Since joining this forum, I have noticed a huge number of threads and individual posts about the interchangability of headlights, taillights and bumper facias for VY and VZ models. Having bought a VY II Berlina last year, I have taken a great deal of notice about the way Holden interchanged taillights and rear bumpers from model to model. Generally, the VY and VZ had individual front facias (bars if you like) for each level of trim and you can't interchange lights, grilles or bumpers from VY to VZ unless you change all three, plus the bonnet. However, the rear end is a different story. VY I Calais and Berlina had the same, unique taillight and rear bumper. SS, Acclaim and Exec sedans had a simpler, smaller assembly. Apart from the actual appearance, the main difference is the size. The Berlina and Calais had a bumper facia which didn't extend as high under the lamp cutout, which means that you needed to change the facia, or cut the exec one down, to fit the larger lamps. VY II Calais came out with its own tail and headlamps sets, plus it own bumpers front and back, plus a different pattern to the facia insert on the rear bumper and new grille designs upper and lower. The Berlina picked up the VY I Calais grilles and fogs. plus the chromed Calais number plate surround on the boot, but kept its previous bumpers, head and taillights. The rest of the VYII range carried over from the VY I. VZ mixed it up again. Execs and Acclaims scored VY Berlina rear bumpers and lamps, but kept the painted number plate surround and left off the black insert. Berlina scored a new taillight, and the Calais scored another one, shared with the SS, but with the reflectors inserted into the facia on the rear bumper. VZ SS kept the reflectors in the taillamps, which were now smaller, occuping the same aperture size as the previous Execs etc. This necessitated a new, individual rear bumper exclusively for the Calais again. Cant recall the rear bumper for the SS and SV6. Are they the same as the Exec with the lower skirts added? All this shows is the clever way GM came up with the VY and VZ designs without spending anything major. Just go the parts bin. New but not really. Just mix and match from previous models and voila, new model.
they've been doing it for a long time mate, look back through the model's over the last 30 years for instance. nice observation though.
Yes, it's true that Holden kept previous model rear ends when updating, but my point was the level of interchangability between VZ and VY, particularly with rear lights and bumpers. The "luxury" rear of one model becomes the base rear of the following model. Switching and swapping lights and bumpers has enabled them to carry out facelifts with almost no new components being required, yet from the rear, the vehicles look quite different. Have look at a VY Exec rear and a VZ. The VZ looks amost identical to the VY I Berlina, only missing the black insert along the lower bumper. Clever and very cheap.
