1987 Holden Commodore VL – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 24.11.2020

Said to be a highly original, low-km, country car: non-turbo, auto

The VL range of Commodore arrived in 1986 and was initially met with significant criticism and buyer scepticism largely aimed at its range of ‘bought-in’ Nissan-sourced inline-sixes. V8s were still option-able but with new unleaded fuel, were significantly in the minority.

Buyers and enthusiasts eventually found that there was a lot to like about the new 114kW overhead-cam fuel-injected alloy-head RB30. And the 150kW VL Turbo in particular would become a fan favourite amongst young modifiers for decades.

Beyond their appetite for large turbos and boost; the new Commodore gained a faster steering-ratio as well as more extensive sound deadening which gave the VL an NVH advantage over the preceding VK as well as the XF Falcon – the VL’s main fleet rival.

Suspension tunes were also more comfortable thanks to softer springs.

This one we spotted on the market is described to be a good and rare-to-find original example.

Said to have been owned by just one elderly owner (we assume the seller to be the ‘second owner’) who purchased the car from Suttons in Sydney, and has travelled a reportedly genuine 67,000kms with books.

The car is said to have been a country car all of its life and wears its original paint and trim, still said to be in good condition for its age.

Specified with the naturally-aspirated RB30 and four-speed automatic, it may not be the most desirable combos within VL lore – but you just don’t see honest and original cars anymore.

This one might be worth investigating.

You can find it based in New South Wales, listed for $26,900.

Check out the full listing here!

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