381/382, yep, that's basically it.

The option packs aren't a mandatory thing - many cars simply have VH8VX69 on the model line without any pack at all listed. The proper term in the VH era was a "value pack" - where a number of items were grouped together & offered at an attractive discounted price compared to paying for each individual option.

VH SL/E options were central locking (on early VHs), cruise control, power windows, leather trim & shadowtone. There was no sunroof offered (although you could choose from a myriad of aftermarket options).
By the time you got up to the 5.0L engine, all the fruit was included.

The Family II alloys were initially offered with 'premium' tyres on them as an extra cost option on the earlier 3.3 & 4.2 SL/Es, and were standard on shadowtone cars. The 'basic' SL/E only scored the VB/VC SL/E rims.
When Ford's competitiveness improved with the XE, the Family II wheel was spread down the pecking order (same time as central locking became standard on the SL/E).

Genuine shadowtone cars have developed a cult following, and unfortunately, like any car that has an increase in value, there's a number of not so honest people wheeling & dealing in them - some on a very regular basis (commonly selling them off with lines like "it was my grandfather's car - he handed his licence in"). It's hard to find a genuine, honest car for sale. Most of the cars I've seen listed on various forums have been far from ideal.

The seatbelts went to the VK type in late '83. The rear retractables in them are actually an orphan - VK buckles, but a different mounting angle means the reel is unique to VH. All DVH chassis prefixed VHs, even base models, got retractable rear outboard belts (these VK style ones) as that was an ADR change on 1/1/84.

Other small changes aren't real obvious unless you go searching, but one of the easiest to spot is the black interior door handles (vs chrome) in later VHs, and the tuning dial on the factory Eurovox radio went from analogue to digital during production (and had different wiring to the amp).

There's a few other minor items that only the diehards will go looking for, like the deletion of the muffler on the A/C line on later cars, the different boot lock solenoids, the colour of the buttons on the circuit breakers for the locks/windows, and the relay wiring for the rear demister that was a running change. I've seen some early cars without the velour down the pillars too (ie: same style as VC headlining), and there's also what appears to be a batch that never got the underbonnet insulator - yet it was standard fitment on SL/X & SL/E on the earlier cars, and in the parts book. I've seen to many mid & late ones that have never had one fitted (ie no marks on the paint in any of the holes for the retainers) to question it as simply being left off after a bonnet repair.

There's 3 locations for the tags as well. The thin VIN one remains on the rad support, but the other 2 move around. Early cars have them on the rad support, mid models up behind the RH strut tower, and late ones on the LH wheelarch like the VK. There were production changes made to some sheetmetal components in preparation for the VK as well, but I won't go listing them off, as it's been a successful way to pick rebodied Brocks. You can't see most of them unless you remove parts from the vehicle anyway.

In the "rare" category would be a 9/81 SL/E I stripped - silver exterior with claret velour trim. It ran all power options, but had the VC style Harrison A/C on it. Every electrical connector, and the main harness was VH - which is quite different to VC, the tags were VH, and the hole in the dash for the rotary switch was properly done by the factory. Yet the service manuals, owner manuals, and even the sales brochure (which incidentally shows VC style rear headrests) all show the Air International style aircon. I was so confused by this car - thinking it was a VC doctored up into a VH, that I took the driver's door trim off right there & then, to check the central locking (VCs didn't get a driver's door solenoid) and it was factory VH.

I can only assume they possibly planned to keep the Harrison air for the luxury model, but made a very early decision to standardise to Air International. It would be interesting to look up the part number for the centre console bin with the 2 switch holes that the SL/E had to have because of the trip computer. This was not fitted, nor needed in this particular VH (as the A/C was switched by the rotary dial) - so if the part number lines up with other later type parts it would add weight to the idea that the Harrison system was a late deletion.

I've probably forgotten a few things.... but I think that will keep you going for a while!

OH NO!!! did that happen today?

Front bumper is the same (luckily) as any other VH. Only difference is the VH SS bumper rubber had the commodore badge deleted off the side (and hence doesn't have the 4 holes in the rubber for it).

Yeah, whenever....no rush. I still haven't done a lot of things either. Common problem with car guys!

I must also add to that way back in 1982 a lot of VH SL/E's got shadowtone paint done in house by the dealership spray painter so that particular option would not show up on the cars ID.

I know this because as an apprentice mechanic there I learned from a pro how to rub down clear coat with 2000 wet and dry when the mechanical side of the workshop was a bit quiet.

Hainzy I hope you get yours repaired soon as it's a nice car.