Holden zombies! The oddball afterlives of select Holden Commodore, Gemini, Torana, Kingswood and Calais models

Not all Holden models disappeared when we thought they did.

During the brand’s 72-year lifespan as “Australia’s Own”, it might come as a shock to learn that a handful continued to exist elsewhere, even after their Australian-market production ceased.

We’re not talking about imported Opels, Isuzus, Chevrolets, Daewoos, Suzukis, Toyotas, Nissans and even Vauxhalls that all variously wore Holden badges between 1948 and 2020, either.

That's why we're highlighting the Holdens that were engineered and/or made in Australia at some point, but later continued on in other countries for a little longer.

Welcome, then, to the zombie Holdens that time forgot.

Holden VB Commodore-based Daewoo Royale, Prince, Imperial and Brougham (South Korea)

The first three Holden Commodore models were the 1978 VB, 1980 VC and 1981 VH, and all were very similar.

It wasn’t until the VK of 1984 arrived that there were substantial sheetmetal changes, and even more followed with the 1986 VL, until the second-gen Commodore arrived with the larger and wider VN in 1988.

But the original VB was also built in South Korea, first as the Saehan and then Daewoo Royale and later as the Prince, using Holden-engineered Commodore bodies.

They were even stamped in Australia by Holden until 1985, with the VB-based series remaining in production as the Imperial and Brougham – albeit with plenty of stylistic changes – right up until 1997.

Holden VK and VL Calais-based... Holden Commodore Royale (New Zealand)

While the Nissan-engined VL Commodore was released in Australia in early 1986 to meet unleaded petrol requirements, the earlier VK Commodore continued to be built in New Zealand by Holden as the Royale. Clearly there were a dearth of names at General Motors during this period.

Key differences included Holden’s derided 1.9-litre Starfire-4 engine, first launched during the 1978 UC Sunbird’s run and roundly vilified in the VC and VH Commodores in Australia, though inexplicably popular in NZ.

That VK body was finally updated to the sleeker VL during 1987, but the Kiwis were offered a 2.0-litre version of the 3.0-litre in-line Nissan six in place of the discontinued Starfire-4. That lasted until 1989 – the year after the VN launched in Australia.

Holden VN Commodore-based… Beijing BJ6490 (China)

Is this the oddest Holden ever?

According to Unique Cars, the Beijing BJ6490 began in 1993, during a phase where the fledgling Chinese car industry required massive outside assistance while fully-built imports were prohibitively taxed.

Holden was approached by a Beijing-based start-up to supply a test batch of about 500 of the superseded VN wagon’s body panels, just as the heavily-facelifted VR Commodore was emerging. And just the sheetmetal, with no interior (China is left-hand-drive), engine, drivetrain or floorpan.

The BJ6490 (Beijing Bus 490cm length, roughly translated) VN was produced during 1994/5, built on a ‘60s-era light-truck chassis (extra strength and ground clearance were deemed vital), with an obsolete ex-Chrysler 2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a rudimentary dashboard made of folded steel. We can’t imagine what it would have been like to drive.

A much larger order was later discussed following a reasonably successful uptake, again with VN parts though using improved mechanicals, but Holden lacked the will or capacity, relegating the BJ6490 to history.

Holden LJ Torana based... Chevrolet 1700 (South Korea)

Released in South Korea in 1972, the Chevrolet 1700 was based on the contemporary Holden LJ Torana, which was itself derived from the Vauxhall HB Viva of 1966.

While assembled from completely knocked down kits sourced from GMH in Australia, the pretty wagon was specific to the 1700.

But sales were poor due to high fuel consumption and insufficient suspension clearance, prompting a facelift and name change in 1976 to the Saehan Camina. That also fared badly and production ceased in 1979.

Holden TX-TG Gemini-based… Daewoo Maepsy (South Korea)

Did you know that the original Gemini from 1975 was the only vehicle made in Australia badged as a Holden-Isuzu?

This reflects the high degree of Australian and Japanese co-development that went into evolving the Opel Kadett-based T-car for our markets. There wasn’t much that was German in the final product.

That also went on to spawn a South Korean version for GM-owned Saehan. Launched in 1977, it was originally badged as either Gemini or Bird depending on region, until Daewoo took over in 1982 and renamed the model Maepsy.

There was a Max ute version as well, with the series remaining in production, complete with its Holden-Isuzu genes, right up until 1989.

Holden HJ Premier-based… Mazda Roadpacer (Japan)

The 1975-1977 Mazda Roadpacer version of the HJ Kingswood-derived Premier outlived its donor car by almost three years, since it remained on sale in Japan after the HX (from 1976) and HZ (from 1977) replacements were released in Australia.

Technically the only rotary-powered General Motors vehicle ever productionised anywhere in the world, the Roadpacer was a massive flop in Japan. Partially built in Australia and then shipped to Mazda, where a 13B Wankel powertrain, interior and a few extra amenities were fitted. Sluggish performance, suss reliability, dipsomaniacal thirst and sky-high prices were to blame. Baroque, bloated styling probably didn’t help, either.

OK, this is not technically a zombie Holden since the factory still churned out the nearly-identical HZ well into 1980 while the related WB evolution lasted until 1985, but as an HJ you could still buy new in Japan in 1979, its time had been well and truly up in Australia by then.