Date of Introduction
October 5th 1981
Discontinued February 1984. Produced for about 28 months
Model Line-Up
Commodore SL sedan (8VK69)
Commodore SL station wagon (8VK35)
Commodore SL/X sedan (8VL69)
Commodore SL/X station wagon (8VL35)
Commodore SS sedan (8VK69) (XV2)
Commodore SL/E sedan (8VX69)
HDT Commodore SS (8VK69) (XV2)
Option Packages:
4 Cylinder: L18
Fleet Pack: A9K
Executive Pack: A8Q
National Police Pack: BT1
Special Vehicle Police Pack 4.2L: B01
Special Vehicle Police Pack 5.0L: BY2
Commodore SL/E Shadow tone Sedan: V6Q
1981 Vacationer: XW4
1982 Vacationer: XY8
1983 Vacationer: A8A
Commodore SS: XV2
HDT SS Group A: XV2
Only 332 SS Group A Commodores built
Prices at Time of Introduction
$8 366 (Commodore SL four-cylinder sedan)
$8 851 (Commodore SL 4 cylinder wagon)
$9 066 (Commodore SL six-cylinder sedan)
$9 601 (Commodore SL 6 Cylinder Wagon)
$11 038 (Commodore SL/X Sedan)
$14 861 (Commodore SL/X Wagon)
$14 861 (Commodore SL/E six-cylinder sedan).
$9 765 (Commodore Vacationer Sedan)
$11 033 (Commodore Vacationer Wagon
$13 385 (Commodore SS Sedan)
$15 580 (HDT Commodore SS Group 1)
Total Number Built
141 018, including 500 HDT Commodores
Identification Information
Similar body to VB and VC but with lower front-end body work and a horizontally slatted grille; Holden badge mounted centre of grille and centre of boot; the word ‘Commodore’ written on rubber bumper insert on side of car forward of front wheel arch.
Engines
1.9 Inline 4
Option Number: L18
Engine Prefix: VN
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 1.892 litres (115 cubic inches)
Number of cylinders: Four
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder
Fuel system: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor
Bore and stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm (3.50 x 3.00 inches)
Power output: 54kW (72bhp) at 4400 rpm
Torque: 380Nm (102lbs/ft) at 2800 rpm
Compression ratio: 8.7:1
2.85 Inline 6
Option Number: LD1
Engine Prefix: VD
Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type
Capacity: 2.838 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: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor
Bore and stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm (3.50 x 3.00 inches)
Power output: 73kW (98bhp) at 4400rpm
Torque: 187Nm (138lbs/ft) at 2800rpm
Compression ratio: 9:1
3.3 Inline 6
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: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor
Bore and stroke: 92.1 x 82.5mm (3.63 x 3.25 inches)
Power output: 83kW (111bhp) at 4000rpm
Torque: 231Nm (170 lbs/ft) at 2400rpm
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
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: Rochester Quadrajet four barrel downdraft carburettor, M4MC
Bore and stroke: 92.1 x 77.8mm (3.63 x 3.06 inches)
Power output: 100kW (134bhp) at 4200rpm (single exhaust); 115kW (154bhp) at 4400rpm
Torque: 269Nm (198lbs/ft) at 2000rpm (single exhaust); 289Nm (213lbs/ft) at 3200rpm (dual exhaust)
Compression ratio: 9:1
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, M4MC
Bore and stroke: 101.5 x 77.8mm (4.00 x 3.06 inches)
Power output: 126kW (169bhp) at 4200rpm (dual exhaust)
Torque: 352Nm (266lbs/ft) at 2600rpm (dual exhaust)
Compression ratio: 9.2:1
Transmissions
Manual
Type: MC6 four-speed manual
Application: Six-cylinder
Option Number: MC6
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.50:1
2nd: 2.02:1
3rd: 1.41:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.57:1
Type: MC6 four-speed manual
Option Code: MC6
Application: 1.9 L4
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.75:1
2nd: 2.16:1
3rd: 1.38:1
4th: 1.00:1
Reverse: 3.82:1
Type: Four-speed manual
Option Code: M20
Application: 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: Five-speed manual Borg Warner 007
Option Code: M76
Application: 1.9 i4
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.65:1
2nd: 2.14:1
3rd: 1.37:1
4th: 1.00:1
5th: 0.86:1
Reverse: 3.66:1
Type: Five-speed manual
Application: 2.85 i6
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 3.65:1
2nd: 2.14:1
3rd: 1.37:1
4th: 1.00:1
5th: 0.86:1
Reverse: 3.66:1
Automatic
Type: Three-speed Trimatic auto for
Application: 1.9 i4 and 2.85 i6
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 2.31:1
2nd: 1.46:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 1.85:1
Type: Three-speed Trimatic auto
Application: 3.3 i6, 4.2 V8, 5.0 V8
Location: Floor Shift
1st: 2.48:1
2nd: 1.48:1
3rd: 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.08
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
GM-H Small Salisbury (4 Cylinder)
Option Number: GU8
Ratio: 3.90:1
LSD optional
Option Number: G80
Application
1.9 i4 High Compression
Four-speed manual: 3.90:1
Five-speed manual: 3.90:1
Three-speed Trimatic: 3.90:1
2.85 i6 High Compression
Four-speed manual: 3.36:1, 3.55:1 LSD
Three-speed trimatic: 3.08:1, 3.36:1LSD
3.3 i6 High Compression
Four-speed manual: 3.08:1, 3.36:1 LSD
Three-speed Trimatic: 3.08:1, 3.36:1 LSD
3.3 i6 Low Compression
Four-speed manual: 3.08:1, 3.36:1
4.2 V8 High Compression
Four-speed manual: 3.08:1
Three-speed Trimatic: 2.78:1, 3.08:1
5.0 V8 High Compression
Three-speed Trimatic: 2.60:1, 3.08:1
Clutch
Single dry plate, Belleville diaphragm
Chassis
Unitary Construction (Monocoque)
Suspension
Front:MacPherson strut with specialty rated coil springs, wet sleeve dampers and stabiliser bar.
Rear (with axle type):Salisbury type differential. Rigid axle. 5 links including Panhard rod, progressive rate coil springs and dampers. Rear stabiliser bar on six-cylinder.
Steering
Rack and pinion, power assisted on SL/E
Brakes
Front:268mm disc
Rear:228mm drum (SL/E and SS: 274mm discs)
Electrical
12 volt negative ground. SL and SL/X 60 min/amp (40 amp/hr), SL/E 80min.215 amp (53 amp/hr)
I4: Conventional Bosch coil ignition. I6 and V8 electronic (high energy ignition), Bosch high energy coil.
Exhaust
I4 and i6: single exhaust. Two mufflers. V8 single with cross over, two mufflers. Optional on V8: dual exhaust with three mufflers.
Wheels
Four-cylinder: 13 x 5.00JJ ventilated pressed steel
Six-cylinder: 14 x 6.00JJ ventilated pressed steel
SL/E: 15 x 6.00JJ cast alloy
Tyres
Four-cylinder: BR78S13 6 P/R
Six-cylinder: CR78s14 4 P/R
SL/E: P205/60H15 6P/R steel belted radials
Exterior Dimensions (Sedan)
Total length: 4706mm (185.28 inches)
Total width: 1722mm (67.80 inches)
Total height at kerb weight: 1363mm (53.66 inches)
Wheelbase: 2668mm (105.00 inches)
Front track: 1451mm (57.13 inches) SL, SL/X; 1449mm (57.05 inches) SL/E
Rear track: 1416mm (55.75 inches) SL, SL/X; 1422mm (55.98 inches) SL/E
Kerb weight: 1152kg (2540lb) four-cylinder SL; 1196kg (2637lb) four-cylinder SL/X; 1228kg (2707lb) six-cylinder SL; 1272kg (2804lb) six-cylinder SL/X; 1326kg (2923lb) six-cylinder SL/E.
Turning circle kerb to kerb: 10.2 meters (33ft) SL, SL/X; 10.8 meters (35ft) SL/E
Fuel Tank capacity: 63 litres (13.85 gallons)
Boot capacity: 382 litres