Holden Was So Broke, They Put a Nissan Engine in Their Flagship Car — Then It Became a Legend

In 1986, Holden was in crisis. Their ageing inline-six engine couldn't meet Australia's new unleaded fuel laws, and they had no money to develop a replacement. So they did the unthinkable, they secretly flew to Japan and bought an engine from Nissan.

When Australians found out their beloved Holden Commodore was powered by the same engine found in a Nissan Skyline, the backlash was brutal. The press called it a betrayal. Loyal fans were furious. But then they actually drove the car, and everything changed.

The Nissan RB30 turned out to be a masterpiece. Smoother, stronger, and more powerful than anything Holden had ever built. And when Holden bolted a Garrett turbocharger to it — exclusively, as no Nissan in Australia got this treatment — the VL Turbo became a street-racing legend. The Australian Police Force commissioned it as their Highway Pursuit interceptor. And the tuning community? They took the RB30 to over 1,000 horsepower on a stock block.

The engine Holden was ashamed of became the most beloved engine they ever put in a car. We dive deep into the full story of the Holden VL Commodore, the secret Nissan deal, and the RB30's incredible tuning legacy.

Is the VL Turbo the greatest Commodore ever built? Let us know in the comments!
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