VK Commodore ads will have you believe the future is now in 1984

The VK Holden Commodore was the first to have a ‘Calais’ variant, replacing the VH Commodore’s SL/E so obviously it needed an eye-catching ad to show off all the crash-hot ‘80s features.

The triumphant music combined with the focus on the digital VFD dash cluster is clearly a sell… It has such fancy refinements as 40 per cent more efficient air conditioning, leather seats (optional), four-speaker stereo and an automatic transmission.

Also, the Calais was the only VK to get electronic fuel injection on the 3.3-litre straight-six as standard.

Surely in a few years every car dash will look like this...

Nothing like ending an ad on a bit of ‘world class’ word-art.

Not sold? Maybe $19,701 is a bit expensive for the Calais. Perhaps you’ll like the Executive instead. The carburetted three-speed auto could be had for just $13,156.

After all, Australia was ‘overdue’ for its own ‘world class’ company car:

Mmm, with such refinements as FM stereo and cloth seats, it's basically a European car. How are you not sold yet?

Okay, so maybe you don’t want to be a straight-up corporate drone with the Executive… Fair enough. Holden has a VK Commodore variant for you, too.

Check it out – the limited edition ’85 Commodore Vacationer. Now with more cheese than you can point a ‘power antenna’ at. It also comes with a set of roof-racks, bespoke ‘tartan’ seat trim and a tailgate wiper washer on the wagon.

The three-speed auto carburetted model could be had for just $15,019.

Real talk – extra features were so depressing in the ‘80s. Really puts standard fitments on today's cars in perspective…

Do you still have a VK Vacationer? Tell us about your futuristic '80s adventures in the comments.