Opel To Holden: A Brief History Of The Commodore 1978-1997

[MonaroSS]

Hi everyone,

Just thought you and some others may like a brief history of the Holden Commodore which is not actually based on the Opel Omega/Cadillac Catera chassis. I live in Australia and I know the full history of the adaptation of the Opel Senator into the Holden Commodore.

Here’s the true story. Opel had a model called ‘Senator’ which Holden decided to base their new car on in the late 70’s to replace their ‘Kingswood’ (and eventually it’s LWB ‘Statesman’) large car range in response to the oil crisis. It also had to replace the smaller Holden Torana. But they had to use Holden’s own designed old cast iron pushrod V8’s and sixes in the new car. But Opel’s Senator was too expensive with it's independent rear suspension. However Opel had a shorter lighter model called the ‘Record’ which shared most of the passenger cell with the Senator. So Opel and Holden decided to resurrect an old Opel name and created the 1978 'Commodore’ VB model by using the longer front from the Senator (which could take Holden’s 6-cylinder engine) and the rear doors, quarter panels and suspension of the Record which used a cheap live rear axle. And so the first large Holden to be based on an Opel used the Senator’s frame. You can see how the Holden Commodore (below top) uses the front of the Senator (below middle) and the rear of the Record (below bottom).







However, Holden did a lot of engineering changes for Australia’s harsh conditions but mainly to use as many parts from the old Kingswood to keeps costs down and limit reengineering for it’s local car parts suppliers here in OZ. Australia is a small market and low costs are critical. And this single fact dictates the entire rest of this story, because Holden and especially it’s suppliers could never afford to use a whole new Opel design. They took the basic new Opel design and crammed it as full as they could of carryover tough, rugged and proven components from previous Holden models. And they still do. Holden eventually upgraded it’s first Commodore by adding the rear doors, third rear window and rear quarters from the Senator making the 1984 Holden Commodore VK (below) virtually an Opel Senator body fitted over a modified Holden Kingswood components and drivetrain.



Then in 1987 Opel brought out the new Senator B (below top) and Holden followed with the 1988 Commodore VN (below middle) except that while it looks like the Opel Senator B with different grill and rear lights - only the doors are shared with the Opel’s body. Because Holden couldn’t afford to wind tunnel test and develop a new body on it’s own, it used just the shape of the new Opel. But because it had lost sales to Ford’s much larger ‘Falcon’ for ten years it knew it couldn’t use a shape as narrow as the Opel body. Holden also couldn’t afford to use a new Opel frame and suspension, which it would have to reengineer to tougher standards and to suit local parts suppliers anyway. Therefore Holden simply welded sill extensions to it’s previous ten year old Commodore’s floorpan/frame and mounted over that a copy of the new Opel’s body, which had been widened by a few inches. Only the door skins were shared. Unfortunately people complained that the old track width of the wheels looked too skinny under the new wider body and so eventually Holden developed a new Holden designed wider tracked suspension which was fitted to later models of that body style. In 1990 Holden also reintroduced the Statesman model name with a stretched LWB version of the VN Commodore. And this LWB VQ and then VR Statesman (below bottom) was fitted with a wider and tougher version of Opel’s independent rear suspension, which Holden had developed. This IRS was later offered as an option on some Commodore models in this body style series from 1991 onwards.







Then in 1994 Opel brought out the brand new Omega B (below top) that replaced both the Record and Senator models and ended the inline 6 engines for Opel, using a new V6 and I4 engines (It was also sold in the US as the Cadillac Catera). Again Holden decided to save money by using the wind tunnel tested and developed ‘shape’ of the new Opel. But it again had to widen it. This resulted in the new 1997 VT Commodore using a stylized copy of the now 3 year old Opel Omega. But again locally designed suspension and other locally sourced parts had to carry over into the new design. Again, only the doors were to be shared with the Opel, as well as a strengthened and modified copy of it’s independent rear suspension (which had been reengineered into a unique Holden version during the previous body) was used. However, as the body team worked on the style of the new VT Commodore (from which the Monaro/GTO was later engineered), even the rear door skins and glass were reshaped and so only the front doors were common with the Opel Omega B/Cadillac Catera. And of course the Holden Commodore now used the Buick 3.8 pushrod motor (with and without supercharger) and the Chevy Corvette LS1 engines matched to locally designed and sourced drivetrains and brakes etc. This also required a totally unique floorpan and framework than the narrower and lighter Opel/Catera.

To reaffirm that the Commodore and Omega are two different engineering products, you can visually see that the Commodore is a much wider and bigger vehicle than the Omega. And look at things like the roof of each below. Note that the Omega’s roof is a single pressing while the Commodore has a three-piece pressing. Given that the passenger cell is a major frame component in a monocoque design - this is a significant difference on it’s own. But also follow the carriage line under the side windows forward to where they intersect the front. Note how this virtually straight line sweeps over the top of the Omega headlights yet intersects the side blinkers on the Commodore. And the bonnet shut lines on the Commodore are more inboard than the Omega’s. This is because the entire shape of the front and even the substructure in the Commodore are different And underneath is even more different. A car needing to carry a heavy cast iron 5.0 and 5.7 Holden V8 (and then the 5.7 LS1) has to have a different frame from a vehicle that uses 4 cylinder engines and whose heaviest engine is an alloy 3.0 V6.







And that is the story of how and why the Australian Commodore, from which the Monaro/GTO was derived, may have a similar ‘look’ to Opels, from whom the styling was sourced. However, underneath the skin, which they don’t even share, they are completely different animals.

[MonaroSS]

What, nobody interested in Holden's history!

[Ming]

A good read, thanks!

[AdmiralViscen]

It was an interesting read.

[lordofgain]

Very good read! Thanks for the Aussie history lesson.

[JoeT]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

What, nobody interested in Holden's history!

Na! Holden's suck!

[chinamonty]

It is a good read. People often think they are the same as overseas models but they wouldn't cut the mustard on Australian roads if they were - original Australian Ford Falcon is classic case.The comments regarding costs are particularly true about Australian car manufacturers. They are savage on their sub-contracts. They set out how much profit you can make on a part and then audit you to make sure. Being a Tier 1 supplier isn't all cream.

[Tone]

I agree -- a very good read. It provides a lot of insight into the move towards "platforms" which may share component sets and basic engineering but offer a lot of flexibility in terms of length/width, etc.

I suspect Zeta was supposed to take this to the next level, but seems to be snagged in GM's current business soap opera.

[JoeT]

You suspected right Tone.

[SVT2888]

Very good insightful read.

[JoeT]

I reckon its what the next Monaro/GTO will look like but if you wish it to be the next A9X, then do so.

I extended the back end out like a Commodore/Monaro would be with boot/trunk lid instead of a hatchback.

If they built a new RWD medium-large car like the TT36 concept you might see a new Torana hatchback. Wouldn't that be nice. Just like the Gong.

[vb_stubbie]

A very interesting read. Well Done. I wonder what the next Commodore will look like. I don't mind the look of the new Vectra, maybe it might be a large version of that?

Holden will just need to make sure you can still install roo or tow bars, especially on the ute versions!

[JoeT]

Have a look at the 'Reader's Talent' forum, than the 'Zeta Monaro/GTO Concept' thread for what I think will be the next Commodore/Monaro stylings. Or just look left, but its a bit small though!

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by vb_stubbie

A very interesting read. Well Done. I wonder what the next Commodore will look like. I don't mind the look of the new Vectra, maybe it might be a large version of that?

Holden will just need to make sure you can still install roo or tow bars, especially on the ute versions!

Hi vb_stubbie,

Actually I'm just reading the latest MOTOR Magazine and they have published what they say is an accurate pic of the next Commodore.



They say that Holden made the front so similar to the outgoing model because the old Ute and 4x4 Wagons will be around for another 2 years.

.

[powervette]

looks like accord,
so American magazines will gonna love it