Holden Apollo I (JK/JL) photos

The first generation Holden Apollo was introduced in 1989 as a direct result of the Australian Federal Government's Button Car Plan, which aimed to rationalize the domestic automotive industry through platform sharing. The vehicle was fundamentally a badge-engineered version of the second-generation Toyota Camry (V20 series) and was manufactured alongside it at Toyota's Altona assembly plant in Victoria. Available in both four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body styles, the Apollo offered practical and robust family transportation. Power was primarily supplied by a 2.0-litre inline-four petrol engine featuring electronic fuel injection, producing approximately 88 kW, while higher-spec Executive and SLX variants could be fitted with a refined 2.5-litre V6 engine delivering 118 kW. Transmission options included a crisp five-speed manual and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic. In 1991, the series was updated to the JL facelift, introducing restyled grille and light clusters, refreshed interior trims, and enhanced cabin soundproofing. The Apollo JK and JL were marketed exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, earning widespread praise for their bulletproof reliability, low running costs, and comfortable ride quality.