‘It’s hideous’: The Holden Commodore you didn’t know existed (2024)

One of Australia’s most beloved cars has been spotted in convertible guise, just in time for summer. But not everybody is a fan.

A Holden Commodore has set social media on fire once again, but not in the way you might think.

In a recent post to the Cars Australia Reddit page, a photo of a white Commodore that’s been modified into a convertible has resurfaced online, attracting a mixed set of reactions.

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The owner of the beloved Holden – believed to have been spotted in South Australia – appeared to have cut the roof off the car, turning the Commodore into a summer-ready vehicle, much to the amusem*nt and disapproval of Reddit commenters.

“It’s hideous. I love it,” one Reddit user wrote, while another remarked, “Shut up and take my money”.

However, not everyone was a fan of the modified convertible Australian classic.

“Don’t think it can be called into a convertible if it’s just the roof chopped off,” one commenter explained.

“Not much of a Commodore fan, but I think the VT is one of the prettiest Ozcars ever made [sic]. It just… works? Except for this one, this does not work,” another Reddit user added.

It's not the first Holden Commodore or Australian-built sedan to be modified to a convertible, with the practice being seen on local roads for decades.

In a similar post uploaded to the same Reddit forum a couple of months ago, a keen-eyed car enthusiast spotted a 1998 Ford AU Falcon that featured a similar modification.

The Ford Falcon convertible, with its roof chopped off, was advertised on Facebook Marketplace with a $2500 price tag, with commenter reaction seemingly split either in favour or against the DIY Falcon.

While the cost-effective method is popular among drivers looking to modify their cars, the practice does need to be approved by state and territory authorities as removing a car’s roof without the appropriate structures can violate safety requirements for vehicles in Australia.

A Department of Infrastructure spokesperson said the Australian Design Rules (ADR) are important as they "set minimum standards for vehicle safety, emissions and anti-theft performance".

"Significant modifications [such as removing the roof] to the vehicle body structure can make a vehicle non-compliant with the ADRs, including for example, vehicle crash test performance requirements for the protection of the occupants in front and side-impact crashes," a Department of Infrastructure spokesperson told Drive.

"The ongoing compliance of each vehicle modified after entry into service, including any questions or concerns about specific vehicles, is a matter for the relevant state or territory registration authority."

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport South Australia told Drive, "Converting a sedan into a convertible is a significant modification which requires approval from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport".

As per SA guidelines, modifying a vehicle to a convertible will not require an application “if the vehicle is manufactured before 1 January 1969”.

However, authorities do recommend drivers apply for a Light Vehicle Engineering Signatory (LVES), which is a certified document that shows the vehicle has complied with state requirements.

For vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1969, a modification application is required for any owner thinking of modifying their vehicles to a convertible.

Though Holden Commodore convertibles seen nowadays are a product of the driver’s imagination, the now-defunct Australian manufacturer once flirted with the idea of introducing a convertible model in the country.

Dubbed the ‘Marilyn’, the Monaro convertible – which shared the same DNA as the Commodore – was unveiled at the 2004 Melbourne motor show as “more Alpha prototype than design concept”.

According to previous reports, the Holden four-seat convertible prototype was built in Europe by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) Engineering in 2002–2003 and was said to cost $1.5 million (approximately $2.6 million in 2024).

In a 2004 Drive report, General Motors Vice President of Product Development, Bob Lutz, said the Monaro convertible was something the brand was considering for the Australian market.

“[A convertible] is one of the things we’re studying, and it would be an interesting car obviously for both the US and Australia. It’s one of the things that many of us would find excellent, fascinating,” Lutz told media at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show.

While then Holden design boss Mike Simcoe said the viability of the Monaro convertible depended on “the dollars, which is all down to marketplace [demand]”.

However, the Marilyn convertible never reached production and remained in its prototype phase, only to be seen in photos.

Prior to the Marilyn, Holden had tinkered with the idea of introducing a VN/VP Commodore convertible to Australia, but just like the Monaro, it remained as a concept.

However, while Commodore convertibles never reached wide-scale production and distribution, Holden did dip its toe in the open-top market.

The Holden Barina Cabrio – which went on sale in late 1997–1998 – was the brand's first foray into the convertible market. The Cabrio convertible, a rebadged Opel Corsa B cabrio imported from Europe, wasn't a particular favourite amongst Holden buyers, with the brand selling less than 600 cars before pulling the plug on the import in 2002.

But before the brand bid goodbye to the Barina Cabrio, it had another crack at the convertible market, importing the soft-top Astra in 2001.