{"id":3017,"date":"2026-04-03T03:39:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T03:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australianholden.com\/?page_id=3017"},"modified":"2026-04-14T05:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:40:47","slug":"when-the-holden-vk-commodore-was-released-australia-in-1984","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vk-commodore\/when-the-holden-vk-commodore-was-released-australia-in-1984\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Holden VK Commodore was released &#8211; Australia in 1984"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/\">Commodore Home<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vk-commodore\/\">VK Commodore<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cost of a new VK<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Base sedan models started at approximately&nbsp;$11,000\u2013$11,500 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VK featured&nbsp;major styling updates with sharper lines, improved aerodynamics, new interiors, and refined suspension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VK Commodore introduced the &#8216;Black&#8217; inline 6. It would be the first Commodore engine available with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 4 cylinder Commodore was dropped with the VK, it was only available with straight 6 or V8 engine options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optional features included&nbsp;air conditioning, power steering, and upgraded safety options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was the first Commodore to utilise plastic bumper bars. This was introduced as a weight saving measure to ultimately make the car more fuel efficient.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It continued&nbsp;the Commodore\u2019s reputation as a practical, reliable, and increasingly modern mid-size family car.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It introduced the Calais variant that would remain popular throughout the remainder of the Holden Commodore production run.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average wage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average weekly wage: about&nbsp;$280\u2013$300<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average annual wage: roughly&nbsp;$14,560\u2013$15,600<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average house price<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Around&nbsp;$70,000\u2013$75,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Price of petrol<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;80 cents per litre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Prime Minister<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bob Hawke (Labor Party, elected 1983)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Population of Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;15.2 million people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top-grossing movie<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top song<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Careless Whisper&nbsp;by&nbsp;George Michael&nbsp;topped Australian charts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant world event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Global economic recovery following early 1980s recession<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technological innovations in computers, electronics, and automotive design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Popular TV \/ radio in Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Countdown, Neighbours, The Don Lane Show, and A Country Practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FM radio and music television heavily influenced pop and rock culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant Australian news story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic reform, rising consumer confidence, and urban expansion dominated headlines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VK Commodore reflected&nbsp;Australia\u2019s demand for modern, stylish, and feature-rich mid-size cars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interesting comparisons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The VK Commodore cost roughly&nbsp;0.75\u20130.8 years\u2019 average wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average house cost about&nbsp;4.5\u20135 years\u2019 wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filling a ~60L tank cost roughly&nbsp;$48 AUD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A week\u2019s wages could buy roughly&nbsp;350\u2013375 litres of petrol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commodore Home VK Commodore Cost of a new VK Average wage Average house price Price of petrol Prime Minister Population of Australia Top-grossing movie Top song Significant world event Popular TV \/ radio in Australia Significant Australian news story Interesting comparisons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3466,"parent":49,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3017","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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