was the nz berlina much different from the aussie assembled one ?? other than the headrests and 2L engine

Ratios?

NZ Berlina was pretty much the same, apart from seats and that horrible tweed trim, no "australias driving future" decal on the rear window. and ive never seen an NZ Berlina with air con, electric windows, electric mirrors, and cruise, as I have seen on some aussie berlinas. VL Royale had two types of seat, most common is the "VN" industry seat, or the rarer Early seat, like in my early (around no. 800) Royale Australian production of the VL stopped in 1988 with the introduction of the VN. NZ production ran well into 1989, side by side with the VN, (where the Executive was higher spec than the Berlina in NZ) as there was still a high demand for the VL (much like the way we kept building 1900's and VK's well into 1986, when the last aussie 1900 was the VH) most 1989 cars are 2L Vacationers.

Quote: Originally Posted by calais3L All of my aussie VL's have been bitsa's. What is a bitsa?

Parts from all over the range/Towards the end,and when they were in the shyte the grabbed anyhing out of the parts bin to complete the cars.I spose just to use up the stock.In the first year or so more than half the VL's were built out of there 2 and half year build.

Quote: Originally Posted by ss nut Hang on what do we call the VL when the black door handles came in?? Better Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Psi_Wagon its simply become the eaisest way to identify parts, eg if someone said they have series 2 grey calais seats for sale, you automatically know what they look like. rather then saying they are from an 87 calais, which could have had either style seats. i use it all the time, as do many people. that doesnt mean we dont know there infact is no such thing as S1 S2 etc. exactly. Quote: Originally Posted by 4sakenvl was the nz berlina much different from the aussie assembled one ?? other than the headrests and 2L engine aus berlinas have way better interior seats. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

It's a cop out using the series 1 and 2,What if I wanted the last seat type?? How easy it it to ask or sell the correct one. Here's what has happened at a show.The question was (and this is from a pimpley dude with his hat on backwards)whot series is dat car??DUH!! His explaination was dat I read it on sum forum Or cars being shown or sold with series 1 or 2??I never had a problem buying or selling parts(go to your local dealer and ask for series 3 side plastic seat trim) Or cable or a rod for the auto shifter,which is series 1 or 2 for that? Beneth peoples avatar you see s1 or s2,So I believe most think that it is true Cheers Marty Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

i thought there were only calais, bt1s and vacationers?

Quote: Originally Posted by NZ_bt1vlt i thought there were only calais, bt1s and vacationers? Yep all had rolling up grades,During the uprades MMMmm how about the upgrade interior?? Sorry as I was saying all had rolling upgrades,They bored all the 6 cylinder blocks in the end to accept the turbo oil connections as standard,But now people sell them as turbo blocks. Coolant light was another rolling upgrade.In NZ we got the GTS,this was one of the nicest cars everbuilt(as far as I was concerned)by GMH.But as Steve said these are a bitsa car. Cheers Marty Wounda how many reverse hat jockeys thought they had a series 1 or 2 car?makes ya think does't it?(now they have series nothing)

n0,royalle,gts,executive

I get fed up with all the series 1 and series 2 crap as well.Yes, as some of you have stated, it can potentially help with finding a part your after (thats only if the other person knows what 's1' or 's2' means). But it does annoy me how people call their actual Car a S1 or an S2 (eg in their avatar or their car thread). As has been mentioned before, these cars were bitsa's. So Its possible someones so-called 'S1' Calais (I'm just making this up as an example) may have a 'S1' interior but might have a 'S2' motor (it was just a pick-and-mix by Holden). If you wanted to give each change to the VL a different 'Series' number, you'd find there'd be a lot more than just two, hence why I dont agree with calling the CAR a series1 or series2. Anyway, now that I've had my say, Could someone please put up photos of the 3 different calais seats? also photos of the 'high rise' and 'low rise' console? I've never actually looked closely at different VL's to see any height difference in the centre consoles, and both the calais ones i have in my 2 cars are the same (just different colours). Speaking of VK-and-a-1/2s and bitsa's, wasn't there an [NZ built?] VK/VL that had a VL rear (the boot lip-spoiler) with a VK front (square headlights) or something like that (or vice versa)? I remember seeing it driving in front of us and thinking 'Hey its a VL' and then we pulled in front of it and I looked behind me and it had square headlights. Also, I dont really know too much about the 'NZ Only' VLs (royale, gts, and executive), so would you guys be able to explain to me the differences they had to other VL's? I think I have a fair idea of what the Royale is (calais tail lights, 'royale' garnish, available in 2 or 3 litre? only in auto, drum brakes on rear, and did they have air-con? Thats all I know and I'm not even 100% sure on all that. cheers for the info guys

The difference between the "High rise" console and low is the flip up lid part with the padding I'll load some pics You have a good point about the NZ only models prehaps we should put a sticky thread explaining the models with pics etc..... might be one for Steve ? because there is afew aussies that still don't know what a GTS or a Royale is

I don't think the VK/VL hybrid was built from factory, I've seen a few that people have swapped the fronts around on though (why would you?) And I've even seen a VL on here that had the front end converted to a VZ.. odd looking car. I think the Royale was only available as a 3L.

Well no cnt has answered the question what they are supposed to be called, if you don't know then we are all just going to call them series 1 and 2 just like we did before this wank of a thread was made.

Correct only available in a 3L(royale)Basicly was only missing the eye lids. GTS was a sell out model,only was available in a manual(3 colours only?) Have only seen white and red,Almost had the VL GP A kit on it and a momo wheel(steering)And and all one of the nicest VL's around(my opinion). As for seat pic's I do not have any apart from the last of the build.(buttons and the elastic pocket holder at the back)prior one had the buttons and a solid bar as the pocket holder instead of the elastic,and the first had no buttons hollow head rest and the solid bar. Cheers Marty Quote: Originally Posted by POSVL Well no cnt has answered the question what they are supposed to be called, if you don't know then we are all just going to call them series 1 and 2 just like we did before this wank of a thread was made. Shows the mentalty of the above, they were rolling upgrades!what if you wanted the last of the seats,Would you call them a series 3(tosser)Most likely aways believed there was a 1/2!! Time to educate or the VL will become a urban myth. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Speaking of VK-and-a-1/2s and bitsa's, wasn't there an [NZ built?] VK/VL that had a VL rear (the boot lip-spoiler) with a VK front (square headlights) or something like that (or vice versa)? I remember seeing it driving in front of us and thinking 'Hey its a VL' and then we pulled in front of it and I looked behind me and it had square headlights. Seen 2 cars like this, one was a while VL Calais, with VK front and SS Group A decals, the other was a Hothouse Green Berlina, Definatley not a factory thing. Quote: Also, I dont really know too much about the 'NZ Only' VLs (royale, gts, and executive), so would you guys be able to explain to me the differences they had to other VL's? I think I have a fair idea of what the Royale is (calais tail lights, 'royale' garnish, available in 2 or 3 litre? only in auto, drum brakes on rear, and did they have air-con? Thats all I know and I'm not even 100% sure on all that. Executive was an Australian model, basically an option package on top of the SL, where you got Air con, Power Steer and Auto Transmission. (these were the most popular options on the SL, so Holden included them in the Executive Package at a lower cost) They got an 'Executive' badge on the bootlid but still said 'Commodore SL' on the dash. The Cars produced at Trentham were; The Berlina 2.0 and Berlina 3.0, Similar to aussie berlinas, but with locally made seats and trims, (that horrible woolen tweed crap on the seats and door trims) and a badge on the bootlid displaying engine size. The GTS, Berlina Based, With special GTS trim on the seats and door cards, Rear Headrests, Momo Steering wheel, Cheviot Rims, Formula Front lip and rear bob-tail. Manual Only, in either Red or White. The Royale, Designed to undercut the Hideously expensive Imported Calais, It got A/C, Electric windows, Electric Mirrors, Cruise control, Calais Grille, Calais Lower door mouldings, Calais Taillights, Boot Trim and a similar striped taillamp garnish, Calais Chrome Mouldings, Calais Hoodlining, with locally made seats and door trims featuring a hard wearing grey velour, and rear headrests. 3.0 Auto only, In a variety of Dulux Colours. Quote: Well no cnt has answered the question what they are supposed to be called, if you don't know then we are all just going to call them series 1 and 2 just like we did before this wank of a thread was made. If you dont like it go back to your own section.

Quote: Originally Posted by POSVL Well no cnt has answered the question what they are supposed to be called, if you don't know then we are all just going to call them series 1 and 2 just like we did before this wank of a thread was made. The point in this thread is that there isn't just 2 variations.. it's possible for a factory original car to have bits from both of the series you're talking about. The majority of the variations were rolling out of the factories at the same time, so rather than 'series 1 and 2' you would do better to know which factory the car was built at.. but they would have had most of the options and stock at most plants.

Cool, thanks for the help calais3L. Quote: Originally Posted by calais3L Executive was an Australian model, basically an option package on top of the SL, where you got Air con, Power Steer and Auto Transmission. (these were the most popular options on the SL, so Holden included them in the Executive Package at a lower cost) They got an 'Executive' badge on the bootlid but still said 'Commodore SL' on the dash. whoops, I meant to say Vacationer, not Executive (Vacationer was a NZ-only model wasnt it?). Was it similar in spec to the SL's?

The purpose of this thread was to let people know that there was more than 2 variations,And so far input has been great,There will heaps of running inprovements as the went on(interior and exterior)To those who do not want to be constructive,GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!or watch add and learn something. Cheers Marty