1 Aug 1990
Holden fans had to wait five years for a full-sized ute.
When the VN Commodore-based VG arrived it wasn’t the separate chassis small truck the 1971-1985 HQ-WB Holden commercials were, with its 720kg load limit, all-coil suspension and VN wagon base.
But what it lost in hardcore workhorse buyers it slowly gained in youth and sports-ute popularity (thanks to the limited slip differential-equipped S), and it was a far more civilised proposition than the (albeit tougher, with its leaf-spring rear) XF/XG Falcon ute which dated back past its ’79 XD body and ’72 XA wheelbase to the ’60 XK, in essence.
Power came from the US-sourced 125kW/292Nm 3.8L OHV V6 mated to a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox.
Engine options: 165kW/385Nm 5.0-litre OHV V8 - S.
Standard features: power steering, radio/cassette player.