The Holden Dealer Team has previewed a “significant” announcement about its future direction as it eyes a “return to the heartland of Australian motorsport” at this year’s Bathurst 1000. 

HDT, which was founded as a racing outfit in 1969, began making performance Holdens as HDT Special Vehicles in 1980, after the team was bought by the legendary Peter Brock. Now a spokesman for the team has revealed it has “unfinished business” with Bathurst.

Man in a tuxedo standing with arms crossed beside a light blue vintage car against a black background
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On October 11, the day after the running of this year’s 1000 at Mount Panorama, HDT will outline its future plans as part of anniversary celebrations for Brock, who drove the team’s cars to eight of his nine victories at Bathurst.

In a statement, HDT said, “The announcement will provide a first look at the ambitious new direction for HDT, looking back at the Bathurst-winning pedigree of its heritage vehicles while showcasing its future automotive plans and a renewed presence in Bathurst.”

As well as dropping the news, the company will unveil a display of rare HDT Special Vehicles “not shown anywhere else during the Bathurst race weekend”. The models will include the VL SL Commodore that HDT used as the prototype and engineering mule for two of its most famous products: the VL Director and VL Aero.

Brocks hdt vk group a commodore front driving
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Other iconic Holdens produced by HDT include the famous Blue Meanie, aka the HDT VK Group A SS. The fastest car Brocky ever built bore the advertising slogan “body by Holden, soul by Brock” and just 500 were built – although some Holden tragics reckon an ordering mistake means the real number is 502. 

The Holden Dealer Team began in 1969 under team boss Harry Firth as a way of getting around General Motors’ ban on its manufacturers entering races with factory-backed teams. HDT’s first driver line-up for Bathurst consisted of Colin Bond and Tony Roberts in car one, with Des West and Brock – who made his debut at the Mountain that year – in the second of three cars.

Peter Perfect took over the team 11 years later, partly to fund the racing arm of HDT with sales of those famous high-performance Holdens.