One can’t underscore enough the significance of the Holden Commodore in Australia. Although consumer buying patterns are shifting toward utility vehicles, the Commodore remained a staple family hauler for decades. And suddenly, it’s fit for a museum.
ABC reported on Wednesday that the National Museum Australia added one of the final Holden Commodores ever built in the country to its display. Built by Holden Manufacturing at its GM-Holden Elizabeth plant, the car is none other than a 2017 VF Series II Commodore Calais built on October 13, 2017 – just days ahead of the manufacturing shutdown. The V6 engine that’s under the hood of the model was produced at the now-defunct GM-Holden Melbourne plant in Fishermans Bend.
The last engine to be produced at the GM-Holden Port Melbourne engine plant
The special Commodore sits alongside a 1946 Holden Prototype, which was built by hand by American and Australian engineers in Detroit and would later become the basis of what would eventually become Australia’s first car, the Holden FX. The display also houses the first commercially-sold 1948 Holden model.
GM-Holden director of design Richard Ferlazzo said the final VF Commodore series was “the pinnacle of our work”, adding that Holden vehicles will continue to be designed and engineered in Australia, despite being built elsewhere.
The last car, a 2017 Holden Commodore VFII Red line, to roll off the line at the GM-Holden Port Elizabeth plant in Australia
The museum added the special Commodore ahead of the long weekend to celebrate Australia Day.
Comments
Assuming this is the Museum in Birdwood, they also have recently installed an overhead assembly line with several partially completed Holden cars.
Their library has also been recognized by the Society of Automotive Historians with an award for the impressive breadth of research material.
If you are ever near Adelaide, go to this museum as I did this past September when visiting Australia and the Elisabeth plant.
This museum is in Canberra ACT