Australian edition of General Motors’ second “world car”, the J-car, related to Opel Ascona and Chevrolet Cavalier. Originally looked more like the Ascona, but with a squarer front end, and the locally designed and made wagon was even shipped (at least its rear end was) to the UK where it was mated to the front end of the Vauxhall Cavalier. Quality niggles hurt its chances as did the advent of unleaded fuel in Australia, which hit the horsepower of the JD series hard. The JDs sported a more contemporary 1980s front—wide headlamps, grilleless look—but the weakened 1·8 meant the car didn’t live up to its promise (Wheels said, ‘From slingshot to slug’). New Zealand sourced the JJ Camira of these years from Japan—it was a rebadged Isuzu Aska. Australia got lucky once more with the JE, fixing the JD’s faults, but that model only a few years when it was replaced by the Holden Apollo—Toyota Camry to those outside Australia.

• Holden Camira (JB)
• Isuzu Florian Aska (JJ)
• Isuzu Aska (1985–9) (JJ)
• Holden Camira (JD)
• Holden Camira (JE)

Marque: Holden | Predecessor: Holden Sunbird | Successor: Holden Apollo, Opel Vectra A