The very first Peter Brock HDT Commodore will go under the hammer at Shannons Sydney Winter Auction on August 10.

THIS 1979 HOLDEN VB COMMODORE SL/E is the prototype for the Brock HDT Commodore and it will go under the hammer in August with Shannons expecting it to sell for almost $100,000. The two-tone Malachite and Sage Green sedan was given to HDT for Peter Brock to tune and tweak and turn into a performance vehicle to “challenge the best from Europe”.

“Brock and his HDT team totally transformed the car and given its high-performance brief, the car’s original 4.2-litre V8 was replaced with a 5.0-litre V8 mated to a Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission, while this was matched to a bigger rear end housing with limited-slip differential,” Shannons said in a statement.

“To ensure that the HDT Commodore was a BMW beater, its engine was suitably warmed-over and the suspension uprated with Bilstein shock absorbers, while distinctive German-sourced Irmscher wheels, two-tone paintwork and a full body kit completed the conversion from family car to Bahn-stormer.”

But, by the time Brock and his team had finished its prototype, the VB Commodore had given way to the VC, so the grille and taillights of production models were updated although the prototype uniquely retains its original VB side mouldings. 

The current owner’s long-lasting relationship with the car dates back to 1982, when he was employed at Les Vagg Holden in Pennant Hills, one of the founding HDT dealers. According to legend, “Peter Brock and John Harvey left ‘001’ with the Vagg dealership to be sold on their behalf and the current owner was the sales person responsible for the sale to a mate’s stepfather”. 

Eleven years later he bought the car back and subsequently carried out a total restoration over an extended 15-year period. This included an engine rebuild and repaint in the original two-tone colour combination using correct two-pack paint. 

Amongst the extensive documentation included with the car is a Certificate of Authenticity from HDT confirming the car as the original ‘VB HDT Prototype’ along with all numbers (including the engine change).