Holden Gemini

The Holden Gemini is a car of the lower middle class, which was manufactured from 1975 to 1997 by the Australian car manufacturer Holden, the local branch of General Motors, on the construction plans of the Japanese Isuzu Gemini in Brisbane.

Year by year

TX / TC / TD Gemini (1975-1979)

Isuzu Gemini (1974-1979), identical to the Holden Gemini TX

Main article: Opel Kadett C The successor to the just leaked TA Torana presented Holden in March 1975. The TX Gemini was GM 's first " world car " that came in Germany as Opel Kadett C on the market in the UK Chevette was sold as the Vauxhall and the United States as the Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac T1000. The Japanese version was called Isuzu Gemini and served as the basis for the Australian edition, albeit with a different engine. The TX Gemini was offered only with a 1.6 -liter inline four- cylinder engine delivered 63 kW of power. Later, power was reduced to 61 kW. The buyers had a choice between a manual four-speed transmission and a three -speed automatic, both with floor shift. There was a 4-door sedan and 2 -door coupe, the former as a normal and better -equipped SL version, the latter only as SL version. As of April 1976, it was for the coupe still a A8T package called Fashion Pack on the rear panels of the first delivered in Australia Coupes the term ' Isuzu Holden was '' to read.

Only for use on the race track, the coupe was equipped with a 1.3 liter engine with 52 kW R4 performance, which was supplied by Isuzu. Officially, this version was not offered.

In March 1977, the Gemini received a small facelift and became the TC gemini. The split into two fields previously grille received a division into 11 boxes with chrome frame, each of which was again divided vertically with narrow chrome strips twice. The fashion pack was now available for the sedan. In April 1977, the better equipped Sandpiper version was introduced, which possessed instead of a chrome black grille.

In April 1979, the model presented clearly revised. Except for the simplest model that still had round headlights, had the TD Gemini rectangular headlights and the grille was simpler than before again with three horizontal chrome bars. The biggest innovation but there were two new models, a van and a station wagon with 3 doors. Side and rear parts of these vehicles were supplied by Opel in Germany. The third gear option, there was a five-speed manual gearbox. Sedan and coupe were now available as SL / E ' version, which corresponded to the previous Sandpiper substantially. In March 1979, the SL / E sedan was replaced by the much cheaper but similarly equipped SL / X sedan.

The TX Gemini was built 43,009 times, from Gemini TC 17,256 copies and emerged from the TD Gemini 42 396 pieces.

TE / TF / TG Gemini (1979-1985)

Holden TE Gemini ( 1981)

The presented in October 1979 successor TE Gemini had significantly revised front and rear sections. From the front, he recalled the contemporary VB Commodore, but had instead of the rectangular round in the simplest version headlights, which were flanked by elongated parking lights on the corners of the vehicle. The turn signals were in the chrome bumpers with plastic corners. The taillights were significantly increased. The performance of the 1.6 -liter petrol engine was dropped to 50 kW and from March 1981, there were an additional diesel engine with a displacement of 1.8 liters, which mobilized 40 kW and was hard to combine with the five-speed gearbox. The Coupe was no longer offered and the top model in sedan version was called off in June 1981 Sandpiper II The van was sold as a Gypsy.

In March 1982, appeared the mild revised TF Gemini. Its front was matched to that of simultaneously produced VH Commodore. Otherwise there was a wealth of detail improvements inside and outside, eg then took a turn signal the site of the former parking lights and the bumper were back in one piece and made of black plastic. The instrumentation corresponded to the new JB Camira. In April 1982, a luxurious Star SignPack was presented.

The last "T -Car " was released in March 1983 in the form of TG Gemini. Externally it differed little from its predecessor, but all models were better equipped. What was new was the sports sedan ZZ / Z, which - equipped with alloy wheels - always painted in silver.

From TE Gemini 70 567 pieces, the TF Gemini emerged was built 28 326 times. 24,675 copies put forth by Holden TG Gemini.

RB Gemini (1985-1987)

Holden RB Gemini SL / X (1985-1987)

In April 1985, the rear-engined Gemini was replaced by the new RB Gemini, which was based on the front-wheel drive Isuzu Gemini II. The cars were somewhat smaller and were only as a 4-door sedans available. The new engine with 1.5 liter displacement and 52 kW of power came from Isuzu. Primarily for the two better-equipped variants, ' SL / X '' and ' SL / E'' were sold, the simple, ' SL '' was delivered only on special order.

With a RB Gemini the work in 1985 in 80 days led by constructing a 200,000 -km-long promotional tour throughout Australia, during which, among other things also later known racing driver Peter Brock tested the car.

Unfortunately, the RB Gemini did not sell as good as its rear-engined predecessor. During the year 1987, he was discontinued after only 16 263 copies. Was succeeded by the slightly larger LD Astra.