History sometimes gets lost in the fog of distance, a nebulous past that fades from consciousness with each passing day. This is one such story and it involves our own Holden Commodore and the Brazilian President.
General Motors Holden was no stranger to exporting cars to both right- and left-hand drive markets. From humble beginnings in 1954 when just over 300 FJ Holdens made their way to New Zealand, the first complete Holdens exported to anywhere in the world, to 2005 when exports peaked at over 60,000 cars, mainly to the Middle East but with smaller numbers to China, the USA, Brunei and South Africa. And you can add in Brazil.
Yep, the South American giant imported left-hand drive Holden Commodores built right here in Australia. And no less a prominent figure like the then Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, got around in one.
The genesis of Holden’s Brazilian adventure can be traced back to the early 1990s, and the Chevrolet Omega. Essentially a rebadged Opel Omega (which also formed the basis of Holden Commodores from VN to VS), the Omega was manufactured at GM’s plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1992 to 1998.
But when General Motors do Brasil pulled the pin on local production of its Omega, it looked to Australia for a replacement. Enter the Holden VT Commodore which had started rolling off the Elizabeth production line in South Australia a year earlier.
With a luxury-sized hole in its local line-up GM of Brazil was soon smitten by the new Commodore and shored up an import program that would see Australian-built left-hand drive cars make their way to the South American nation where they would be sold and marketed as Chevrolet Omega.
But it wasn’t just any VT Commodore making its way to Brazil where the Omega was marketed as a luxury car, competing for buyers amongst the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 set.
Highly-specified, the Aussie-built Omega served as GM’s flagship in Brazil. Powered by GM-H’s 147kW 3.8-litre V6, the Omega CD (its official model designation) was equipped with leather seating, climate control, alloy wheels, a high-end sound system and four airbags, equipment fit for a president.
Which is exactly why our very own Australian-built Holden VX Commodore ended up on the Presidential fleet in Brazil, ferrying President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on official ceremonial duties and various state functions. Respect.
Brazil’s love affair with our beloved Commodore continued through successive updates from VX, VY and VZ.
When the all-new VE Commodore began production in 2006, it didn’t take long for GM of Brazil to get on board and by 2007, left-hand drive cars were once again being exported to the South American nation where the were marketed as the Chevrolet Omega C.
Like the previous generation, the VE also received the presidential seal of approval, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enjoying the comfort and plushness of his Calais-based Omega while on official duties.
Sadly, imports stopped following the global financial crisis of 2008 before one final Samba hurrah for our venerable and beloved Commodore in 2010.
By now in VE Series II spec, 600 cars made their way to Brazil were they were sold as the Omega Fittipaldi Edition, named after Brazil’s two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. They signalled the end of Australia’s export program to Brazil.
In all some 9000 Australian-built Commodores made their way to Brazil between 1998 and 2011 where they not only competed with the best the European carmakers offered but also served two sitting Presidents.
The Holden Commodore: Fit for a President. Or two.
Rob Margeit is an award-winning Australian motoring journalist and editor who has been writing about cars and motorsport for over 25 years. A former editor of Australian Auto Action, Rob’s work has also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wheels, Motor Magazine, Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. Rob’s current rides include a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a 2000 Honda HR-V Sport.
