Info wanted - VN Calais V6 Manual (factory)

[Agrophobic]

Howdy,

Anyone got any info on the above mentioned vehicle?

I tried Holden's customer service and they didn't have much in the way of info. Mainly trying to find out how many of them were made with the factory 5-speed manual.
NRMA were no help, they suggested asking a Holden salesman that was around back then... Found one and he said "never made 'em" when I told him I had one he said "must be after-market" so I showed him the log books and vin that spec'd it as manual and he said "well they made at least 1"...big help

Any info would be great.

Thanks

[who_me_?]

No idea on numbers - probably equal to the number of recent commodores without AC - they do exist but not many...

ANyway, it seems that in the VN/VP you could (in theory) get a V6 or V8 manual according to:

http://www.redbook.com.au/vehiclesearch/valuations4.asp?make=HOLD&family=CALAIS&year=1991

[fekason]

I believe that about 5% of Commodores of that era were manuals.

They were also more widely available through the model range than is the case these days. They were No Cost Delete options on Berlina and Calais. I have seen a number of them around, but they can be harder to find.

[The Griff]

It is correct that the VN Calais came from the factory with a manual option 'cause I had one, along with a V8, FE2 and an LSD. I wanted the performance of an SS but not the poverty pack interior or tacky body kit as it was back then. For this reason, I would expect there to be more V8 manuals than V6 manuals. The V6 would be very rare indeed and I guess only Holden would know how many were built, but it would not be more than a couple of hundred I would think. Try e-mailing Holden with your request. You never know - it may end up with someone who know the answer.

Mine took about 6 weeks to be delivered, when I could have had an auto immediately. I know of one other with the same options as mine that was ordered around the same time from the same dealership.

[Agrophobic]

I had the Calais up for sale as I had purchased a 95 VR Berlina as a replacement but the more I looked into the rarity of the 5-Speed Calais the more I was inclined to keep it. However at the time I was commuting and doing over 1000km per week so the VR was a little bit more comfortable ;)

As I have changed jobs and no longer commute (I now do about 100km a month!!) I have sold the VR and kept he VN with the intention of spending some money on it, wheels, tyres, turbo? But first thing is replacing the hood lining with a VR/VS one.