Holden Commodore VF prices surpass $100,000

The news that Holden will leave Australia by the end of 2020 has left a number of knock-on effects in its path.

For VF Commodore owners, however, the news appears to be good. Just as historical Holdens have spiked in value in the wake of the closure announcement, late model Commodore owners have used the news to try and turn a quick buck.

For example, the asking price for this Series II VF Commodore Motorsport Edition currently up for sale is almost 50 per cent more than the price it was brand new back in 2017 ($61,790 plus on-road costs).

Having travelled just 11 ‘production set up’ kilometres, the ad states “GM Holden is closing its doors in Australia 2020, this brand NEW VF Motorsport is the pinnacle of everything Holden”.

Along with several other Motorsport Edition models up for sale on carsales, a Queensland seller has one listed for an even higher price ($120k) with a claimed 4700km on the clock – however no photographs are included on the ad.

VF SS Ute owners have also tried their luck at a quick mark-up, with more than a dozen VF-model SS utes advertised for more than their original purchase price.

Among them is this Holden Commodore Series II VF with 7km on the odometer, listed at $87,500.

Of course, what a vehicle is advertised for and what someone is willing to pay can often be at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Experts says ex-race cars, high-performance and limited edition models like the VS GTS-R, limited to 85 examples, are likely to garner the most demand from cashed-up collectors.

In terms of late model offerings, cars including the Motorsport Edition VF Series II Commodore – a limited run model to farewell the locally manufactured Holden – are likely to hold a special place with enthusiasts.

However, experts believe enthusiasts should exercise caution before investing big in a model that has spiked in value overnight.

Ross Booth from redbook.com.au says a similar trend occurred with used Holdens when the Lion brand ceased Australian production in 2017.

“The reality is, when supply ceases (i.e. vehicles are no longer made) used prices may go up if there is strong demand,” he said.

“With Holden no longer available, the demand for an Australian-made Holden Commodore may increase and therefore the value may increase, despite production stopping some ago”.

Booth says demand and supply will ultimately dictate pricing of used Holden in months to come – regardless of what speculative sellers might want to believe.

“The immediate impact on pricing is around the perception of risk that used cars will be worth less,” he said.

“This may drive behaviour of customers (both dealer and retail) buying used Holdens immediately at reduced prices to cover perceived pricing risk, prior to the selling demand pricing actually changing.”