Holden Supercharged VT Calais Limited Edition – Today’s Tempter

By: Kian Heagney, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 16.07.2021

Supercharged Holden Calais

Supercharged Holden Calais

Force-fed V6 limited edition Calais

People are always looking to stay ahead of the trends in the classic car market and score a bargain, and this VT Calais with a factory fitted supercharged V6 is exactly the kind of thing we’re on about.

The days of cheap V8 VT-VX Commodores are long gone, with prices for VT II SS (the first Commodore fitted with the LS V8) well and truly doubling in recent years, with decent examples fetching north of $20k.

In comparison, this limited edition 2000 VT II Calais is a mighty tasty proposition at just $5500. Under the bonnet is the 171kw/375Nm supercharged L67 3.8-litre V6, making it far more spritely than the normal aspo V6 but without incurring V8 tax. All L67s were backed up by 4L60E four-speed autos, but being a Calais this is more a comfy cruiser than a track day weapon.

It’s also one of 400 Greg Norman special editions. Holden used the former pro golfer to help market their luxury cars in the late 1990s, as you may remember from the TV ad where he lauded the Series III VS Statesman which also bore his name with 250 special editions and a set of golf clubs in the boot.

Sadly there’s no golf clubs with this Calais, but you do get a bigger set of 17-inch international alloy wheels, cream leather interior and some commemorative badges on the rear pillars.

The bodywork isn’t perfect but by no means is it too far gone, and other than some rips in the drivers seat the interior appears in good condition. Critically the car looks to be complete and unmodified, a rarity for any super-six Commodore as they were often subjected to smaller boost pulleys and abuse at the hands of young owners later in life.

Because the seller has used the Calais as a daily driver, the kilometres are on the high side at a touch over 260,000km, but being a VT means that so long as maintenance hasn’t been neglected it should easily be good for another 100,000km before any major issues.

It’s up in Victoria, and you can view the full listing here.

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