10 facts you may not have known about the VC Commodore
The VC Commodore, introduced in March 1980, served as an upgrade to the original VB Commodore. The VC offered just a mild facelift to the VB but brought with it a new engine. It also had revised suspension to improve ride and handling.
Despite looking very similar and most people not being able to tell the two apart, it consisted of a number of upgrades and improvements. The main difference, the replacement of the heavily dated ‘red’ engine with the new and improved ‘blue’ engine.
Some of the cosmetic changes included a new grille. The VC Grille looked almost like an egg crate with the Holden emblem placed in the centre of the grille. It also had the word ‘Commodore’ written in the rubber protector strip on the side of the car near the front wheels.
Production ran from March 1980 until October 1981. Production of the VC Commodore lasted a total of 19 months, just 2 months longer than the previous model VB Commodore, which currently has the shortest production life span of any Holden Commodore. The VH replaced the VC
When compared to the previously used ‘red’ engine the new blue motor was able to produce 25% more power with a 15% improvement in fuel economy. Considered by many to be quite a substantial improvement in engine refinement and performance.
In keeping with its theme of fuel efficiency, Holden released a 4 cylinder Commodore. Available in the VC Commodore range was a 1.9L ‘startfire’ inline 4 engine, essentially a ‘blue’ 2.85L inline 6 with 2 cylinders chopped off. This engine was not proven to be any more fuel efficient as the 6 cylinder version, as it required more acceleration and in turn fuel to produce the same output as the 6 cylinder engine.
The VC also introduced cruise control to the Commodore range. It was available as an option in the higher range Commodores.
The VC was available in 3 specification levels, just like the VB, however the ‘Commodore’ was changed to the ‘Commodore L’. The Commodore SL and the Commodore SL/E still remained as the mid spec and the high spec respectively. The VC also had its own limited edition range, a first for the Commodore.
The Holden Dealer Team (HDT) made and released its own line of limited edition VC Commodores, simply called the VC HDT. They were top of the line high performance commodores. Production totaled just 500. Money made through the sale of the VC HDT’s funded racing development.
A total of 121 87 VC Commodores were produced, including the 500 VC HDT’s. The VC was the first Commodore to break the 100 000 mark for units produced.
Like the VB, the VC was available as a sedan and a station wagon. Transmissions available were a 3 speed automatic and a 4 speed manual.
The cars were still assembled in 3 locations, those being: Dandenong Victoria, Elizabeth South Australia and Trentham New Zealand.
The VC Commodore came with 5 different engines, and both V8 engines had the option of a dual exhaust system which increased power output, essentially making 7 engine options all up.
Below is a list of engine options:
i4 58kW (78hp) Startfire
2.85L i6 76kW (102hp) Blue
3.3L i6 83kW (111hp) Blue
4.2L V8 100kW (134hp) Blue
4.2L V8 115kW (154hp) Blue (Dual Exhaust)
5.0L V8 115kW (154hp) Blue
5.0L V8 126kW (169hp) Blue (Dual Exhaust)
All VC engines used a carburettor and ran on leaded fuel.
Prices of the new VC Commodore started at $7 403 for an L ‘startfire 4’ and $7 903 for an L i6 sedan. When comparing the price of a base model VB 6 cylinder ($6 513) and a VC 6 cylinder ($7 903) it shows a difference of nearly $1 400 ($1 390).
The 4 millionth Holden was a VC Commodore, driven off the lot in 1981.