Spotted this morning - LHD Chev badged VE

[MonoJoker]

Saw a shiny red "Lumina" with gold bowtie on the boot on the Westgate Freeway this morning heading outbound. In large labels on the rear windscreen was written "LEFT HAND DRIVE VEHICLE".

Is this a test mule or just a Holden Exec driving to work? They're already being exported aren't they?

Cheers
LT.

[roofmagic]

Hi there, Last week my mate saw it bypassing Melton on the Western Freeway. Someone is clocking up a few km's in it then? Sounds like the Holden exec going to/from work doesn't it? roofmagic.

[HSVJPL]

Export vehicle my friend for Middle east and South Africa.

All chev badged and LHD.

[hallyoz]

Further to this, last week at our local shopping centre (Sanctuary Lakes) was a right hand drive chev badged lumina. Hva seen plenty of LHD's on the Westgate also but this is the first RHD badge Chev I have seen. What would be an export market for Chev bound cars? South Africa maybe?

Cheers,

Andrew

[Dacious]

Missus works at the DSTO right next to Holden at Fishermans Bend. She sees all sorts of cars driving around - Luminas, Caprices, Cadillacs etc with the LHD stickers. She saw a Cadillac XLR the other day

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2006/Q1/032820061820133850.jpg

Also the BLS (which is the Saab 9-3 underneath) and Hummers.

[Janus]

Well these were spotted by a friend on another forum who lives in Saudi Arabia.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8044/image523zq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5553/image524ar1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7097/image525vi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6756/image526rp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1849/image527rb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It seems the model lineup over there goes a little like this.


OK, here's the correlation to the best of my knowledge, based on how the VZ series was laid out according to this page (http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/jsp/corporateinfo/exports/exports.jsp?link=vehicle) on Holden's website:

Short wheelbase:

Omega = Lumina LS
Berlina = Lumina LTZ
Calais (V?) = Lumina Royale (The Royale was new for the VZ and had the same V8 as the SS, just with 10 fewer horses)
SV6 = Lumina S (but with just the 230hp/175kW engine for the VZs :(, I hope the VE will bring with it the better engine)
SS/SS-V = Lumina SS (we didn't have an equivalent to the SV8 before, so I think they're just going to continue using the SS model for the top-end sports version)

Long Wheel Base:

? = Caprice LS
Statesman = Caprice LTZ
Caprice = Caprice Royale
? = Caprice SS (yes, we have a sports version of the Caprice :P)

They also added the V6 as an option for the Caprice LS, starting with the VZ, not sure if you guys did the same down under. Also, before, the only car with a manual option was the Lumina Coupe SS (Monaro CV8 ), but thankfully the VEs can be ordered with a manual. :thumbsup:

[Growler]

Further to this, last week at our local shopping centre (Sanctuary Lakes) was a right hand drive chev badged lumina. Hva seen plenty of LHD's on the Westgate also but this is the first RHD badge Chev I have seen. What would be an export market for Chev bound cars? South Africa maybe?

Cheers,

Andrew
The RHD Chevy's are for export to South Africa. If you go down the holding yards at Outer Harbour in Adelaide there are literally thousands of LHD and RHD Chevy's waiting to be shipped OS.

[clixanup]

Well these were spotted by a friend on another forum who lives in Saudi Arabia.
Does he live near a lily pond?

[cwhast]

Here you go, just in case no one could figure out the froggies. Great pics mate.
http://img148.imagevenue.com/loc419/th_89036_image523zq9_122_419lo.jpg (http://img148.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=89036_image523zq9_122_419lo.jpg)http ://img120.imagevenue.com/loc599/th_89041_image524ar1_122_599lo.jpg (http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=89041_image524ar1_122_599lo.jpg)http ://img134.imagevenue.com/loc593/th_89046_image525vi8_122_593lo.jpg (http://img134.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=89046_image525vi8_122_593lo.jpg)http ://img140.imagevenue.com/loc379/th_89050_image526rp0_122_379lo.jpg (http://img140.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=89050_image526rp0_122_379lo.jpg)
http://img37.imagevenue.com/loc368/th_89055_image527rb9_122_368lo.jpg (http://img37.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=89055_image527rb9_122_368lo.jpg)

The silver SUV appears to be a GMC Yukon... aka Tahoe.

[GWHawk]

Is this a test mule or just a Holden Exec driving to work? They're already being exported aren't they?

Cheers
LT.

Woo Hoo...First post!!!

i saw a LHD Lumina in Essendon about a week and a half ago; not sure which model though. I asked the driver what the deal was, he said he was testing the Middle Eaastern lumina which is a poorer build quality than the South African luminas (and the Commodore). The wheels were lower profiles than the Sv6 and SS variants, and looked cheaper than the berlina's.

It won't be long at all till we see some Chevvy badges cruising around on our VEs

[Bravotwozero]

Saw a left hand drive Caprice a couple of weeks back on the Monash. (Outer Subs) But it didn't have a Chev badge. Had something else that I'd never seen before! :hmmm:

[Road Warrior]

Saw a left hand drive Caprice a couple of weeks back on the Monash. (Outer Subs) But it didn't have a Chev badge. Had something else that I'd never seen before! :hmmm:

Impala perhaps?

[BLACK 346]

Have any VE's been sent to the Middle East yet? I have been
keeping an eye out when on r&r, but am yet to see one.

[Desertraptor]

Yes the VE has been sent to Saudi. My dads place is five minute drive from the loading docks where they put dem on da boats. I have pics of them at the dock with the red Saudi stickers on the windows

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/desertraptor/VE%20Commodore/_MG_4993-01.jpg

[AussieTone]

And as if by magic why can't one of those grilles fall off the truck and appear in my garage in Brisbane. Must talk to my genie about this…….

Do any of our members more experienced in this area know if these can be purchased from Holden spares or are they 'black listed' for local sales like previous models

Even a part number for the VE SS Chev grille would be a start. Maybe there is a loop hole that has as yet to be closed. Anyone help here

[Desertraptor]

And again I have to wonder why would anyone want to put Chev badging on a Holden. We have a better car than anything Chev or the US has made in recent years. Why would you want to down grade the VE?

My 2 cents

[VT 2 EXEC LS1]

I saw a plain bog stock Omega with all the chevy badging on it here in ballarat on the weekend. couldnt tell if it was left or right hand drive due to the tinted windows. :cussing: it was in the champange colour

[V-Car]

Saw a left hand drive Caprice a couple of weeks back on the Monash. (Outer Subs) But it didn't have a Chev badge. Had something else that I'd never seen before! :hmmm:

Was probably a Buick Royaum for China or a Daewoo Statesman for Korea.

[VooDoo]

Tony: talk to SLYLS1 as he has one and can get more.

[AussieTone]

And again I have to wonder why would anyone want to put Chev badging on a Holden. We have a better car than anything Chev or the US has made in recent years. Why would you want to down grade the VE?

My 2 cents

I agree, however I am not a fan of the XXXL Lion grille OEM Badge but unfortunately can't think of anything else to replace it with that looks half decent and that it belongs there.

My preferred option would be to have the OEM chrome badge black chromed but can’t find anyone who does this (as the badge is plastic) or painted in a black chrome but don’t know how successful this would be (adhesion of paint over the long run).

If anyone has contacts in Brisbane who could do either of the above I would appreciate it if you could pass on contact details.

If I went the least preferred option i.e. Chev grille, I would know it is really a Holden and not a Chev providing the CRAFT doesn’t raise its ugly head

Cheers

[Stormin]

Woo Hoo...First post!!!

i saw a LHD Lumina in Essendon about a week and a half ago; not sure which model though. I asked the driver what the deal was, he said he was testing the Middle Eaastern lumina which is a poorer build quality than the South African luminas (and the Commodore).

By poorer build quality you mean trim level? Shouldn't be build quality since they all come out of the Elizabeth plant.

[Black AH CDX]

i remember reading on carpoint that the cars exported to the middle east still have the horrid 4 speed gearbox fitted to the V8's and ESP isn't standard

[Fnomna]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40515

Comes as LS, LTZ, SS and Royale. A Gen VI 6.0L V8 mated to a 6-speed tiptronic comes on the LTZ, SS and Royale models and a 3.8L Ecotec V6 is optional on the Ls. IIRC, its still a 4-speed auto on the LS with the 3.8L. If only a manual model was available...

The V6 WM looks like it has the 4sp
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/456376/fullsize/dsc00599.jpg

[Muscrat]

On the pickey's on the first page, are they standard dust covers over the front rotors or only for shipping / export?

[uncle]

I agree, however I am not a fan of the XXXL Lion grille OEM Badge but unfortunately can't think of anything else to replace it with that looks half decent and that it belongs there.

My preferred option would be to have the OEM chrome badge black chromed but can’t find anyone who does this (as the badge is plastic) or painted in a black chrome but don’t know how successful this would be (adhesion of paint over the long run).

If anyone has contacts in Brisbane who could do either of the above I would appreciate it if you could pass on contact details.

If I went the least preferred option i.e. Chev grille, I would know it is really a Holden and not a Chev providing the CRAFT doesn’t raise its ugly head

Cheers
I agree 100% mate.I was out in the press mule VE HSV sen/sig last night and that was the thing we picked up on right off the bat.The nice small HSV badge in the grill not what I now refer to as the "Flava Flav" Holden bage stuck over 90% of the front.