Cost of a new RB Gemini
- Base models started at approximately $8,500–$8,800 AUD
- The RB Gemini featured updated styling, modernised interiors, refined 4-cylinder engines, and improved suspension for better ride and handling
- The RB was the first and only Gemini of the second generation. The RB Gemini would be the only Gemini to be a front wheel drive.
- Optional features included air conditioning, higher trim levels, automatic transmission, and AM/FM radios
- It targeted urban drivers and small families seeking a reliable, economical, and practical compact car
- It was the last of the Holden Gemini models, they would eventually phase out and the Holden Astra would occupy its place in the market.
Average wage
- Average weekly wage: about $390–$400
- Average annual wage: roughly $20,280–$20,800
Average house price
- Around $85,000–$87,000
Price of petrol
- About $1.25 per litre
Prime Minister
- Bob Hawke (Labor Party)
Population of Australia
- About 15.9 million people
Top-grossing movie
- Back to the Future, Rambo: First Blood Part II
Top song
- We Are the World by USA for Africa topped Australian charts
Significant world event
- Cold War tensions easing slightly, global economic adjustments, and rising technology influence
- Automotive design increasingly focused on fuel efficiency, reliability, and compact size
Popular TV / radio in Australia
- Neighbours, Countdown, Sale of the Century
- FM and AM radio alongside television dominated entertainment and pop culture
Significant Australian news story
- Economic reform, rising house prices, and suburban expansion dominated headlines
- The RB Gemini reflected mid-1980s Australian demand for compact, fuel-efficient, reliable cars suitable for urban and suburban lifestyles
Interesting comparisons (great for article colour)
- The RB Gemini cost roughly 0.42–0.43 years’ average wages
- The average house cost about 4.2 years’ wages
- Filling a ~40L tank cost roughly $50 AUD
- A week’s wages could buy roughly 320 litres of petrol
- The RB Gemini represented mid-1980s trends: practical, economical, and reliable compact cars for small families and city drivers