A near 1:1 replica of a New South Wales Highway Patrol VF Holden Commodore has been spotted getting around in the United States.
Posted to a Facebook group, the 17-year-old owner has tricked out his VF with everything from the high-visibility livery, flashing lights, and even a New South Wales front numberplate.
The car is so convincing that the only thing giving it away is that instead of saying 'Police' and 'Highway Patrol', it has been replaced with 'Rozzers' and 'Egg-Roll Patrol', complete with the wedge-tailed eagle carrying an egg roll instead of a 'nemesis' banner.
The internet was seemingly confused by the single-exit exhausts and the SV6 badge on the rear, with many pointing out that the SV6 was never exported to the United States, and “surely no one went through the trouble of importing a V6”.
Although Australian-built V6 Holdens did make their way to the USA, it was in the shape of a law enforcement-only, long-wheelbase Holden Caprice – badged as a Chevrolet Caprice and initially intended for the Middle East.
Unfortunately, the vehicle used in the story is not a real Highway Patrol vehicle. Instead, it was one of the 12,860 VF Commodores exported to North America to be sold as a Chevrolet SS in left-hand drive. Series I vehicles can be identified by their two, single-exit exhausts.
This particular car would’ve been optioned as an SS-V Redline if it were sold in Australia, equipped with the stonking 6.2-litre LS3 V8 engine pumping out a healthy 304kW of power and 570Nm of torque.
The US model died alongside the Australian model, as production did not move overseas and thus ceased to exist in 2017.
Still, the SS lives on within niche communities. With a seeming reversal of Australians putting Chevrolet badges on their Holdens, Americans are now importing Holden badges for their Chevrolets.
In the comments, the owner said, “I’m 17 and driving in an SS-V Redline. If I did that in Sydney I’d get my licence revoked for life and sent to jail for police impersonation. This is why I love America, freedom to express yourself is number one”.
We got in contact with Wa San Liang who confirmed it was a US domestic market Chevrolet SS and there's a big culture for them over in the States.
"I chose the NSW livery because I found it to be different than anywhere in the States. [I've had the] 2014 SS since the middle of November in 2024," said Wa San Liang.
"Yes [there's a lot of Holden culture here], on the 30th of August there will be a large Holden meet in Indiana."
Dressing your car to resemble a local police authority is a surefire way to get yourself pulled over in Australia.
Now, it’s not inherently illegal to drive around in an old police car here in Australia, but there is a line of impersonation that is left up to the courts to decide.
Luckily, this young car enthusiast can get away with it in Michigan, granted he does not switch the red and blue lights on, considering the word 'police' hasn't been used on the car and it doesn't resemble an American police vehicle. But, if he were to use the Commodore on Australian roads, he could be looking at a court-imposed fine of up to $22,000, and/or two years' imprisonment.
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
