Holden Commodore (VB)

Holden Commodore (VB)
1979 Holden Commodore (VB) sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Holden
Production	October 1978 – March 1980
Assembly	Australia: Sydney (Pagewood), Melbourne (Dandenong) New Zealand: Wellington (Trentham)
Designer	Leo Pruneau
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Platform	GM V platform
Related	Opel Rekord E Opel Senator Vauxhall Carlton Opel Commodore C
Powertrain
Engine	2.85 L Red I6 3.3 L Red I6 4.2 L Red V8 5.0 L Red V8
Transmission	4-speed manual 3-speed Tri-Matic automatic 3-speed THM350 automatic (5.0 L V8) 3-speed THM400 automatic (5.0 L V8)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,668 mm (105.0 in)
Length	4,705–4,729 mm (185.2–186.2 in)
Width	1,722 mm (67.8 in)
Height	1,371 mm (54.0 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Holden HZ
Successor	Holden Commodore (VC)

The Holden Commodore (VB) is a mid-size car that was produced by Holden, from 1978 to 1980. It was the first iteration of the first generation of the Holden Commodore, and was the Holden version of the General Motors V-body (V78) platform - developed primarily for the Opel Rekord E.

The car was officially launched on 26 October 1978 with showrooms receiving the first examples on 13 November 1978. Production of the VB only lasted seventeen months, the shortest reign of any Commodore. The VB Commodore was effectively the successor of the Holden HZ, although most models in that series continued to be produced until the introduction of the facelifted VC Commodore on 30 March 1980.

95,906 units of the VB Commodore were manufactured during the car's lifespan, and during 1979 the VB became Australia's number one selling car. Also in 1979, the VB won Wheels Car of the Year award, with the car being praised in the media for its value for money and engineering sophistication.