torquey turbo motor also a few were fitted with RB26DETT head from a Nissan GTR

[@markbehr88]

@@mrivantchernegovski3869 Very cool. 👍

[@coalfacechris1336]

Great show Mark. Thanks again. Was part of the drama with Brock's Director that is had IRS developed in-house at by Brock's own people, and he didn't want to show it to GM? The energy polarizer is part of Aussie folklore - sullied his reputation to a degree and don't believe Holden suffered that much from the split. Imagine trying to convince someone like Larry Perkins or Moffat it actually done anything lol. Edit: was the IRS thing a problem related to guaranteed Australian parts content in local vehicles?

[@commodorenut]

IRS could be an issue, but as HDT were a certified secondary manufacturer, what they did wouldn’t affect Holden’s local content goals. Durability of the IRS was the main concern - Opel’s biggest motor was a 3L OHC 6, with EFI. The torque of a modified V8 was a real worry for GMH engineers. My VL Brock has a polariser, but I’m not about to run 22psi….. but I look at this way. If it does something, how could you measure it? Imagine showing a microwave oven to a person 200 years ago. They’d think it was black magic. It heats food without touching it, and no fire? How would they comprehend it? I think that’s where we need to look at the bigger picture - like the microwave, maybe in 50-100 years scientists will work out how to harness and measure the effects?

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. Re the IRS, Holden eventually released it on VQ Statesman and VP Commodore but Brock’s version was untested by Holden engineers to their satisfaction and the piece cost would have been high too 👍

[@commodorenut]

@@markbehr88 the IRS in VQ and VP onwards was a locally developed one, that whist it copied a lot of the Open design, it used a much more durable Aussie BTR diff (with internals the same as the live axle). The arms were also more robust, albeit simplified, which was the downfall they corrected in VX2 with the additional toe control rods. There is a very good book on the Monza that shows all the parts of the Opel IRS laid out like a factory exploded diagram, but it’s a real-life photo. Makes for a good comparison of what they had (and went under a handful of VLs) and what we got a stronger version of. I think the GMH engineers were already working on it, and knew the Opel shortcomings, so they wouldn’t have been too happy when Brock was happy to chuck it under a VL V8, and have a dealer pick up the warranty tab….

[@markbehr88]

Yes, that’s right. Even though HDT was a secondary manufacturer, they were directly linked to Holden reputation wise, plus the cars had a Holden warranty so they would have no appetite for anything that was marginal. Tony Hyde told me that the Polariser was not the deal breaker but the refusal to allow Holden engineers to test and validate was the torpedo for the relationship. I think the Polariser was even tested in the USA and they could not measure any benefit at all. 👍

[@gregharvie3896]

Back earlier Brock had personally imported a black Opel Monza 2 door coupe looking like our pre-VL version Commodores which had Opel developed IRS, then later Brock had personally imported a Bitter 4 door sedan which is an aftermarket derivative of an Opel, this also had Opel's IRS fitted. With similar steel car underbodies I guess it would have been easy enough to use imported Opel IRS units and fit it to Brock Directors. It was my understanding that's what Brock did and with local Aussie help revised spring rates and fitted gas shock absorbers instead of oil ones Opel used due to the perceived use a director may be given and/or the different Aussie road environment. These IRS units were tyre eaters chomping them out on the inside edge , and my guess Holden already knew this from the early days of the Commodore program in the 1970's and never fitted it to the top end Aussie Commodores as GMH did not any warranty tyre claims, like they had with the early SL/E alloy rims which cracked as the German Opel ones fitted to the VB's were recalled, my 5 liter VB wagon had been specked to look like a XL/E wagon complete with those wheels , and on the day I took it to the dealer for a swap to Aunger spoked wheel rims , you could see cracking on my spare wheel when you knew what to look for. As I told the guys at the dealership it had a wheel wobble on that rim and relegated it to being the spare wheel. When GMH fitted IRS to the VQ Statesman & Caprice it was modified version of the Opel unit that GMH used with new Aussie made coil springs & local market gas shocks. Back when the VQ was new the marketing manager at the company I worked for bought his own new VQ Caprice, however he found it chewed up rear tyre inside treads due to the strange geometry of that Opel IRS when you had weight from 4 people in the car and/or a boot loaded with luggage. The dammed thing toed in under load, so although Holden engineers modified in VX2's many Holdens were sold to unaware buyers with the tyre eating IRS. Datsun had this same problem with180B's in the mid 1970's, as the cars aged and as the tension in the rear coils relaxed and weakened with age they ate rear tyre on the inside edge, When the Datsun 200B's were introduced the early sedans ALL had IRS, but soon this was scrapped and the 200B sedans got fitted with a solid beam rear axle like the station wagon versions of both !80B & 200B. This seemed to be the same with every car manufacturer but one that had early day IRS, be it Triumph, BMW, Mercedes Benz and the list could continue. The one manufacturer that had just perfect rear IRS was Jaguar when in November 1961 they fitted it to their 2 new flagship models, the E-type and the big MK10 luxury saloons. As these cars aged or were scrapped via accidents, the "vultures" were hovering waiting to fit this brilliant system to some other sports car, or if from the big MK10 then hot rodders wanted it, or those with US Chev Impalas, Pontiacs, Ford Galaxies wanted that IRS unit to fit to their cars. In a huge cradle/module which could with 8 primary bolts, 4 tail shaft bolts, hand brake cable connector, brake pipe connector and the 2 big right & left side trailing arm connections under rear floor this whole module could be separated from the car in less than 20 minutes, used by Jaguar unchanged from 1961 until 1992. After this a "dumbed down" cheaper version was used starting on some models in 1986 right through until the last XJ's of 2019 these later type version had the disc brakes out at the road wheel, the better and more costly heavy duty original versions had the large rear disc brakes right next to the rear diff' race car style keeping the rear discs cool and in wet weather dry as well for instant stopping power.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Mark. This is getting better each episode. Finally a longer and wider car, but still not big enough. That Mitsubishi Magna was known as the Mitsubishi Galant Sigma in the United States. The Calais looked like a Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in the front. When you discussed the length, thank you for putting it in inches. The equal to the car would be the GM A Bodies from the 1980's at 188 inches long. A downsized Cadillac Seville 1988-1991 was 188-190 inches long. Thank you for explaining the different front end design. GM was using Nissan engines and transmissions. Who knew? I recall the Cordia. It was here for a brief time. What was interesting was the exports to Asian countries. I remember that whole Ford Probe and Mustang issue. That was a huge thing. Mustang is still rolling on in 2024. There was the Cadillac Calais up into the 1970's. Then there was the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais and Calais for years well into the early 1990's. Holden kept the Calais name alive. There it is! The Holden Director! Those performance HSV/ HDT cars appear like they started the last Oldsmobile look first. The 1997-2004 Oldsmobile front end looks similar to these Holdens. That was sad that relationship fell apart with Peter Brock and Holden.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much Olds98. It was a jam packed episode as there was a lot to cover. 👍

[@OLDS98]

@@markbehr88 Oh, but it was so good! You did an excellent job and I enjoyed. I am still thinking about Holdens using Nissan engines in Australia. That would not fly in the United States in the past, but it would today. I liked all the images and more. I still think Oldsmobile and Holden had a kinship and Pontiac too. I admire and appreciate the effort to edit, narrate and put the series together. I am still waiting for more and the cars to get bigger and get more features.

[@markbehr88]

@@OLDS98 Thanks very much. I appreciate it. 👍

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Mark, it would be an interesting episode about your time at Mitsubishi. Love my ' 380 '.

[@markbehr88]

@@perpetualgrin5804 Yes, it was a great company to work for. I will eventually do some episodes on the Sigmas and Magnas incl my first ever trip away for work to do the TM Magna regional launch in Orange. 👍

[@keithhayes5839]

@@markbehr88 that would have been at the H.A Thomas and Sons dealership.

[@markbehr88]

@ That’s right. Eric Thomas. 👍

[@phillipm1039]

I lived in Warrnambool and remember looking at vl Commodore nitro which was available in red only for, I think, $25000 and the saleman trying to sell me the Wallkingshaw vl they had and couldn't sell and it sat there for nearly 12 months.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, the Walkinshaws sat around a long time. I remember when you could buy a used one later on for $25k. 😳👍

[@Aaajjjjjjjjj]

One of the best looking Commodores. Behind only the VT in my opinion. Always preferred the front end of the standard Commodores to the Calais.

[@markbehr88]

@@Aaajjjjjjjjj Fair enough. I prefer the Calais. 👍

[@vxii4u]

Thanks for the insight re Director. Nail in the coffin for HDT not presenting car for engineering & durability testing.

[@markbehr88]

@@vxii4u Yes, what a waste although I think that car made the Walkinshaw look nude. 😀👍

[@commodorenut]

That’s what I really liked - everyone blames the polariser, but there were a number of other more important reasons, and Mark covered them accurately. Durability, ADR compliance, and GMH not being able to control Brock were very sore points for upper management. HDT even fitted a cat converter bypass to some VLs (post split) which wasn’t exactly legal….imagine Holden copping a fine from the EPA for allowing that?

[@markbehr88]

It was crazy wasn’t it. 🤔

[@MyNameIsPlayer2]

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the Director have independent suspension that was lifted out of a euro Senator?

[@commodorenut]

Some had it fitted, and yes, it was Opel sourced. This was one of the main durability concerns that GMH had - Opel’s most powerful motor was a 3L OHC EFI so many thought the Opel diff wouldn’t hold up to the V8 torque, especially when modified.

[@markbehr88]

@@MyNameIsPlayer2 Yes, that was an expensive option I believe. 👍

[@nathangreen280]

Any chance you know how many Calais turbo sedans were made?

[@markbehr88]

@@nathangreen280 I don’t sorry. 🤔

[@tonybennett638]

Great ifo as usual mate..

[@markbehr88]

Thank you. 👍

[@damiand4835]

I always liked the factory VL turbo exhaust tail pipe how it was on a slight upward angle to distinguish Turbo and non turbo . 🙂

[@markbehr88]

@@damiand4835 Yes, good point. 👍

[@UncleIansGarage]

I may have missed it but no mention of the VL HDT Nitron?

[@markbehr88]

Hi. I am not aware of that name? I covered the VL Director that caused the split with Holden. 👍

[@mickhofman]

great vid, VN will be huuuugeee

[@markbehr88]

@@mickhofman Thanks. I think you are right about VN! 🤔👍

[@bengepp9314]

Minor detail missed. SV88 was actually 2 tone, lower plastics n bumpers were a slightly darker shade blue .👌🏼

[@markbehr88]

@@bengepp9314 I thought that was just a variation based on metal versus plastic? 🤔👍

[@commodorenut]

Definitely 2 tone paint. They took inspiration from Brock’s original LE Calais promo car, but more subtle.

[@commodorenut]

Edit - the lower section was Jewel Midnight.

[@markbehr88]

@@commodorenut Yes, I am sure they pretty well replicated HDT in the early days. 👍

[@jimclarke1108]

My brother bought a new executive 5.0i auto, metallic maroon, neat size car.

[@markbehr88]

@@jimclarke1108 Would have been a nice car. 👍

[@waterbourne9282]

Over here in NZ we got a new 3.0L Berlina Wagon 4 speed auto as a work vehicle and we were excited about that engine which ran as sweet as a nut. Jatco were true to their poor reputation and the auto in this one let that engine down as under pressure it could never make its mind up as to what gear to be in. The car itself looked nice but bits and pieces of plastic trim would break, the screws on the tail light lenses must have been over torqued as they all star fractured around the recesses, and the soft plastic surfaces were great at capturing grime. Despite this it was still a nice car to drive and much smoother although not as much fun as the 2.0L Sierra wagons we also had and loved to drive hard. Near the end of its tenure with it one of our trainees T-boned and land crab with it, much to the chagrin of its normal custodian.

[@markbehr88]

@@waterbourne9282 Interesting. Sounds like a great car let down by quality issues and finally a bad driver. 🤔

[@Techo1329]

I remember the promo video demonstrating the smoothness of the all new 6cyl...50 cent piece upright on the airbox, engine to 5000rpm, coin stayed still.

[@markbehr88]

@@Techo1329 I have seen that on old Packard engines from the 1930’s too. 👍

[@Philly-lq6zr]

Engine quite

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr Quite good?

[@davidewhite69]

11:20 Nissan actually ran an ad regarding Holden's use of their engine in the motoring mags and newspapers, it went something like "if you think the new Holden engine is great, just wait to see how great it is in the car it was designed for" and showed a pic of the next model Skyline

[@markbehr88]

Yes, I recall that. 👍

[@naguoning]

Some were also assembled in Thailand, not just Indo and NZ but like Indo I think they didn't get turbo or V8 ones in Thailand. I know Brunei would have gotten Australian built cars but they don't have the sort of engine size tax restrictions that Thailand, Singapore etc have so they would probably have had 3.0 and even 5.0L engines. By the time the VL was released Holdens were no longer being sold in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks for the info. 👍

[@TexasBlues-123]

The Probe might make a comeback with the way things are today.

[@markbehr88]

@@TexasBlues-123 I hope not. If it does, it will probably be an SUV. 🫣👍

[@coalfacechris1336]

Probe was a great looking car in Bob Glidden's NHRA Drag Racing Pro Stock Trim.

[@TexasBlues-123]

@@coalfacechris1336 It probably beat the pants off everything else!

[@markbehr88]

@@coalfacechris1336 Yes. That is true Chris. 👍

[@geoffobrien1300]

Although a very important series, they are IMO the ugliest commodore ever made. Once you see the Camira front end in them, except for those with a calais style grille, you can never un-see it. Director has to be up there with the biggest holden unicorns of all of them.. i think they are selling for more than walkys in the market? Speaking of which, can't it almost make you cry now thinking about Walkys sitting around unsold back in the day!! Very cool video Mark and super great information as usual.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I like the JD and JE Camiras so maybe that’s why I don’t mind the VL at all and very much like the Calais. 👍

[@barrycuda3769]

That was very interesting and well presented. I had a 2.0 VL wagon. I didn't realize that you didn't have that engine in Australia. I wasn't impressed with the 2.0 litre as far as power is concerned, but a couple of things were way better than earlier Commodore's I've owned, the headlights were properly bright, and the heater was incredibly good. I have never understood what those VL Calais electric eyelids were all about, did they cover the headlights? .The quoted horsepower ratings of the VL V8's , including the Walkinshaw, are not exactly super awe inspiring, it makes me wonder why the 318 Valiant v8 copped such an undeserved lowly reputation, when it's horsepower is similar to these dream Holdens .On the subject of Mitsubishi Cordia's , when they were new , I remember seeing a black ,high ground clearance , 4 wheel drive version , it looked pretty cool , it must have been a rare model.

[@Low760]

Yes they covered the lights.

[@markbehr88]

@@barrycuda3769 Thanks. Yes power took a dip in the 1980’s. That Cordia would have been a grey import. A Moyes special out of Auckland. 😀👍

[@markbehr88]

@@Low760 Yes, more for cosmetics and to differentiate the Calais. 👍

[@barrycuda3769]

@@markbehr88 Obviously the Holden 308 had a lot of extra performance potential and durability for racing . Wasn't the Walkinshaw engine somewhere around 304 cubic inches? . I wonder how much HP ,teams like Perkins Racing were getting out of them ?

[@markbehr88]

@@barrycuda3769 As I recall, for Group A they had it as 4.9 litres to avoid going over and copping weight penalties. 🤔👍

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

Mark, I had forgotten that Peter Brock was involved with all that pseudo crystal nonsense. Was it really a Laura Loony moment for the cash..or was it too many dalliances with his secretaries?..now we will never know, but certainly a complicated character. Lets just be thankful that Pete Evans (MKR) wasn't involved with a car brand.🙄😉 PS...new car purchase in my YT banner.

[@markbehr88]

@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars Cheers. Yes, some strange goings on that did not help his business unfortunately. Seems like a terrible waste. 🤔👍

[@jimpikoulis6726]

You would say that adding a turbo model to the range was Holden's saving grace that would be repeated when Ford launched the BA XR6.T some 17 years later in 2002-03.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, most definitely. 👍

[@jamied1579]

I had a VL SL model from '06 to '08. It was my first Commodore and a pretty decent car overall. The fuel gauge never worked properly, neither did the A/C, but for the most part, it was petty dependable, drove well. Traded her in for a VE SV6, which I've had ever since...

[@markbehr88]

@@jamied1579 Cool. Sounds like you had a good run out of it? 👍

[@jamied1579]

@@markbehr88 It was one of the better cars I've had, for sure. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@jamied1579 👍

[@kingofthesun4858]

I love the Rb as much as the next bloke, but it makes me sad we never saw a return of an Aussie designed six from holden

[@markbehr88]

Yes, Ford certainly did a lot with its Six. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

The Red was a reworked grey which in turn was originally a Buick design. At least the Ecotec 3800 had a lot of Aussie input and was again based on a Buick from the GM fold though belonged to AMC for a while.

[@markbehr88]

👍

[@351tgv]

designed no, but developed, if you remember the VN S2 (not official) GMH did basically devlop the old Buick 3800 into something more civil which the US versions did not get. Also the EcoTec version from VS to what VY? were for AU only. Even the (awful) AlloyTec engines had Australian development but yeesh they were sad awful garbage re: the 3.0L V7 version was pure junk.

[@351tgv]

@@markbehr88 - everything from OHC to OHC with VCT to DOHC to LPG to liquid phase injection LPG to Turbo to enhanced turbo ... not bad for essentially a 1960's engine.

[@rustybogans2508]

My mates v6 capri used to smoke VL turbos all the time back in the 90s stock form they were only as good as a VH 253

[@markbehr88]

@@rustybogans2508 Interesting 🤔

[@Philly-lq6zr]

It is a two door and it is smaller ,which makes it lighter , v6 has better torque , taking off ,

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr true 👍

[@belchy94]

Probably the best ever 6 cylinder in commodore

[@markbehr88]

@@belchy94 Could be? 🤔

[@351tgv]

that depends, I still think the S/C 3.8L in the VT (heavy beast) was better from a day to day driving perspective but in NA form yeah the Nissan 6 was very very good for 1986 to 1988., the VK EFI 3.3L was also good let down by the (awful trimatic) 3-speed auto.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv The VK fuel consumption wasn’t great either. 🤔

[@351tgv]

@@markbehr88 - again it came down to transmission and final drive ratio, the VK still had the (awful) junk trimatic garbage which was also in the VL carby V8.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv Yes a manual one would have been much better. 🤔

[@GForceVRX]

Great episode Mark, is there any chance of doing episodes on the Magna? I would enjoy that

[@markbehr88]

@@GForceVRX Thanks very much. I will do some Sigma and Magna episodes down the track. Need to finish the Commodore, Valiant and Fairlane series first, then I will work out which cars I will do next. 👍

[@noelgibson5956]

I remember hearing a VN V6 for the first ever time. It bloody horrified me, sounding like chalkboard being scratched by some kind of metal implement. I knew this noise was gonna be common on our roads for the next twenty odd years. With the Ecotech in the VS, Holden finally quietened them down. The irony is, they made the VN V8's too quiet. Why didn't they do it the other way around?

[@markbehr88]

@@noelgibson5956 Funnily enough though, a VN V6 (with FE2 suspension) would do a good job over that Blue Mountains road 🤔👍

[@noelgibson5956]

​@@markbehr88 Yeah, though the speed limits change that often on the mountains that a slower car is better in helping you avoid fines. Every five seconds.......40, 60, 50, 80, 50, 40 then 80 again. Purely a revenue raising bonanza for them, that road.

[@markbehr88]

@@noelgibson5956 Yes, this was in about 1988 so no cameras then. 👍

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Pps: One of my poker mates owns a [pointlessly mint?] 2k original km Group A. I don't see the point owning a car you never drive, but whatever, he enjoys owning it.

[@markbehr88]

@@UncleJoeLITE Sounds nice but yes, drive it more. 👍

[@UncleJoeLITE]

"Flawed Excellence"? My gf's mum had a Berlina, it was a revelation after my VB. So nice to drive. But...yeah, that .superb engine wasn't built for the Commodore.& the VL got a sketchy reputation, like the WRX's reputation. It looked great, if a little bit dated. Thanks Mark. _PS: I'd love a Cordia Turbo._

[@markbehr88]

@@UncleJoeLITE Thanks. I think it looks pretty good, especially the Calais. Yes, I drove a few new Cordia Turbos back in the day. The torque steer would tear the wheel out pf your hands. 👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Mark, hope your well, Interesting car car the Commodore VL and why it moved to Nissan for the six cylinder engines I bet it was a reliable engine but must have cost Holden this must have reflected on the price of the car to the customer. The mid 1980's was the time that cars had to move over to unleaded petrol as this started to happen in 1983 in the UK I can see a lot of engine designs were about 20 or so years old and not made for unleaded petrol with extensive work usually on the valve guides and valve seats were made of softer metals and the lead in petrol protected these parts. Nissan do make good engines I have had 5 Nissan's and all were very reliable, 3 Nissan Sunny's and 2 Nissan Primera's. Great stories on the Commodore's racing with Peter Brock and tuning team Tom Wilkinshaw racing a name that is familiar in the UK as well as Australia, TWR done works cars with Jaguar XJS in the 1980's. The rivals to the Commodore was the Falcon but you mention the Mitsubishi Magna this car was sold as the Mitsubishi Gallant in the UK also the Courdia Turbo. Great video on the Commodore VL , catch you soon take care

[@markbehr88]

@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. Holden couldn’t really pass on the costs so it hit their profit. Our Magna was a widened version of the Galant, so much bigger and it had the 2.6. 👍

[@351tgv]

now to the Nissan Turbo i6, WOW, great engine, I had a VL Berlina wagon with the RB30ET and 5-speed manual (ware combo) and gees it was a weapon back in those days (by todays standard not so much) , yeah it had turbo lag, yeah it was not economical, yeah it would run hot (a little too hot that that air con will stop working) but dam it that TURBO WOOSH from 3,500rpm to 5,000rpm in 3rd gear and into 4th gear it would WOOSH again from the turbo boost, again mind you back in those days what a rush. The VL was actually a backwards step in terms of steering and suspension, too much understeer (made it dangerous in wet conditions unless you had wider tyres fitted) and a choppy ride at the rear end (way to bouncy and soft), I can see why the XF Falcon/Fairmont domi9nated it in terms of fleet and private sales.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv Interesting to hear about the drive impressions. 👍

[@tolgahk84]

Mark you mentioned you worked for Mitsubishi. I was a huge fan of the Cordia when i was younger and there was a rumour going around that only a handful of Cordias were given to the Police with the 2litre 4G63 SOHC engines however there were issues so they were mostly replaced with the 1.8 4G62 SOHC engines though some made it out into the wild, is there any truth to this rumor? The only reason i ask is one of my Cordias, we suspected it was one of the ex-Police cars, it had strange holes on the grill and front bumper, the dashboard had holes in strange places where it looked like a police radio might have been bolted on, also the engine was stamped 4G63 but it had the regular 1.8l style rocker cover (black ECI Turbo not the commonly done 2l Cyclone Dash conversion). Also another wierd thing mine was an AC model which were supposed to come out in 86 as unleaded however mine was an 85 AC running leaded fuel

[@markbehr88]

@@tolgahk84 Hi. My recollection was that there was no variation in the cars we sold to the police. It was a one off order due to no unleaded Holden V8 at the time. It is possible that your car may have been used as an evaluation car put into service before the main order was built and delivered as a batch ex Japan? 👍

[@rabidsminions2079]

Hard to believe the vl is 38 years old.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, I remember them when they were new. But I also remember the HZ being new too. 😳👍

[@351tgv]

Cordia Turbo .... YEAH BABY! As for Brock and GMH split, you have not mentioned that the VL HDTSV Director was fitted with the 1977 designed Opel Senator IRS (semi trailing arms), GMH could not allow that as it would of caused warranty issue should it failed, Brock knew this and still went ahead with the release, I think the "December 1986 or January 1987" Wheels magazine has a the entire story (well from Brocks view point) and ATN Seven (so essentially Channel 7 Sydney) did a video report about it in March of 1987 (you can find it on youtube), my understanding is that there are actually 4 VL HDT SV Director (with full body kit and IRS) released and sold and something like a further 15 VL HDT SV Director with the standard live axle rear suspension and no body kit sold and also at least another 10 with the stroker 5.6L (345ci) V8, all were sold via backdoor to fund the 1987 Brock Bathurst 1000 campaign, and the irony of all ironies GHMH has the nerve to claim the 1987 victory as "one of there own" after what they did to peter and his operations, shameful Beauvoir from GMH. I'll talk about the Nissan engines in other post.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv Yes it was a messy business but of Brock’s making. Holden was very tolerant but only up to a point. 🤔

[@Philly-lq6zr]

​@@markbehr88yep , and he 9nly signed the cars ,

[@Philly-lq6zr]

General motor been a corrupt name since the founders started up and got big , corrupting other businesses , and not listening to Brock, Pretty much all car manufacturers corrupt ,

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr Brock was certainly responsible for his break up with Holden due to refusing to allow Holden engineers to test his Director, especially if a factory warranty was expected. They got back together years later for advertising campaigns. 👍

[@michaelmarchei8539]

Still think the group A SS is the best looking car ever. Used to drool over them as a kid.

[@markbehr88]

@@michaelmarchei8539 Fair point 👍

[@351tgv]

which one? as there was the HDT version and a HSV version, both very different in terms o design and development.

[@markbehr88]

@@351tgv I would take the HSV one. 👍

[@trevorsully3054]

I remember when Holden had these Nissan engines with turbo options- Nissan didn’t offer them as an option for their normal cars.

[@markbehr88]

I am not close enough to the Nissan product so was not aware they didn’t offer the turbo too. Seems odd doesn’t it. 🤔👍

[@Philly-lq6zr]

​@@markbehr88GTS TURBO , AND JUST CHANGE THROTTLE BODY TO A FORD , GET 300 KW , GTS STANDRD IS RB 33 I LEFT NISSAN TURBO BEHIND , GOING UP HILL 😊, AND V8 V6 STRAIGHT 6 , FORD ,HOLDEN OTHER CARS AT THE LIGHTS ,

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr 👍😱

[@Low760]

Vp had a clear grille too.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, but more a continuation of the headlights ala Mercury Sable. 👍

[@KonstantinosKandiliotis]

Seeing the Calais' front fascia i am pretty sure that the Holden designers got a bit of influence from the Holden/Isuzu Piazza... 🤔

[@markbehr88]

@@KonstantinosKandiliotis You could be right there? I thought that car looked good. Handling not so much. 😀👍

[@mikewaters6980]

I loved those piazza interiors- still got the sales brochure somewhere. I heard from a relative that they pretty dangerous after he spun out driving normally.

[@markbehr88]

@ The Piazza. A nice looking car in search of a decent chassis 👍

[@KonstantinosKandiliotis]

@@markbehr88 Well .. GM platforms were almost never solid enough... Opel in Europe was always criticized on this ..

[@malcolmirving9485]

VP Commodore had a clear plastic grill.

[@markbehr88]

@@malcolmirving9485 Yes, but that was more a continuation of the headlights with an open slot grille below as opposed to an actual clear grille. 🤔

[@TexasBlues-123]

Petrol is a polar molecule (like water is) i.e. it has a slightly positive end and a slightly negative end. When polar molecules pass through a magnetic field they orientate in a particular direction and tend to form chains. As one molecule combusts it helps the next molecule in the chain to break apart by leverage and thus causes easier combustion. The powers that be don't want this stuff becoming mainstream. This polarising process has implications for the electrolysis of water to efficiently produce hydrogen. The fossil fuel magnates call the shots so the official verdict is: Brock's idea doesn't work.

[@markbehr88]

@@TexasBlues-123 I reckon it was hocus pocus. If the GM engineers could find a real benefit they would have used it. Such is the competitive nature of the car business. 👍

[@Low760]

Ah you must be the doctor!

[@Steve_jones113]

Don't lie, it's actually a flux capacitor used to put Brock an hour into the future of the pack leader.

[@markbehr88]

Dr Who? 😀

[@markbehr88]

That’s it! 👍

[@brendanmeadors3099]

The ol cordia turbo #roger

[@markbehr88]

Yes, the Master of Torque Steer. 👍💪

[@brendanmeadors3099]

​​@@markbehr88another great video love your work mate. Interesting tidbit on your involvement with the police cordia turbos. Any plans to make any videos on Mitsubishi and mmal after chrysler? An important part of automotive history down under. Everyone's nan had a sigma or a magna once apon a time. And cant talk about cordia and starion turbos without mentioning the sigma turbo. The GH turbos were an important Australian car that rarely get the recognition they deserve.

[@markbehr88]

@@brendanmeadors3099 Thanks very much. I will do some Mitsubishi videos down the track. I have a massive amount of info from back in the day, including the Sigma Turbo. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

I wonder how that engine and transmission it came with impacted local content rules? I find it hard to consider it a home grown car with an Opel based body powered by another brand's powerplant albeit a very suitable one. It never sat well with me especially with Ford's efforts developing their own sixes here. Holden just crated them over for nearly a decade until the locally made Ecotec was introduced in 1995 with the VS. Good looking model for the time and the Calais particularly very effective differentiation with the semi retracting headlights. The dash and centre stack has aged terribly though.

[@markbehr88]

Holden had a lot of export credits with the engine plant at Fishermans Bend. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@markbehr88 all the same, it was a pity they had to turn to importing what is the heart of any car and pass it off as an Aussie icon which I think is BS. The V8 option and continued motorsport helped temper that. The six was the mass seller but Holden still didn't come up with a replacement before VL. At least an engine based off a GM division design should have been prepared and built here by the late 70s. Chevrolet used a 4.3l V6 in their B bodies in the early 1980s and Opel had some large enough V6s though very sophisticated and not very torquey. I think the Nissan had less torque than the outgoing 3.3 boat anchor.

[@markbehr88]

@@jamesfrench7299 Yes the Buick V6. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@markbehr88 at least we eventually made them here in revised Ecotec form. The slightly tweaked 154 KW version in the VX, VX2 and VY was a lot better as far as smoothness than the earlier version. The one I had on my 1995 T4 Lexcen was very coarse at high revs.

[@markbehr88]

@@jamesfrench7299 👍

[@davidewhite69]

The main issue with the Director was it's optional European sourced Independent Rear Suspension that had not been tested by Holden for durability and suitability to Australian conditions

[@markbehr88]

Yes, they wanted to test the whole car. That is what sank the HDT ship. 👍

[@bradg5910]

6cyl RB30 was a revelation in an Australian car. Made the previous 202 and Fords EFI 6 look silly imo. Kinda made the carby v8 largely irrelevant, at least in standard form.

[@markbehr88]

@@bradg5910 I probably wouldn’t batch the 202 at that stage to the alloy head injected 250 but the Nissan engine was clearly a much newer generation powertrain. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

VL nissan 6 pot for commodore would have meant restructuring holdens manufacturing foundry etc as 202 6 pot production ceased with local content of commodore decimated makes you realise the investment chrysler put into their all new hemi engine

[@markbehr88]

@@Eric-kn4yn Although, Holden built and exported tens of millions of dollars worth of four cylinder engines all over Europe from the Fishermans Bend plant. 👍

[@brett_hall]

I had a Moroon VL Calais 5.0 with the Madeira interior. Regret selling it to this day 🤦

[@markbehr88]

@@brett_hall Very nice. 👍

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

When is the last time you saw an 88 Magna in traffic? They just rotted away by the late 90’s

[@markbehr88]

@@jamesmcgowen1769 About a month ago. A wagon. TN model in very nice condition but they are rare. When was the last time you saw any 1988 car in traffic? Most of them are gone. 🤔👍

[@lundsweden]

​@@markbehr88 Yeah even the almost unkillable Toyota Corolla/Corona/Camrys are gone. Come to think about it, even cars from the 90s are getting to be a rare sight!

[@markbehr88]

@@lundsweden Very true. 🤔

[@mikewaters6980]

Insurance kill a lot of them off. Even very small hits and they r anxious to send them to the tip

[@lundsweden]

@@mikewaters6980 Spare parts can be a hassle for older cars too. I've tried to buy parts for a 20 year old Mazda once, Mazda said the party number wasn't even in their database.

[@tom-vx1lp]

You see the odd probe chugging around

[@markbehr88]

@@tom-vx1lp They are odd. 😀

[@tom-vx1lp]

@@markbehr88 90s sport to a tea

[@markbehr88]

@@tom-vx1lp yes. 👍

[@swatmann7541]

no one is lusting over 80's magnas though. I loved Vl's but being a euro guy I couldn't cope with the interior.

[@markbehr88]

@@swatmann7541 Funnily enough there is a bit of a following for them now. I have an Elite wagon (ep on the channel). 👍

[@swatmann7541]

@@markbehr88 yeah a wagon would be the one if you wanted a magna I guess.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, my favourite. I do love my Elite with the digital dash. 👍😀

[@noelgibson5956]

I had a red TP GLX sedan with a grey interior. It was very pleasant and comfortable to drive and ride in. I loved the shape and the dashboard, but doing the Blue mountains, it lacked torque and struggled, plus it was plagued with reliability issues. I liked the Elite version to look at, but preferred the circular instruments in the lower grade models.

[@markbehr88]

@@noelgibson5956 I once drove over the Blue Mountains in my boss’ Elante to go to a dealer meeting in Lythgo. I know what you mean re the torque factor. You would probably need a V8 or a big six to really get moving on that road. 👍

[@96libertytt]

VP had a clear grille.

[@markbehr88]

@@96libertytt Yes, but more as a continuation of the headlight treatment. 👍

[@jesus_built_my_hotrod]

Yeah wasn't a grid grille

[@markbehr88]

That’s right. I really liked that grid grille and the fact it was clear was just very different in a good way. 👍

[@Philly-lq6zr]

​@@markbehr88yep ,,😊

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr 👍

[@royferntorp]

Mitsubishi went wrong with the FWD platform. One could not tow a boat. Enter Hi-Lux

[@markbehr88]

@@royferntorp When it was introduced it was very successful and back then, utes were not “family cars” like they are now. 👍

[@royferntorp]

@@markbehr88 This is true. I think the Ford wagons were the flavour at the time.

[@markbehr88]

@@royferntorp Yes, much bigger. 👍

[@stegatops1]

In 1986 you couldnt buy a V8 Commodore no matter how much you paid....there wasnt one.

[@markbehr88]

@@stegatops1 Until the unleaded issue was sorted. Hence we sold the Cordia Turbos. 👍

[@Philly-lq6zr]

I like the VL but they could have kept the VK lights , made it a little wider , , and no rust ,😅 , but they easy cars to drive specially for the learner's, can actually see the front and back in the mirrors and only holden made it twice in the motor magazine nz , brock reviewed it the second time , I did not like them when first seen it but after driving it ,GTS IS MY FAVORITE ,still perfer the HQ PREM ,

[@markbehr88]

@@Philly-lq6zr 👍