Opel Commodore

[racer69]

I have seen in various videos racing cars called Opel Commodores. I saw one at Silverstone for the Touring Car TT in 1983, and i heard of one competing in the German DRM at some time. Are these just rebadged Holden Commodores.

[Airhead]

'69, I think you are right. The Holden Commodore was based on the new idea (then) of a world car platform for GM.

I can't remember really, I think it was the 'J' car design.

In any respect, the original Commodore was a good car at the time of release. I even owned a VC model. But made the mistake of buying a manual. The M20 was a box best suited to tractors.

[Ray Bell]

Though the Commodore was based on the Opel design, there were many changes to the body to stiffen it before it was released. In fact, I recall reading that GM-H were contemplating making a 'bush' and a 'city' version because there were so many additions had to be made to bring the shell up to the strength required.

That they succeeded is shown by their sweeping success in the 1979 Repco Trial.

As for the M20, I thought it was too weak to be used in anything more powerful than a motor scooter - and too heavy for that application...

[Morris 1100]

I can't remember really, I think it was the 'J' car design.

The J car was the Camira.

[Warwick]

I thought the original Holden Commodore was based on the Opel Senator,when you see then side by side they are similar but not the same bodys,
They had to make some mods to the top strut towers to handle the OZ roads,and even then it seemed that we replaced every strut in every Commodore that came out,
However having owned a VK 3.3 nice car to drive although a bit softly sprung,later box than the VC but still a notchy piece of ****!

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Morris 1100
The J car was the Camira.

Your right Morris. And i'm sure holden will NEVER use that model again

[Crash Test]

A shame...it would be the ideal base for a super tourer

[Morris 1100]

A shame...it would be the ideal base for a super tourer

Yes what a great idea just what they need 5 or 6 Camira Wagons to fill out the field (well they would be cheap)

[Brock]

When I was an Apprentice and had to go to Holden tech school they had a trainer there who said (Without a smile on his face or hint of sinacisam in his voice) that Camiras where one of the best cars Holden ever made. We always used to take a bit extra time on job if we knew the next service to be done was on a Camira. Maybe a Polarizer would have fixed them????????

[Ray Bell]

Ever talk to someone who owns or owned a 2-litre Camira and they will report it was a fantastic car. By the time they got to that level (after a bit of time with the 1.6 and 1.8 engines) they ironed out the bugs in the rest of the car, and the 2-litre gave great performance very economically.

But to hear of one 1.6 and its owner's experience makes you shudder... he drove home in the rain one night, with some road damage having come with the downpour, hit a bad pothole... drove straight into his carport, got out of the car and went to bed.

Next morning he walked out to get in and go to work, noted it seemed a bit lopsided, and the bonnet was higher than it should have been on one side.

The strut tower had torn out! The bonnet was partially supporting the car on that corner.

[Brock]

Yeh Ray I have known of people who own 2lt JE Camira's and love them. It was just that JB and JD Camira's where so bad that by that time a lot of people where gun shy to buy one. The only car I have stuck that was worse was a Vaxhaull Cavalier Soft Top. It was about a 86 or 87 model and it was owned by a former senior exec of GM who bought it back for his wife after they came back from his posting there. This particular bloke should have know better but by all accounts he absoulty loved the car.....