Someone did it: Holden Commodore conversion for your Pontiac G8
General Motors has been the perpetrator of several fortunate and unfortunate badge engineering jobs over the years, and the G8 -- based off the Holden Commodore -- is the most recent example. The Aussie sedan was partially developed with American sales in mind and because of that, it doesn't take much to give your spiffy new G8 a nose job inspired by the Land Down Under. Australian firm JHP Vehicle Enhancements will sell you an entire body kit to change your G8 into a Holden for a mere, um, $4,000 if you choose to go all out in an attempt to replicate the HSV model. That's a sizable chunk of change, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Since we're less concerned with appearances, we'd just put the extra scratch towards upgrading to the GXP.
[Source: JHP Vehicle Enhancements via Autofiends]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
BoxerFanatic 6:38PM (11/06/2008)
Two questions...
Why didn't pontiac just put their grille on that front bumper cover?
And does the HSV set come with the LED tail lights?
Most of that 4000$ is probably customs and shipping charges. It can be insane to ship big parts from the far east. often double the cost of the parts or more.
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AZZO45b 10:27PM (11/06/2008)
Now someone should offer up Opel GT conversions for the Saturn Sky.... its better looking than the Solstice & I know a lot of people who would NEVER buy anything from GM's former "grocery getter" division.
At least Opel has a performance history.
That One Person 5:58PM (11/07/2008)
Opel GT conversion? You do realize that all you would do is change out the Saturn badges for Opel ones...
Now, I think a Opel VXR8 conversion for the G8 would be pretty cool.
Justin 6:43PM (11/06/2008)
HOT
and I dare say....worth it.
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Jeff Banks 8:52PM (11/06/2008)
Meh, its like all the nerdy guys at my college paying out the ass to make their cars like the JDM versions...hate to break it to you, but your 1998 Sentra doesn't look any cooler no matter which country it came from. Hate to break it to you, but nobody really cares if you move your steering wheel to the other side.
This is marginally cooler, but not worth 4 grand. I could buy a lot of stuff for four grand that doesn't include a grill that makes it look like a stock sedan, even if it does come from the "exotic" land of Australia (where it barely looks any different!) PASS
happy_penguin 9:06PM (11/06/2008)
Okay this might be a stupid question but do people actually move their steering wheels as a cosmetic mod? LAME!!!
Duncan 6:46PM (11/06/2008)
I'll take a GXP six-speed with the Berlina (luxury-spec) body kit, please. Ultimate sleeper.
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tankd0g 6:59PM (11/06/2008)
OMG, Pontiac might actually sell some of these cars now!
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oldraven 6:56PM (11/06/2008)
The funny thing is, it's becoming 'popular', if not tasteful by enthusiast's standards, to do Pontiac and Chevrolet conversions in Australia.
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Duncan 7:00PM (11/06/2008)
Don't know if it's still a going thing, but there was a trend for a while in Japan to use USDM Lexus/Acura/Infiniti parts on otherwise garden-variety Toyota/Honda/Nissan models, thus "upgrading" their status.
Converting a Pontiac to a Holden (or vice versa) seems more like a sideways move, but still interesting.
AZZO45b 10:30PM (11/06/2008)
What's "tasteful" about Chevrolet's gold blinged bow tie badge???
oldraven 11:41PM (11/06/2008)
Try reading it again. ;) I'm saying the Holden and Ford enthusiasts think it's pretty tacky, like putting a GT-R badge on your Mustang up here. Aussie rice, in other words.
Egon 8:48AM (11/07/2008)
So instead of referring to those conversions as 'rice', do the Japanese refer to them as 'mashed potatoes'?
JR 7:07PM (11/06/2008)
People were already doing the Holden conversion to the GTO...was only a matter of time for the G8
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Torrent 7:21PM (11/06/2008)
I want an Impala conversion kit...
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P.V. 7:46PM (11/06/2008)
Nah. I prefer the looks of the G8. Also, I don't consider this "badge-engineering" in the traditional sense because [the] Holden [marque] is not sold here and [the] Pontiac [marque] is not sold there, so it's unfair to compare this to GM's rebadge spree of the 1970s-'90s.
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oldraven 11:45PM (11/06/2008)
It's badge engineering in every sense. It's just not redundant in any markets, which is where badge engineering fails. I think they're finally understanding why people were put off by all that.
Mobius_1 7:50PM (11/06/2008)
What about a Estoque kit? That would be VERY popular with people who used to own Fieros ;)
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Mauz 7:58PM (11/06/2008)
You may want to supply a picture of a HSV instead of the Holden SS model.
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TriShield 8:05PM (11/06/2008)
That's dede's car from ls1gto and g8board. He also owns a GTO he turned back into a Monaro. It's a very simple task for both cars.
The only parts required to turn the G8 back into a Commodore is the hood, front fascia, spoiler and badging, it's not that expensive as listed nor is it hard.
To turn the G8 into an HSV R8/GTS is a vastly more expensive exercise. The GTS wheels alone (which I Have on my G8) are over $4,000 themselves. You also need HSV's hood, front fasica, front fenders, side skirts, rear fascia, rear tails, spoiler, Brembos, center stack gauge pod and seats. You're looking at nearly $15,000 in just parts alone.
For my G8 I simply opted to replicate the look of the grey show car GM unveiled to introduce it. I have the HSV wheels and am researching what the best way to lower it an inch will be. Then big brakes and it's pretty much done.
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