Supercar (it’s a Holden)
I remember we were all at a relative’s house when my uncle’s siblings (not other aunts and uncles—he’s an uncle by virtue of marrying my father’s sister) all were hyped up about a commercial airing that Saturday. This was back in the days when weekend television advertising was a rarity. Even stranger was that this television commercial was broadcast at exactly the same time on both networks (this was 1982), so no matter how you flicked through the channels, you’d see the same thing. It went on for minutes. It was for a car. Not just any car. But a ‘Supercar’. The 1982 Holden Camira.
Boy, what a piece of junk that turned out to be.
To British readers: imagine if the Mk II Vauxhall Cavalier was called ‘Supercar’. To American readers: imagine the Chevrolet Cavalier called that. And to European readers: the Opel Ascona C.
A bit optimistic, yes?
Here they are on Autocade:
Holden Camira (JB). 1982–4 (prod. 85,725). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/F, 1598 cm³ (4 cyl. OHC). Much-vaunted J-car, hugely anticipated by Holden to plug gap between Gemini and Commodore and to fight Ford Telstar. Related to Opel Ascona C. Huge advertising campaign, calling Camira ‘Supercar’. Underpowered and not that reliable, with Camtech engine design problems (mainly overheating). Sporty SJ trim introduced 1983, cosmetic only. Wagons from 1983, Australian designed—rear ends shipped to Britain to be added behind Vauxhall Cavalier Mk II front.
Holden Camira (JD). 1984–7 (prod. 36,953). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/F, 1598, 1796 cm³ (4 cyl. OHC).
Departure from original J-car shape, looking sleeker and more modern,
done with more carryover sheetmetal than is immediately apparent. New
1·8-litre engine transformed performance, at least until unleaded fuel
hit Australia, whereupon it lost a great deal of its claimed power. The
1·6 was phased out during this period. Not sold in New Zealand, where
Holden Camira-badged Isuzu Aska represented this nameplate. Rear of wagon still shipped to UK to make the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk II Estate.
Holden Camira (JE). 1987–9 (prod. 29,129). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/F, 1998 cm³ (4 cyl. OHC). Final incarnation of Australian J-car, with the bugs ironed out and power back up to what buyers expected with fuel-injected two-litre. Minor facelift with small grille. However, with the Button plan, rationalizing Australian models on offer, about to take effect, the Camira’s days were numbered. Build quality not the best. Holden continued to supply rear end of wagon to Vauxhall in UK, which mated it to an Opel Ascona C (Cavalier Mk II) front end, till 1988.
Comments
I remember reading the build up for the Camira in the Aus mag "Wheels". You'd have thought it was going to be the next DS or something equally radical. Instead it was a rubbish FWD car.
A company I worked for (must have been late 80's) had a Camira wagon and the Sierra wagon. I'm not a Ford fan but the Sierra was much better than the "supercar".
I was driving a '79 Fiat 128 which was little changed from the first ones that rolled out of the factory in the early 70's. Even it had better steering, gearshift and handling than the 20+ year newer Holden!
The Sierra was better built. Dad had one running on CNG and petrol—very economical car as well.
Not surprised that the 128 was better—no wonder we stopped bringing in the JB Camiras in favour of the Japanese Isuzu Florian Aska in 1984. You’ll also notice that not a lot of those old Camiras have survived here, but you still see the occasional Aska-based Camira. Heaps of Sierras around though.