Changing badges on US cars

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hawkeye122

hawkeye122

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gdwest1
So, lets assume for a moment that my Father is considering buying a Pontiac G8. (He wants to, and he very well may)

Would it be lame to get Vauxhall/Holden bumpers-insignias put on it?

Or similarly if you bought a car that was re-badged for the American market, is it worth getting the European or Australian markings?

Speak your opinion.
 
Ya, in my opinion its always lame and cheesy when you alter the designations on a car it was not meant to be. The worst are cross manufacturer badges, example putting a Honda Type R badge on a Toyota.
 
This isn't Cross-manufacturer. It's precisely the same vehicle as a Holden Commodore. We'd get a Commodore, if it wasn't so expensive to import one.
 
Your car. Yours to do as you see fit. Personally, I don't like re-badging vehicles... but then, I don't care much about vehicle badges, anyway.

It's been a while... are there any cosmetic changes besides the badge/grille? What about badging on the wheels, are you going to change that, too?

And it'll be pretty obvious right quick that it isn't an original Holden when people see it's left-hand drive...
 
theotherspongey
I saw a Toyota Camry with a Honda Badge. It looked pretty legit too.
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OP isn't talking about putting badges from a completely different car maker. The Pontiac G8 is just another name for Holden Commodore, just like the Dodge Caravan = Chrysler Town and Country.
 
Sometimes it's goofy, but most of the time people don't finish the job completely. If you do a total conversion it can end up being pretty cool. Holden conversions are popular for GTOs. Expensive, and a lot of work, but neat.
 
hawkeye122
Would it be lame to get Vauxhall/Holden bumpers-insignias put on it?.
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The lamest thing you could do there is put a Vauxhall badge on it, it's a Holden so put that badge on it. While your at it put the Holden front bar on it, the Pontiac one looks shyte

We have that problem down here, people are rebadging their Holden's with chev badges which is sort of understandable as we have been running LS1's since maybe 1999/2000 and the newer models have L98/76/77 chev motors. But then you get people rebadging their Australian built alloytec V6's with the bowtie as well.

It may be lame to rebadge cars but that doesn't stop people lol

Keef
Holden conversions are popular for GTOs. Expensive, and a lot of work, but neat.
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A lot of work how? Wouldn't be much more than a change of bodykit right?

We are able to buy commodores dressed up in the Pontiac kit straight from the dealer. Why anyone would do that though is beyond me lol
 
Pontiac uses their own style front end fascia so it would be kind of odd, however Holden did offer the Pontiac front on Commodores for a while due to excess stock after the G8 was cancelled.
 
hawkeye122
It's a Pontiac. They have a spotty reputation regarding quality.
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Wait, wait. 2 things; if it's the same car... wouldn't the Commodore's be shotty, too? And... if it's reputation and quality is suspect (to which I totally agree), why not get a different car?

Never mind the badge change, if you want to spend 20-25k (according to my research) on a quality used 2+ year old G8, why not just go out and buy a new car for under 30? The Impala, Taurus (Domestic), Mazda6, and Camry (Foreign) would work better in my opinion.

To each their own though. :crazy:
 
Jubby
Wait, wait. 2 things; if it's the same car... wouldn't the Commodore's be shotty, too? And... if it's reputation and quality is suspect (to which I totally agree), why not get a different car?

Never mind the badge change, if you want to spend 20-25k (according to my research) on a quality used 2+ year old G8, why not just go out and buy a new car for under 30? The Impala, Taurus (Domestic), Mazda6, and Camry (Foreign) would work better in my opinion.

To each their own though. :crazy:
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The G8 is a awesome car (even though I'm against the badge change). RWD all the way.👍
 
killer tiller
A lot of work how? Wouldn't be much more than a change of bodykit right?
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Exactly, that's why it's a lot of work. Tons of fasteners, most of them fragile plastic clips. You probably have to take the headlights, foglights, and taillights out to get to them all, which requires undoing more screws and electrical plugs. It's probably day's work to change all those body panels and badges. Don't forget to change all possible interior badging too, or else your conversion will be bogus.
 
killer tiller
We have that problem down here, people are rebadging their Holden's with chev badges which is sort of understandable as we have been running LS1's since maybe 1999/2000 and the newer models have L98/76/77 chev motors. But then you get people rebadging their Australian built alloytec V6's with the bowtie as well.
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I love those people. Especially because they tend to be a part of the "Awwww yerrrr fully sick mayyyyte it's got a Chevy motorrrrr" crowd. I just point and laugh at them.

As for rebadging the Pontiac? Do whatever you like to it. However I reckon you'll find the Holden badge won't fit on the front bumper, it's going to have to be put on the hood.
 
That car requires more than just a badge though, doesn't it? I thought not only did they wear Holden badges, but the Monaro also had a different front end, side skirts, & wheels.
 
Keef
Sometimes it's goofy, but most of the time people don't finish the job completely. If you do a total conversion it can end up being pretty cool. Holden conversions are popular for GTOs. Expensive, and a lot of work, but neat.
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+1.

Total support here dude. I say go for it. If I ever purchased one, I would do the same thing. I've actually seen a forum post somewhere on the internet where a guy in Australia actually changed his Holden over to the Pontiac version. With some digging, you may find someone doing the same thing, and you could do a parts swap. 👍
 
There's a EG civic around my neighborhood with an acura grill and badges. It's hilarious.
As for the G8, I would do it just so people would come up and ask what it is.
The G8 is rare enough, holden badges would just cause headaches.
 
If you can do a full conversion, then go for it. But if you'll be left with, say, G8 embroidery in the seats, then it'll just look cheesy.

And on the general topic of badges... I've seen 3-Series BMWs that were most definitely not M3s, though they had the badges, and it simply looked strange. On the flip side though, I've seen Benz owners who have added AMG kits (exhausts, rims, spoilers etc.) to their cars, and slapped on an AMG badge to their trunk lids while keeping the three digit nomenclature; makes a little more sense to me, since you're adding a performance badge to a luxury vehicle that now has the performance:
21050160008_large.jpg


(I might be adding the badge to my car once I get the ECU tuned... haven't decided yet.)

In the end though, it's really up to the driver, and if they care about what others think. Some people even debadge their cars entirely simply because they like the look (which I do not condone :sly:).
 
McLaren
That car requires more than just a badge though, doesn't it? I thought not only did they wear Holden badges, but the Monaro also had a different front end, side skirts, & wheels.
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The Monaro is the car that the Pontiac GTO is based on, not the G8.

The G8 is based on the standard Commodore SS but yes, they have a different bodykit if you don't count the 1500 or so "SS V-Series Special Edition" models that got the G8 front end. The wheels on the other hand, save for maybe the 5-spokers on the G8 GT, are all the same designs you have the option for on the Commodore.
 
R1600Turbo
I've actually seen a forum post somewhere on the internet where a guy in Australia actually changed his Holden over to the Pontiac version.
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We can buy them from the dealer like that, well we could not sure if they still are
 
If I remember right, this guy bought the parts from someone in the states. Salvage or something. Got them cheaper than purchasing them from the dealer, even with the shipping.
 
Wouldn't be surprised. The ones with the G8 front end were classified as "Special Editions" so Holden figured that for the same features as the SSV they could charge almost HSV money for them because they had a different front end.
 
I always thought that if I ever got a GTO, I'd do give it the full Holden treatment. Not only do the bumpers look better, but I especially like this response:

eSZee
I would do it just so people would come up and ask what it is.
The G8 is rare enough, holden badges would just cause headaches.
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Though my Accord will likely end up completely de-badged. Sometimes they're just clutter... like front license plates.
 
Well, thats a good assortment of responses. Thanks guys :)

It think we'll probably do it. The Holden front-end just looks so much better I think anyways.
 
Murcie_LP640
The Monaro is the car that the Pontiac GTO is based on, not the G8.

The G8 is based on the standard Commodore SS but yes, they have a different bodykit if you don't count the 1500 or so "SS V-Series Special Edition" models that got the G8 front end. The wheels on the other hand, save for maybe the 5-spokers on the G8 GT, are all the same designs you have the option for on the Commodore.
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My apologies. When I hear of Holden conversions over in the states, I always think of the GTO guys, & forgot the OP said a G8. :dunce:
 

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