Last VE is an SS Z series sedan (says the Australian)

[Marco]

From an article in The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226644775026

THE last Holden VE Commodore has rolled gently from the Adelaide production line, as the Aussie carmaker prepares for its crucial new model.
The final VE, an SS Z-Series, was completed amid the first examples of its VF replacement and early build examples of the VF-based Chevrolet SS export cars.

The SS V Z-Series automatic sports sedan, which retails for a list price of $49,790 and is destined for a Northern Territory dealer, is the last of more than 350,000 sold locally since it started production in July 2006.

The car Holden dubbed its "billion-dollar baby " is soon to be replaced by the VF Commodore, on sale next month and the latest in a Commodore line-up of 15 models that number more than 2.9 million produced.

Holden executive director of manufacturing Richard Phillips said the VE was a landmark achievement and yesterday's end to production was a bittersweet moment.

"The company's first true `clean-sheet' design allowed our team to show the world what Holden was capable of and the result was, and remains, a stunning car," he said.

"It's been such a great product for us but at the same time we're excited about the future and the entire Holden team is energised by the imminent launch of the fantastic new VF Commodore.

"The VF is the most advanced car ever created in this country, a car that takes the winning values and trademark driving dynamics of the VE and elevates it to a new level of luxury, technology and sophistication," he said.

The final VE made it's journey through the general assembly plant, sharing the line with VF pre-production cars including the first pilot-build examples of the Chevrolet SS. Many of the workers involved were part of the team that completed the Elizabeth plant transformation for the model when it began in 2006.

Andrew Shaw, 40, has worked for Holden at Elizabeth since 2002 and was hired as part of the VE preparation.

"To be part of the VE launch and follow it right through and then end up in here watching it come off the line for the last time, it was a bit of a spinout and good to be part of ... it's been a real buzz for the last few months," he said.

"One chapter finishes and another one begins. This one is so important to get our domestic sales back to where they need to be. There's a lot of faith in this car and we're very proud of it."

Scott Connelly, 38, who has been at Elizabeth since 1998, was at the plant throughout VE run and was sorry to see it go.

"But I'm excited about the VF. It's a better car and looks great. We have Chevrolet SS pilot cars coming through now as well. It's sad to see VE go but it's exciting to see something new," he said.

Chris Aistrope, 27, has been at Holden just over 10 years and was a little sad to farewell the VE Commodore.

"I'm sorry to see it go but I'm looking forward to VF, all the new technology in it, the feeling in here is good, seeing the Chevrolet SS come through now as well," he said.

Holden has made more than 520,000 VE vehicles for domestic and export markets since it went on sale in late 2006.

Around 170,000 were exported to six continents, appearing on roads in the Middle-East, South-East Asia and the US, where it was sold as a Pontiac in both coupe (as a GTO) and G8 sedan form.

The VF Commodore was revealed earlier this year in Calais and SS V forms, as well as debuting as the exterior for the Chevrolet SS Daytona racecar ahead of its appearance as the Chevrolet SS sports sedan on the US market later this year.

The VE Calais V was CarsGuide's Car Of The Year in 2006 and motoring magazine Wheels recently named the VE Commodore as the best Australian-made car yet.

So with more than 520,000 built, that would put it among the top 5 most popular Holdens - I don't have the figures to hand but it's more than any other Commodore model I think, and less than the HQ - just not sure how it compares to other huge sellers like the EH. (Of course, it took nearly seven years to rack up that number...)

[Hos]

That's funny, dealer here has signwriting all over a silver VE SSZ sedan, stating "THE LAST VE" .

There may be a few last VE's, but I'm guessing the one in the story was the last off the line.

[Marco]

That's what the article was suggesting, yeah. Although given it's a News Limited paper, chances are the last VE was actually a white Calais sportwagon...

[super coach]

thats not a SS V Z series in the photo, its a SV6 Z series because it doesn't have the silver chrome trim around the fog light area. i t would be very nice to buy the last one, wonder if the new owner knows what he is getting?

[DuffMan]

wonder if the new owner knows what he is getting?

A car inferior to the one a few metres behind it.

[Marco]

thats not a SS V Z series in the photo, its a SV6 Z series because it doesn't have the silver chrome trim around the fog light area. i t would be very nice to buy the last one, wonder if the new owner knows what he is getting?

Just looked at Carsales and none of the SS Zs on there have the chrome fog light trim, only the SSV Z. (I thought all MY12 onwards SV/SS had the chrome personally).

I'd be very happy to own the last VE myself, hope the owner appreciates it.

[Jamolad]

Yeah, wouldn't trust that article too much, given it states the VE was exported to the US in coupe form as GTO

[Jag530G]

So with more than 520,000 built, that would put it among the top 5 most popular Holdens - I don't have the figures to hand but it's more than any other Commodore model I think, and less than the HQ - just not sure how it compares to other huge sellers like the EH. (Of course, it took nearly seven years to rack up that number...)

If 520,000 were built that would be Holden's best seller. A few less than 500,000 HQs were built and only about 250,000 EHs built. The VT and VX would be have to be 200,000 plus each with exports included.

[Jamolad]

She got around a bit too - in addition to NZ, there was the Middle East, South East Asia, and the US. Pity it never went to Japan to be fitted with a rotary like the HJ 'Mazda Roadpacer' (if you are under 40, it kids for a good laugh)

[Marco]

There's a story in this month's Wheels about a VE based SAAB which never got past the initial planning/sketching stage, but imagine that! Apparently was killed off when GM killed the Chev/Buick/Cadillac models it also planned to build on Zeta. (Another bad GM decision IMO).

[Marco]

If 520,000 were built that would be Holden's best seller. A few less than 500,000 HQs were built and only about 250,000 EHs built. The VT and VX would be have to be 200,000 plus each with exports included.

Just looked it up in a book from Holden I have called The Holden Heritage:

HQ 485,650
VT 303,895
VS 277,774
EH 256,959
HR 252,352
VN 215,180
VX 211,125

The book was published when VY was still in production so it would be up above 200k as well I would guess - but yes, it does make the VE the most popular Holden of all time. If you only count domestic sales then more like #2. But we need to bear in mind that VE ran for just under seven years!

[Goggles]

The last VE was a SS Z Auto Sedan http://media.gm.com/content/media/au...Commodore.html

[Troutman]

She got around a bit too - in addition to NZ, there was the Middle East, South East Asia, and the US.

And Brazil. And the UK. And Canada. And South Africa.

[macca_779]

Just looked it up in a book from Holden I have called The Holden Heritage:

HQ 485,650
VT 303,895
VS 277,774
EH 256,959
HR 252,352
VN 215,180
VX 211,125

The book was published when VY was still in production so it would be up above 200k as well I would guess - but yes, it does make the VE the most popular Holden of all time. If you only count domestic sales then more like #2. But we need to bear in mind that VE ran for just under seven years!

Of course it sold the most. It ran for nearly 7 years. VX was like 3 or something like that

[Jag530G]

She got around a bit too - in addition to NZ, there was the Middle East, South East Asia, and the US. Pity it never went to Japan to be fitted with a rotary like the HJ 'Mazda Roadpacer' (if you are under 40, it kids for a good laugh)

In a moment of madness and if I had more money than sense, I'd buy a Roadpacer and drive it around here just to confuse everyone. The look and sound would be bizzare, an HJ Premier revving to the moon! Maybe it could be hotted up with the triple rotor 20B or the early '90s Le Mans racer quad rotor. The road pacer had the one tonner diff (4.44:1) IIRC to help give some hope of low end torque...

Cheers, Matthew