2001 Holden VX Commodore SS Sedan

Description

A landmark car in Holden’s history, the VT Commodore was launched in August 1997 at a time when the Falcon was still outselling its GM rival and there was a new threat on the horizon in Mitsubishi’s much improved Magna.  Derived from the Opel Omega, the VT’s platform was crucially wider and developed for Australian driving conditions, with modern styling that really hit the mark when Ford got the AU Falcon so wrong.  Holden offered two different engines: the 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 (including an optional supercharged version) and the 5.0-litre V8, the last model to use the locally manufactured bent eight.  Offered in both sedan and wagon versions, the VT Commodore range consisted of the basic Executive, mid-range Acclaim, S and high performance SS versions, along with the luxury Berlina and Calais models.  Holden replaced the long-running 5.0-litre V8 with the new 5.7-litre Gen III imported from the USA on the Series II in 1999, followed by the revamped VX introduced in October 2000.  Visually distinguished by the new frontal aspect and revised tail light design, the VX saw Bosch 5.3 anti-lock brakes introduced as standard across the range, along with traction control on manual cars and a tweaked chassis.  The SS continued to fly the flag as Holden’s hero performance model and featured an aggressive body kit (now with integrated fog lamps), rear wing, 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and low profile 235/45 V-rated rubber.  The 225kW Gen III V8 was now standard issue, along with a six-speed manual transmission.  The SS’s interior featured sports cloth trim as standard, with colour-coded instrument cluster, leather-wrapped steering wheel and optional leather upholstery on the seats and door trims.  With values of earlier generation SS Commodores rising fast in recent years, the VT-VZ generation models represent excellent buying today, offering a lot of car for relatively little outlay.