Description

Holden VN Commodore Group AB is of course part of the range of cars manufactured since 1978 by Holden in Australia (and, formerly, in New Zealand).B For the original model, Holden replaced the long-serving Kingswood and Premier large cars developed in Australia, based on a smaller European design by Opel, re-engineered for Australian conditions. Initially introduced as a single sedan body style, the range expanded in 1979 to include a station wagon. From 1984, Holden began branding the flagship Commodore model as Holden Calais, with the Commodore Berlina introduced in 1984. Long-wheelbase Statesman/Caprice derivatives and Commodore utility body variants followed in 1990. The third generation architecture spawned the most body styles, with a new Holden utility launched in 2000 (now officially as the Holden Ute), reborn Monaro coupC) in 2001, four-door Holden Crewman utility and all-wheel drive (AWD) Holden Adventra crossover in 2003. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) in 1987 began official modification of high performance variants of the Commodore and its derivatives, under its own nameplate.
Rivalry came predominantly from the Ford Falconbalso locally built.

Wikipedia tells us: Group A regulations governed many touring car series between the 1980s and 1990s including in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Germany and the European Touring Car Championship as well as the one-off 1987 World Touring Car Championship as well as significant races like the Bathurst 1000, Spa 24 Hours and the RAC Tourist Trophy.
The arrival of the Commodore SS Group A SV, coincided with the return of former Holden racing driver, Peter Brock, for the first time since their acrimonious split in 1987. Brock teamed with former three time Bathurst co-winner and HDT driver, Larry Perkins and his team for the first time since 1985 to run two cars under Brock’s Mobil sponsorship. The team formed a two-pronged attack by Holden, which also comprised Holden Racing Team led by British driver Win Percy.

Engine outputs of this race car produced approximately 388 kW (528 PS; 520 hp), enabling it to reach 300 km/h (186 mph) with suitable gearing. It was also equipped with a specially homologated Holinger six-speed transmission, and their homologated racing weight was 1,250 kg (2,760 lb), down from the VL SV’s 1,325 kg (2,921 lb).

The SS Group A SV b as was the rest of the field that included Ford Sierra RS500 and the BMW M3 Evolution teams b was outclassed in the 1991 ATCC by the Gibson Motor Sport built Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R’ of reigning champion Jim Richards and his teammate, Mark Skaife. Major complaints by Holden drivers included that the VN SS Group A SV lacked downforce compared to the VL series SV. Reportedly, this was a consequence of Holden demanding that the car be more eye pleasing to its predecessor, which was given various nicknames including the “plastic pig”. While the car had a better aerodynamic drag and was significantly faster in a straight line than the VL (at Bathurst that year, Brock recorded 278 km/h (173 mph) in the Tooheys Top 10 runoff, and aided by a tow from the Sierra of Dick Johnson was recorded at 282 km/h (175 mph) in the race compared to around 270 km/h (168 mph) for the VL the year before), it was slower through the corners due to the lack of downforce. This meant that while lap times at most of the shorter ATCC tracks stayed almost the same as with the VL, the VN’s were actually slower at Bathurst by around two seconds, though in fairness the VL series had 3 years development compared to less than 1 year for the VN.

Brock gave the VN its only win in Group A racing when he won the opening heat of the first round of the 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship at Amaroo Park in Sydney, though both he and HRT were again uncompetitive during the season to the point that the leading Holden runner became Larry Perkins running a privately entered VL model. In September 1992 the VN was replaced as Holden’s front line touring car for Sandown and Bathurst by its VP series successor. Brock’s team was the only top team to run the VN Group A in the endurance races as the team’s second car driven by Andrew Miedecke and Troy Dunston. The VN continued to be used by various privateers in 1993 and 1994 and last raced in the 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship by long time Holden running Sydney-based privateer, Terry Finnigan.

First generation
VB (1978b1980)
VC (1980b1981)
VH (1981b1984)
VK (1984b1986)
VL (1986b1988)
Second generation
VN (1988b1991)
VP (1991b1993)
VR (1993b1995)
VS (1995b1997)
Third generation
VT (1997b2000)
VX (2000b2002)
VY (2002b2004)
VZ (2004b2006)
Fourth generation
VE (2006b2013)
VF (2013bpresent)

This plate has no embossed characters but has a pressed out embossed borderB and is made from high quality aluminium and the artwork applied by a dye sublimation process with a lovely gloss finish. They measure 37 x 13 cm, exactly the same as the traditional fully embossed type of plate and look just like our other Aussie made novelty number plates; even the mounting holes are in exactly the same positions, so they can easily be hung on display indoors or outdoors. For protection during delivery we use extra packing materials to ensure they arrive in tip-top condition

If you would like plates made to your own design, we can easily do this for you.B Virtually anything you want can be created with our modern digital equipment.B The key is good art, and we can do

ANY GRAPHIC! B B ANY DESIGN! B B ANY COLOUR!