The SS Commodore is heralded as the V8 hero model of what was Australia’s best selling car, the SS lettering on the rear and sides affirming their owners as superior to the more common V6 Executives and Acclaims that polluted school drop off zones for decades.

However, what if we were to shatter that image by revealing there was once an option to buy an Commodore SS with a V6? Well such was the case with the VT, though most are either unaware or have long since forgotten.

The VT launched in 1997, and most SS Commodores were ordered with the revived 5.0-litre, Aussie-made, Holden V8. For VT it featured a new roller camshaft, and could be had with either 179kW or 195kW if you ticked the box for a full fat HSV fettled engine.

There was a third option for the SS, and that was the supercharged, 3.8-litre L67 V6. Much in the same way it was an option for the S Pack, Berlina and Calais, buyers could’ve opted for an SS with the 171kW super six.

All L67 cars could only be had with the 4L60E four speed automatic, so all V6 SSs only had two pedals. Being an SS you got exactly the same interior, bodykit, wheels and FE2 suspension as the V8, the only noticeable difference being the V6 badge on the front guards.

As you can imagine, not many were sold. Being an option they were never made as a limited release, it purely came down to how many people opted for the V6 package in the dealers. The rumour mill suggests only around 250-300 may have made it out the doors at Elizabeth, meaning you’re far more likely to find an L67-optioned S Pack or Calais over an SS.

The Supercharged V6 option was deleted when Holden released the Series II VT in 1999, also killing off the Aussie-made 5.0 V8 for the imported 5.7-litre, Gen III LS1. The V6 SS was short lived, but rest assured it did exist.

The SS wasn’t the only performance Holden to grab the supercharged L67. HSV also had a dabble with their XU6. 

The XU6 was based on Clubsport trim, with the Clayton boffins bumping power to 180kW, putting it just 15kW shy of the 195kW, 5.0 V8 Clubby. Like all other L67 Holdens, it was exclusively four speed auto.

While Holden ditched the V6 from the SS in ‘99, HSV kept the XU6 badge running up until VX (pictured above), and also offered the supercharged L67 in the WH Grange.

The V6 VT SS may be rare, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to market value. A tidy example with 194,000km sold at Grays auction for just $5500 (before premiums) in May this year. Being a 1998 model it’s dangerously close to club plates in a few states, so they could make for a quirky cars and coffee cruiser if you’re after a conversation starter.

Surprisingly, the XU6 isn’t as hard to come across. We found several on Facebook Marketplace with a quick search, and a handful on CarSales.

We should note the VT was not actually the first V6 SS. Holden made a very limited number of V6 SSs in the VP for Group 3E racing homologation racing.