Before I get flamed, this message contains no Alpine content, so get that
delete key ready. Sorry digest people.
jarrid_gross(at)juno.com wrote:
> What in hades is a Holden Commodore?
> No. dont tell me, you guys still make Nova\Chevelle SS down under!
>
Now you've got me started! My least favourite car of all time.
The Commodore started out in about 1978 as an Australian-made version of the
Opel Rekord/Vauxhall Carlton. It came out with four, six and V8 engines. I
think the four was an Opel design, but the six and eight were leftovers from
earlier Holdens.
It was basically the same formula as the Granada-based Falcon, except the
Falcon was stretched sideways. Chrysler were about to do the same thing with
the Talbot Tagora to replace their Valiant, but sold out their Australian
assets to Mitsubishi instead.
The Falcon and Commodore have since followed different paths. Where the
Falcon has received locally designed bodywork over the top of the Granada
floorpan, the Commodore has continued to be a low tech local version of the
big Opel/Vauxhall, now called Omega. These days the Commodore is stretched
sideways and probably lengthways. Current engines are the Buick V6 and a
local V8.
Holden have just launched a new version, based on the current Omega which
came out three or four years ago. If you read the press releases, the
Commodore is an engineering marvel. A brand new all Australian car made to
world class standards and costing peanuts to develop. They have conveniently
forgotten that Opel did the hard work.
I was incredulous a only a few years back when the Commodore lost its live
rear axle. The advertisements read "be the first on your block to have
independent rear suspension". Car of the year, my .... well, won't go into
that.
-- Russ Maddockhttp://www.petrie.starway.net.au/~sunbeam Sunbeam Imp Sport Sunbeam Alpine SIII GT Talbot Alpine GLS Peugeot 505 STi
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