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Holden rejoined the big car field with a long wheelbase
saloon. The new model available in Statesman and
up-market Caprice versions - was fitted with the
fuel-injected 5-litre V8 and the first independent
rear suspension fitted to a locally designed-and
built mass-produced car. The Caprice cabin was
finished with blackbean wood strips on the doors
and instrument panel and the stereo featured a
whopping 14 speakers – still remarkable
by today’s standards.
As well as IRS, the 1990
Statesman sported a wider front track. To help fill
the lack of a sports minded car in the Generals lineup,
the decision was made to import the Opel Calibra coupe.
Described as the world's most aerodynamic production
car, it was powered by a state-of-the-art multi-valve
2-litre engine. 1990 would also see the Holden Ute return
to a big media fanfare. Derived from the Commodore VN
passenger car range, the Ute re-introduced a bench front
seat and column change automatic transmission to increase
versatility. At first only a V6 engine was offered,
but a V8 version later joined the range.
In a move designed to re-capture the youth market till
now neglected since the demise of the Sandman, the up-market
“S” utility was sold alongside the basic
'ute'. The 1990 “Group A” Commodore was
launched after joint development by GMH, Holden Motor
Sport and Holden Special Vehicles.
Built to homologate
the VN Commodore for Group A touring car racing, it
featured the first six-speed gearbox fitted to an Australian
car, not to mention the thumping 210 kW V8 engine. Independent
performance tests showed it capable of 0 - 100 km/h
in 6.26 seconds, and able to complete the standing 400
metres in under 14.5 seconds.
The year would finish
for the General on a high note, with the five millionth
Holden rolling down the production line, highlighting
that more than twice as many Holden cars have been built
in Australia as any other model.
In the AFL Grand Final, Collingwood would eventually
run out winners over a hapless Essendon, ending a premiership
drought spanning 32 years. Many thought Collingwood
had broken with tradition by actually winning a Grand
Final, however it would take another 12 years for the
club re-visit those halcyon days of the 70's and 80's
- this time their nemeses would be an Interstate team,
the Brisbane Lions.
Formula One Championship: Ayrton Senna
(Brazil) / McLaren-Honda
1990 Bathurst Winner: Allan Grice & Win Percy
/ VL Commodore
NRL Grand Final: Canberra (18) def.
Penrith (14)
VFL/AFL Grand Final: Collingwood (13.11.89)
def. Essendon (5.11.41)
Melbourne Cup: Kingston Rule (D.
Beadman)
Wimbledon Women: Martina Navratilova
d. Z. Garrison (6-4 6-1)
Wimbledon Men: Stefan Edberg d. B.
Becker (6-2 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-4)
The Movies:
- Dances with Wolves
- GoodFellas
- Henry and June
- Reversal of Fortune
Academy Awards:
- Best Picture - Dances with Wolves
- Best Actor - Jeremy Irons (Reversal Of Fortune)
- Best Actress - Kathy Bates (Misery)
Gold Logie: Craig McLachlan (Neighbours,
Ten)
The Charts:
- U Can't Touch This - M. C. Hammer
- Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
- How Am I Supposed To Live - Michael Bolton
- Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
- Lambada - Kaoma
- Love Will Lead You Back - Taylor Dane
- Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor
- I Touch Myself - Divinyls
- Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
- It Must Have Been Love - Roxette
Farewells:
- B.F. Skinner (Modern Psychologist)
- Jim Henson (Creator of the Muppets)
- Greta Garbo (Screen Legend)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Blues Genius)
- Sammy Davis, Jr. (Singer and member of the "Rat
Pack")
- Le Duc Tho (North Vietnamese Leader and founder
of the Indochinese Communist Party)
- José Napoleón Duarte (President
of El
Salvador)
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