Date of Introduction
October 26 1978 for Sedan models
July 24 1979 for Wagon models
Discontinued March 1980. On sale for about 17 months
Model Line Up
Commodore Sedan (8VK69)
Commodore station wagon (8VK35)
Commodore SL sedan (8VL69)
Commodore SL station wagon (8VL35)
Commodore SL/E sedan (8VX69)
Prices at Time of Introduction
$6 513 (Commodore i6 sedan)
$7 797 (Commodore Wagon)
$7 813 (Commodore SL i6 sedan)
$9 508 (Commodore SL Wagon)
$10 513 (Commodore SL/E i6 sedan)
Total Number Built
95 906
Identification Information
All new body; centrally mounted square Holden badge at top of hatched front grille; side badging mounted on body work above protector strip.
Engines
2.85 Straight 6
Option Number: LD1
Engine Prefix: VD
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 2.8538 litres (173 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Six
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg 1 BBL Carburettor, BX
Bore and stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm (3.50 x 3.00 inches)
Power: 64kW (86bhp) at 4000 rpm
Torque: 198Nm (146lbs/ft) at 2200 rpm
Compression ratio: 9.2:1
3.3 Straight 6 Low Compression
Option Number: L23
Engine Prefix: VM
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 3.298 litres (201 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Six
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg 1 BBL Carburettor, BX
Bore and stroke: 92 x 82.5mm (3.62 x 3.25 inches)
Power: 55kW (bhp) at 3200 rpm
Torque: 217Nm (lbs/ ft) at 2100 rpm
Compression Ratio: 7.5:1
3.3 Straight 6 High Compression
Option Number: L14
Engine Prefix: VL
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 3.298 litres (201 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Six
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg 1 BBL Carburettor, BX
Bore and stroke: 92 x 82.5mm (3.62 x 3.25 inches)
Power:
Manual: 66kW (89bhp) at 3600 rpm (Manual Transmission)
Automatic: 71kW (95bhp) at 3800 rpm (Automatic Transmission)
Torque:
Manual: 221Nm (163lbs/ ft) at 2100 rpm (Manual transmission)
Automatic 213Nm (157 lbs/ft) at 2000rpm (automatic transmission)
Compression Ratio: 9.4:1
4.2 V8
Option Number: L36
Engine Prefix: VR
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 4.142 litres (253 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Eight
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal with cylinders arranged in a vee
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Bendix Stromberg 2 BBL Carburettor, WW
Bore and stroke: 92 x 77.7mm (3.62 x 3.06 inches)
Power:
Single exhaust: 87kW (117bhp) at 4000 rpm
Dual exhaust: 96kW (129bhp) at 4400 rpm
Torque:
Single exhaust: 271Nm (200lbs/ft) at 2000 rpm
Dual exhaust: 275Nm (203lbs/ft) at 2400 rpm
Compression ratio: 9.4:1
5.0 V8
Option Number: L31
Engine Prefix: VT
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 5.044 litres (308 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Eight
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal with cylinders arranged in a vee
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Rochester Quadrajet 4 BBL downdraft carburettor, 4MC
Bore and stroke: 101.6 x 77.7mm (4.00 x 3.06 inches)
Power:
Single exhaust: 114kW (153 bhp) at 4000 rpm
Dual exhaust:125kW (168bhp) at 4200 rpm
Torque:
Single exhaust: 344Nm (254lbs/ft) at 2200 rpm
Dual exhaust: 352Nm (260lbs/ft) at 2600rpm
Compression ratio: 9.4:1
Transmissions
Manual
Type: Four-speed manual
Option Number: MC6
Application: 2.85L i6, 3.3L i6
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.50:1
2nd: 2.02:1
3rd: 1.41:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.57:1
Type: Four-speed Torquemaster manual
Option Number: M20
Application: 2.85L i6, 3.3L i6
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.05:1
2nd: 2.19:1
3rd: 1.15:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.05:1
Type: Four-speed manual
Option Number: M20
Application: All except 5.0L V8
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.05:1
2nd: 2.19:1
3rd: 1.15:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.05:1
Type: Four-speed manual
Option Number: M21
Application: V8
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 2.54:1
2nd: 1.48:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.54:1
Automatic
Type: Three-speed Trimatic
Option Number: M40
Application: 3.3L i6, 4.2L V8
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 2.31:1
2nd: 1.46:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 1.85:1
Rear Axle Ratios
GM-H Large Salisbury
Option Number: G70
Ratio: 2.60:1
GM-H Small Salisbury
Option Number: GU7
Ratio: 2.78:1
GM-H Small or Large Salisbury
Option Number: GU4
Ratio: 3.08:1
GM-H Small or Large Salisbury
Option Number: GV4
Ratio: 3.36:1
GM-H Small or Large Salisbury
Option Number: GV7
Ratio: 3.55:1
LSD optional
Option Number: G80
Application
2.85L i6
Four-speed MC6: 3.36:1
Four-speed M20: 3.36:1
3.3L i6
Four-speed MC6: 3.08:1, 3.36:1
Four-speed M20: 3.08:1, 3.36:1
Three-speed Trimatic M40: 2.78:1, 3.08:1, 3.36:1
4.2L V8
Three-speed Trimatic M40: 2.78:1, 3.08:1
Four-speed M20: 3.08:1
5.0L V8
Four-speed M21: 3.08:1, 3.36:1
Three-speed Turbohydramatic M41: 2.60:1, 3.08:1
Clutch
Single dry plate. Belleville diaphragm spring, Mechanical cable operation, connected directly to pull fork throw out lever
Chassis
Unitary construction (Monocoque)
Suspension
Front:Independent MacPherson ‘wet’ strut design, linear rate coil springs, 23mm stabiliser bar.
Rear (with axle type):Rear axle: Salisbury type. Rigid axle, five link with parallel short upper and long lower trailing arms and a panhard rod between axle and under body, progressive rate coil springs, vertically mounted telescopic dampers, 18mm decoupled stabiliser bar mounted on the axle.
Steering
Coaxial rack and pinion, direct linkage (rear of front wheels) from rack to steering arms, Commodore, SL
Power steering is integral hydraulically assisted rack and pinion (std SL/E, opt SL, Commodore). Manual steering overall steering ratio 19.8:1. Turns lock to lock 4.1
Brakes
Front:Ventilated disc 268mm diameter, with single piston, sliding head lightweight calliper.
Rear:Self adjusting leading trailing show drum, 230mm diameter or solid disc 274mm diameter, with lightweight calliper.
Electrical
12 volt negative ground. Battery – 48 A/H 7 plate for i6. 61 A/H 9 plate for 4.2 V8. 62 A/H 11 plate for 5.0 V8. Battery in left hand front fender skirt. Alternator with integral voltage regulator. 14 volt amp i6 and 4.2 V8. 13.5 volt 55amp, 5.0 and all air conditioned cars. Pre engage type starter motor, solenoid actuated screw front engaging push pinion. Distributor breaker point/ coil ignition system with AC tapered seat plugs and television and radio suppression carbon core cables.
Exhaust
I6:Cast iron exhaust manifold with single seam welded steel exhaust tail pipe with 2 reverse flow mufflers.
V8, standard:dual cast iron exhaust manifolds with single crossover pipe. Single seam welded steel exhaust and tail pipe with two reverse flow mufflers.
V8, optional:dual pipes with 3 mufflers.
Wheels
Commodore and SL: 6.00JJ X 14 ventilated pressed steel wheels
SL/E: Styled Cast Alloy 6.00JJ X 15.
Tyres
CR 78 14 4P/R Steel belted Radial
SL/E: BR60 H 15 6P/R Steel Belted Radial
Exterior Dimensions (Sedan)
Total length: 4705mm (185.24) Commodore, SL; 4729mm (186.18 inches) SL/E
Total width: 1722mm (67.80 inches)
Total height at kerb weight: 1371mm (53.98 inches)
Wheelbase: 2668mm (105.00 inches)
Front track: 1451mm (57.13 inches) Commodore, SL; 1449mm (57.05 inches) SL/E
Rear track: 1417mm (55.79 inches) Commodore, SL; 1422mm (55.98 inches) SL/E
Kerb weight: 1220kg (2690lb) Commodore; 1255kg (2767lb) SL; 1400kg (3086lb) SL/E.
Turning circle kerb to kerb: 10.2 meters (33ft) Commodore, SL; 10.8 meters (35ft) SL/E
Fuel Tank capacity: 63 litres (13.85 gallons)
Boot capacity: 382 litres