That Time Holden Sold Pontiac Commodores

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
11/12/2016 at 20:04 • Filed to: PONTIAC COMMODORE

A family member of mine has a pair of factory-produced Pontiac-faced Commodores, a ute and a sedan. This is its story.

Back when Holden were building the VE Commodore, and selling it in America as a car nobody wanted for a manufacturer nobody wanted, someone at Holden had a bright idea. Apparently they noticed all the Chev badges floating around and inexplicably thought they could tap that demand with factory-produced Pontiac-faced cars - simultaneously solving the problem of unsold Pontiac faces hanging around.

But hey, it worked. It was priced with a premium on the standard car, but they sold out nonetheless and are now sought after in some crowds.

And one of those crowds is within mine own family. At a 60th birthday this past weekend I learned my mother’s cousin has two identical Pontiac Commodores - a sedan (purchased new) and a ute (found later by some miracle) both in stark bold Red. They’ve even added Pontiac badges front and rear to complete the look. No SR20 I’m afraid, didn’t get a chance.

The Commodore and the large Australian car as we know it may be on the chopping block, but the passion is strong as ever in rural Australia - where these cars were designed to work best.

Pics from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (18)

shop-teacher > Nauraushaun
11/12/2016 at 20:18

Sweeeeeeet. I wish we could get those utes here.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > shop-teacher
11/12/2016 at 20:39

We came so very close...

shop-teacher > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
11/12/2016 at 20:43

I know. It pains me to think how close we got.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Nauraushaun
11/12/2016 at 20:54

Every time I see a G8 I think of what could’ve been.

Kinja'd!!!

wiffleballtony > Nauraushaun
11/12/2016 at 21:46

Here’s mine. It’s been an experience.

Kinja'd!!!

Nauraushaun > shop-teacher
11/13/2016 at 03:22

I’m sorry for your loss

Nauraushaun > wiffleballtony
11/13/2016 at 03:23

Actual Pontiac? Or Holden?

Pretty cool!

Tapas > Nauraushaun
11/13/2016 at 03:56

I saw them when I visited Australia as a kid like 16 years ago.

Its glorious - the modern El Camino.

Nauraushaun > Tapas
11/13/2016 at 05:38

They’ve also been around far longer than the El Camino. It’s a pet peeve of mine, when people refer to cars as a -amino instead of the correct “ute” term.

shop-teacher > Nauraushaun
11/13/2016 at 08:57

Thank you.

wiffleballtony > Nauraushaun
11/13/2016 at 10:23

It’s an actual Pontiac.

Tapas > Nauraushaun
11/13/2016 at 11:33

I didn’t know commodores had been around for longer than the El Camino.

I know its a ute, I was just saying that car captures the El Camino’s soul.

Nauraushaun > Tapas
11/13/2016 at 18:07

It does very much capture the soul :)

Here’s a handy chart!

Kinja'd!!!