Holden Commodore (VB)
| Holden Commodore (VB) | |
|---|---|
1979 Holden Commodore (VB) sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden |
| Production | October 1978 – March 1980 |
| Assembly | Australia: Sydney, New South Wales (Pagewood), Melbourne, Victoria (Dandenong) New Zealand: Wellington (Trentham) |
| Designer | Leo Pruneau |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Platform | GM V platform |
| Related | Opel Rekord E Opel Senator Vauxhall Carlton Opel Commodore C |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 3-speed Tri-Matic automatic 3-speed THM350 automatic (5.0 L V8) 3-speed THM400 automatic (5.0 L V8) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,668 mm (105.0 in) |
| Length | 4,705–4,729 mm (185.2–186.2 in) |
| Width | 1,722 mm (67.8 in) |
| Height | 1,371 mm (54.0 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Holden HZ |
| Successor | Holden Commodore (VC) |
The Holden Commodore (VB) is a mid-size car that was produced by Holden, from 1978 to 1980. It was the first iteration of the first generation of the Holden Commodore, and was the Holden version of the General Motors V-body (V78) platform - developed primarily for the Opel Rekord E.
The car was officially launched on 26 October 1978 with showrooms receiving the first examples on 13 November 1978. Production of the VB only lasted seventeen months, the shortest life span of any Commodore. The VB Commodore was effectively the successor of the Holden HZ, although most models in that series continued to be produced until the introduction of the facelifted VC Commodore on 30 March 1980.
The VB became Australia's number one selling car in 1979, the model's first full year of production. The VB also won Wheels Car of the Year award for 1978, with the car being praised for its value for money and referred to as "the best Australian car ever."