One of the rarest Australian-made cars is up for auction, and this particular example was owned by none-other-than Peter Brock. Yep, a 1985 Holden Commodore HDT VK Group A SS.
Listed on Collecting Cars, Peter Brock’s cherished HDT VK Group A SS – build number 005 (of 502 ever made) – is a ride steeped in racing lore and nostalgia, boasting a respectable 79,724km on its aged odometer.
With its iconic Formula Blue paint, this machine was more than just a set of wheels for the late Australian racing legend. It was his personal chariot, ferrying him around with the kind of flair reserved for motorsport royalty.
Heralded as a piece of Australian motoring history, the HDT VK Group A SS was a homologation special, basically made so Holden and HDT could go racing. Some of the aero work, such as the front grille and intake system, the big rear spoiler, and parts of the engine were used in the actual racing cars.
Under the bonnet you’ll find a 4.9-litre Holden V8 engine, featuring roller-rockers, a Crane Cam camshaft, and revised block (painted red), all belting out 196kW. That was very powerful for its day. The engine was actually de-stroked from 5044cc to 4987cc to adhere to under-5L regulations – HDT referred to it as a 4.9L just to be sure.
Matched up to an M21 four-speed manual transmission (a five-speed was optional), with a live-axle rear end with a limited-slip differential, this would be a lot of fun to drive. Especially with its kerb weight of around 1340kg.
If you’re in the market for a piece of Australian racing folklore, dig deep into those pockets. Because owning a piece of Brock’s history doesn’t come cheap – and this auction is bound to separate the tyre-kickers from the serious collectors.
At the time of writing the current bid is $160,500, and it’s still got 5 days to go. Head over to Collecting Cars for more.