VS Commodore

The Holden VS Commodore was Holden's front-line Group 3A touring car for 1997 and 1998 — the last racing Commodore built on the VP-derived platform before the all-new VT Commodore. It followed the VR Commodore and is defined by its accepted-1997 package.

A new front bar over the VR

The racing VS was not an all-new car. The change from the VR was a revised front bar and the model name; the VP-derived chassis, MacPherson-strut front and live-axle rear continued underneath, keeping the VR's centre-post rear wing. It is therefore held as a distinct aero state — neither a mere rename nor a clean-sheet design.

Body & aero

The defining feature is the new front bar over otherwise carried-over VR bodywork; the centre-post rear wing was retained. The rest of the Group 3A aero envelope — the large front spoiler and inverted-wing undertray — continued. Exact VS bar and wing dimensions are not documented from primary drawings and are described qualitatively.

Engine & driveline

Power came from the Holden 5.0-litre V8 — naturally aspirated, fuel-injected, 10:1 compression and the regulated 7500 rpm limit — through a Holinger six-speed to a 9-inch live rear axle located by a four-link and a Panhard rod on a Ford 9-inch-based housing; the Watts linkage arrived only with the VT. Whether and when the racing Commodore's engine moved to a Chevrolet-based small-block is disputed and left unresolved in the conflict register (CON-006). Category minimum weight was 1350 kg.

Brakes, wheels & tyres

Wheels were the 17×11 category size, with early Group 3A cars running various custom wheels rather than one make. 1998 was the last open-tyre year for the works teams — Bridgestone, Yokohama, Dunlop and Hoosier in open competition — before Bridgestone control tyres arrived in 1999 (privateers already ran a controlled tyre in 1998). Brakes and pads followed team practice.

Evolution

The VS gave way to the all-new VT Commodore, which introduced a fresh body, the Watts-linkage rear and a spaced-post rear wing.

For its championship record see the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Sources: project model-state records (the VR-to-VS front-bar change; disputed engine transition, CON-006) — Grade D; Group 3A formula — Grade B.