THE STORY The VL Commodore was substantial makeover of the VK with softer lines, lower profile rectangular headlamps and a tail spoiler built into the boot.
All the hype however was about the engine - in 1986 Holden released Australia’s first factory turbocharged family car.
The VL Commodore Turbo was built in conjunction with Nissan meet Australia’s new unleaded petrol standards. Holden’s traditional red and black six-cylinder engines lost too much power when running 91 octane unleaded.
Holden pivoted and used Nissan’s silky-smooth straight-six 3.0 litre engine in normally aspirated or turbo form.
The turbo RB30ET version which used a water-cooled Garrett turbocharger. These engines put out 150kW of power and 296Nm of torque and turbo boost came early at 2,400 RPM which provided smooth acceleration.
The cars were so fast from the factory that police forces across Australia used them as their primary highway pursuit vehicles.
Today they are a highly coveted part of Australian motoring history.
THE CAR Staring life as a non-turbo 6-cylinder VL Commodore SL, this car has been expertly transformed and upgraded into a desirable 6-cylinder turbo engined car built to Calais specifications.
Finished in Maranello Red with Silver, the paint is in outstanding condition. The car has a genuine Calais front clip and Series 2 Calais Sandalwood trim on the inside.
The engine has been upgraded to a 3.0 litre RB30 Turbo with Plazmamam Manifold, PWR manifold and Haltech ECU. It is extremely strong and the Turbo boost puts a smile on your face.
Originally an automatic car, it now has a 5-speed manual transmission that helps you get the most out of the stonking Turbo engine off the line.
Inside the car is in good condition with a leather Momo steering wheel and plush Calais interior. There is an upgraded stereo system with CD player and an amplifier and sub-woofer in the boot.
Other options/improvements include power windows, power steering, central locking, air conditioning, power steering, power ariel, a fire extinguisher, an after-market tacho and an engine immobiliser.
The car sits on 18” Simmons alloy wheels with low profile tyres and has tinted windows – a fantastic package.
Recent work includes a new centre bearing and universal joint. The odometer shows 147,650kms.
