I’m going to stick my neck out by saying that when it comes to locally produced vehicles, Australian enthusiasts are among the most parochial on the planet. You either bleed Blue, or you bleed Red. You either love your Fords or would walk across burning coals for your Holden, and neither camp would entertain the idea of parking a car from the opposition in their garage. For those of you with Red blood in your veins, this 2012 Holden Commodore SSV Wagon will be particularly attractive. The V8 under the hood gives it the performance to match its looks, and it is ready to find its way to a new home. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Sam61 for spotting the Commodore listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Indianapolis, Indiana, with an asking price of $38,000 OBO.

Holden launched its “VE” Commodore range in 2006, and, unlike its predecessors, it was the first generation of Commodores that owed nothing to platforms from other countries. It is little wonder that Holden dubbed it the “billion-dollar baby” upon its launch, with that figure representing the development costs. However, General Motors believed that it would be possible to recoup some of the expense via an export program to South Africa, Brazil, the Middle East, and North America. Some of you may find familiarity in the sheetmetal because Pontiac marketed the Commodore as the G8, while the facelifted model was sold as the Chevrolet SS. This Wagon is the SSV variant, which looks stunning in its original shade, called Sizzle. It is a striking Red Metallic that not only catches the eye but also accentuates the Commodore’s bulging wheel arches. The paint shines beautifully, the panels are as straight as an arrow, and with this generation of Commodore not renowned for rust issues, it would be fair to expect this Wagon to be rock-solid. The glass and trim look excellent, while the vehicle rolls on aftermarket 20″ three-piece wheels manufactured by the Australian company, Simmons Wheels.

If you questioned the idea that this Commodore is a muscle wagon, one look under the hood should erase any doubts. Holden slotted Chevrolet’s 6.0-liter L77 V8 under the hood, which sends 362hp and 391 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. The SSV is a total package, with this one featuring upgraded suspension components and lower springs, power steering, and enormous four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock. Holden never quoted an official outright speed for the SSV Wagon, but contemporary road tests on closed courses saw several journalists hit 160mph. That and the ability to storm the ¼-mile in around 14-seconds demonstrates that this is one very rapid form of family transport. The owner states that potential buyers can consider it a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well. They say that it sounds relatively mild when idling or cruising, but hitting the gas pedal unleashes an animal growl that turns heads.

This Commodore’s interior is tidy, but there is an upholstery mismatch that will draw the eyes of some. Most of the interior features the original Gray cloth and vinyl, but the back seat was sourced from a later Commodore featuring different material. There is no explanation given for this, and I guess that the issue could be hidden with slipcovers if worst came to worst. The overall condition is quite tidy for a vehicle of this type, with no rips, tears, or other evidence of abuse. The plastic is in good order, as is the carpet. It might be a muscle wagon, but this Commodore isn’t short on creature comforts. These include airbags as far as the eye can see, climate-control air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, mirrors, and the driver’s seat, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, a trip computer, and a premium AM/FM stereo with six speakers, Bluetooth, and a CD player.

Australia was once home to a thriving vehicle manufacturing industry. If we look beyond vehicles that were assembled from CKD kits, the roll call is long. It included Ford, Holden, Chrysler, BMC, Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Leyland, to name a few. Sadly, every one of those brands closed their plants and either ceased to exist or became importers. The last Commodore rolled off the line in October 2017. The marque didn’t go out in a blaze of glory because, after several years trying to survive marketing European models, General Motors retired the brand at the start of 2021. The factories have been stripped and demolished, and the machinery that produced so many dreams has been sold for scrap. There is little chance of a revival because it doesn’t make financial sense. Therefore, Holden has joined such GM brands as Pontiac and is now nothing but a memory. However, like Pontiac, Holden produced some genuinely great cars that are worthy of preservation, and this 2012 Commodore SSV Wagon is one of them. So, if you can get your head around the concept of slipping behind the wheel of a right-hand-drive muscle wagon, this could be the classic for you.