HDT Commodore lives again in VE version

The original VC Commodore he designed for Holden's dealer team has been recreated as the VE Commodore thanks to some of his biggest fans.

Peter Champion, one of Brock's closest friends and owner of over 20 of his famous race cars, started the retro VC project and it gained momentum with the help of Melbourne's Patterson Cheney Holden.

The first VC-retro-VE Commodores is almost ready and Champion is expected to name dealers in other states once production of HDT vehicles and parts begins.

The car is expected to start at $65,000, although final prices for parts including body kits, exhaust pipes, suspension and brakes have yet to be finalized.

“We are behind the project with Peter Champion. He spent a lot of money developing the body kit, and I thought he understood something. It hit my most sentimental heartstrings,” says Nick Batsialas, new vehicle manager at Patterson Cheney in Vermont.

“I thought a lot of people would like a car like this. They grew up knowing the original car and wanted something similar."

The car looks just like Brock's original VC thanks to the body kit, HDT striping and 19-inch Irmsche-style wheels.

But Batsialas knew he needed more and went to the Autotechnique store in Victoria to find it.

“We needed a package that was fun to drive. So Autotechnique did the suspension and performance work,” he says.

“They came up with a package that makes you smile even at speeds below 100 km/h. It looks like a muscle car."

The work includes a smoother exhaust and improved suspension, and with the help of Harrop Engineering, there will be more HDT-branded equipment in the future.

So far, there is only one VC-retro-VC Commodore, but Batsialas believes there will be strong demand for it.

“We have just finished our first car. It has just been released. We already have people willing to get the car as soon as it is complemented by interior upgrades,” he says.

“We have just started. But we have a lot of interest.

“We think the car will cost $65,000.

“I think I could sell four or five cars a month. But it will be built on demand. And we do not plan to exceed 500 vehicles, which is in line with the initial homologation for the VC.”

The retro VC is based on the modern SS-V Commodore sedan, and Batsialas says the initial problems with GM Holden have been overcome without worrying about a conflict with Holden Special Vehicles.

“It was a little ticklish, but we got over it,” he says.

“We've been given a Victorian distribution and Peter Champion is negotiating with other states. We have a great history at Patterson Cheney with hot Holdens and we helped Brocky start it.

“We are also developing the HDT product line so that people can buy brakes, suspension or whatever. This is something Holden dealers didn't have because a lot of people don't need the full HSV package."