1991 Holden Commodore VN Calais – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 23.04.2020

Presented by

Factory V8 Calais, factory FE2 suspension, SV5000 body kit, auto

Holden’s ‘aero styled’ VN of 1988 was a drastic departure from the preceding VL.

The new car was a generational step; a welcome return to full-size dimensions and, for Holden, a welcome return to the top of the sales charts.

Buyers were attracted by its roomy cabin, torquey power delivery, and chassis dynamics.

The new Buick-sourced 3.8lt EFI V6 made as much power as the outgoing V8, and the injected 5.0lt (standard on the SS, and optional across the range) put the V8 powerplant back on top of the buyer’s wishlist; after the preceding VL’s boosted Nissan six outshone the emissions-throttled V8.

The VN on sale here today presents in luxury-oriented Calais trim, which gained the power pack, cruise and climate control, central locking and an alarm as standard.

It’s said to be a factory V8 car (backed by the four-speed auto), and factory optioned with the uprated (and lauded) FE2 suspension package.

The Calais sports an SV5000 body kit and aftermarket alloy wheels.

It looks to be in fair condition throughout with 242,000kms on the odometer. The exterior is well presented, and the interior looks to be free of obvious tears or rips. The engine is missing its cover however.