Holden Commodore 1980 News

Tracing its history back to 1856, Holden is the second-oldest mobility company in the world, trailing France's Peugeot, which began operations in 1810 when it started out as a coffee mill manufacturer before transitioning to bicycles. While Karl Benz was tinkering with his first vehicle in Germany during 1886, James

The first ever Holden Commodore built by the late racing legend Peter Brock will be auctioned by Shannons in Sydney tomorrow (Monday August 10).It is likely to fetch $85,000 to $95,000, even though the car it’s based on cost just $9600 when new in 1980.Unlike other Brock Commodores, this is the car the race ace used to test all the performance parts before he did his first 500 limited edition models, which led to a series of fast personalised road cars for more than a decade before his acrimonious split with Holden.Middleton spent the next 17 years meticulously restoring 001.Unlike 499 of the 500 vehicles in that first batch which were all red, black or white, car 001 was two-tone green because it was a former Holden company car given to Brock to start the project.The car, which has “001” engraved on the steering wheel, was bought by a Holden dealer in Pennant Hills, 33 years ago this weekend to the day.Holden used-car salesman Jim Middleton sold it to a family friend in August 1982 after it sat on the lot for just one day.But Middleton bought the vehicle back 11 years later, and then spent the next 17 years meticulously restoring it.Middleton finally got car number one on the road five years ago but has decided it’s time to sell.“I’ve owned it for 22 years now, I’ve done the rounds of car club shows, it’s just time to move on,” said Middleton.“To my knowledge, this is 001,” he says. “I’ve kept my ear to the ground and been searching for another 001 for the better part of 30 years and it’s never surfaced. No-one has ever come forward with 001 in red, white or black. We know where 002 is, it’s a red car. But to my knowledge, and according to the HDT bible, number 001 is listed as being green.”Commodore enthusiasts will recall there is another early Commodore, a light blue car, that Brock used as a test bed and dubbed “000”.It was never issued with a numbered steering wheel but decades later Brock put his signature to a handwritten “000” on the glovebox.The blue car was originally loaned to Brock by one of the founding Holden Dealer Team dealers Vin Keane from Adelaide (other founding HDT dealers included Laurie Sutton and Les Vagg from Sydney and Warren Smith in Melbourne).Having experienced a hard life, the blue VC surfaced a few years ago in Melbourne but its current whereabouts and condition are unknown.

THE Aussie muscle car bubble has burst, but car dealer Donald Smith isn't concerned even though he could have made a sizeable profit on his 1980 HDT VC Brock Commodore. "I actually put the VC on the market to buy a Brock VL and had an offer of $132,000," he says. "But I changed my mind and I'm glad I held on to it even though it's only worth about $80,000 now," says Smith who owns four Brock specials. Legendary touring car racer Peter Brock collaborated with Holden in the 1980s to produce high-performance Commodores to fund his Holden Dealer Team (HDT) racing exploits and to homologate some models for racing. The first HDT Brock special was the VC, available in HDT racing colours of black, red or white. Brock made 502 VC models, but only 69 were black and only about 30 had four-speed manual gearboxes, making Smith's VC build number 110 one of the rarest variants. It was originally bought by HDT Car Club of Queensland foundation member Clinton Fox in 1980 for about $20,000. Smith bought it from a dealer for an undisclosed amount in 2007 with only 71,000km on the odometer. "The oil was blacker than the paint and we polished it about six times," he says. The dashboard has been signed by Brock and his brothers Lewis and Phil, lauded race team manager Harry Firth, Brock's co-driver John Harvey and HDT parts manager Chris Ceswell. It is in original condition except for the wheels which have been replaced with Simmons mags and Bridgestone Potenza RE55S road-legal racing slicks. However, Smith has six original Irmscher alloys fitted with "very hard" Uniroyal Steel Wildcat tyres. The VC is powered by a 5044cc (308 cubic inch) V8 pushrod engine with just 160kW of power which is 30kW less than today's 2997cc V6 Commodore. He only drives his cars to HSV Car Club events and plans to show the VC and VL at the RACQ Motorfest at Eagle Farm racecourse in Brisbane on July 17. "You don't see too many 31-year-old cars that look as good as this," he beams proudly.Peter Brock's Holden Dealer Team made about 4000 road-going cars from 1980 until the introduction of the highly controversial "Energy Polariser" in 1987. They included the VC Group C, VH SS Group III, VK SS Group A and VL SS Group which were primarily made just to meet racing regulations. Holden approved of the HDT cars, but the relationship soured when Brock began fitting his "Energy Polarizer" in 1987. The unit contained crystals and magnets and was claimed to improved the car's performance and handling by "aligning the molecules". It was fitted to the Director model which failed to sell after the Polariser was criticised by the motoring community as hocus pocus. When Brock refused to let Holden test a Director, the company withdrew warranty support. This led to the birth of Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). SMITH'S OTHER HDT CARS ARE: 1985 HDT Brock VK SS Commodore (5L V8, four-speed manual) that cost $22,000 new. 1987 HDT Brock Director (4.9L V8, three-speed auto) with a controversial "Energy Polariser" fitted. It cost $87,000 new and only 12 were made. 1988 HDT VL Brock Commodore Bathurst Aero (4.9L, five-speed manual) that cost about $60,000 new. Only eight were made. AT A GLANCE Model: 1980 HDT VC Brock CommodoreYear: 1980Price new: about $20,000Price now: $80,000Engine: five-litre V8Body: five-seater sedanTrans: four-speed manual

It is widely accepted that all 1980 limited-edition Brock HDT Commodores only came in white, red or black.  But Jim's is green, two-tone green in fact, which he says is authentic and has a fascinating history.And he should know as he took delivery of it originally from Peter Brock's team, sold it and then bought it back again.  Peter Brock went into the special vehicle business in 1979 after Holden pulled out of motorsport and left him to run his own team. Brock signed up Holden dealers around the country for whom he would create a limited edition performance version of the VC Commodore.In turn the dealer support helped fund his racing operations.  Middleton says: "The first 500 cars were red, white or black. But there were also two prototypes, a blue one and a green one."The prototypes, a blue manual and a green auto, were the earlier VB model.  "My car is number one. They didn't have a builder's plate on the engine. They were numbered on the steering wheel. Mine is numbered 001 on the steering wheel."It had started life as a light green 4.2-litre VB SL Commodore built in May 1979. Middleton says it was originally driven by a Holden company executive before Brock's team acquired it and modified it as a prototype."The car came to Brock from General Motors. It was John Harvey's (Brock's track teammate) drive-vehicle at the time."  The 5-litre V8 HDT Commodores received larger valves, had modified distributors and carburettors, suspension work, a body kit that included a rear spoiler and front air dam plus special Irmscher wheels from Germany and special paintwork among other changes.In this configuration they achieved a 0-100km/h time of 8.4seconds with the engines puitting out 160kW and 450Nm of torque.  They sold for $20,000 ($200 less for a manual) and were quickly snapped up by eager punters. Middleton says the cars now fetch about $70,000-$80,000 and says his rare protototype could be worth up to $150,000.Middleton worked for Holden dealer Les Vagg at Pennant Hills in Sydney, one of the HDT dealers.  He says that in 1982 Brock and Harvey came to the dealer on their way to a race at Amaroo Park where they arranged for the dealer to sell the green prototype as they no longer needed it. By then Brock's team was making the next of their limited editions, the VH Commodore."I sold it that weekend to a mate of mine's dad. I bought it back off him in August 1993."  Middleton says the car had done over 100,000 kilometres by then and needed work."It's been the world's slowest restoration program," he says of a job that he only completed this year.  "I wasn't in a great hurry. I knew I had the first car.  It had minor damage from car parks. It really needed pulling apart and putting back together."Middleton then installed new panels, new door shells, new guards and a new bonnet and the engine and transmission were refreshed.  He took it to this year's Muscle Car Masters event at Eastern Creek where Harvey spotted it and drove it in a parade."He instantly recognised it," says Middleton.  This weekend about 70 HDT owners from around the country will be in Albury to celebrate the cars' 30th anniversary at a gathering to be known as Brocks on the Border.Middleton says about half of the original 500 road cars still exist.  A further 12 were built as racecars for a one-off race at Calder as a support event to the 1980 Australian Grand Prix. Some of them also still exist.Middleton says he will probably sell the car that has hardly been driven of late.  "It's lucky to have done 300 to 400km in 17 years."

Unless they conduct major overhauls of their existing models, Australian carmakers will have difficulty meeting Industry Minister Kim Carr's target.

Brock used the Shelby Mustang operation in the US and AMG in Germany as models for his HDT Special Vehicles, which in turn provided the model for Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance Vehicles. The first special was the VC HDT Commodore, released in 1980. It's now a classic and appreciating in value.The car Brock modified was the top-of-the-range VC Commodore SL/E, already loaded with plenty of fruit. It came with Holden's 5.0-litre V8, but Brock and his team fitted large valves for better performance. It put out 160kW at 4500 revs and 450Nm at 2800 revs, enough to have it racing to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds.Brock offered the choice of Holden's four-speed manual gearbox or the three-speed auto. A limited-slip differential was standard. Brock fitted uprated springs and Bilstein gas shock absorbers, which improved handling.A fibreglass bodykit; wheel-arch flares, front bib spoiler and a rear wing; gave the car a sporting image. Colours were limited to white, black or red. Brock built 500 VC HDT Commodores. Models of the Brock cars are generally sold outside the trade.If you could believe the published values for a VC HDT, you'd expect to pay about $20,000 for one in good condition, but try double that now.Check the hard-to-find special Brock components are there; signed steering wheel, Irmscher alloys, high-flow air cleaner. The bodykits were made of fibreglass, which didn't withstand a knock. Check the various bodykit components for cracking around the attachment points and distortion between mounting points.Len Kennedy says he was impressed with the VC HDT, but debated spending the extra $6000 or so over a standard SL/E before eventually succumbing to the Brock ride and handling. Kennedy says his car has done 130,000km with little trouble. The Brock Commodore memory is kept alive today through Brock's former company, HDT Special Vehicles, now at Revesby.Co-owner Len Pennisi says values are increasing. “Unfortunately with Peter Brock's demise last year, cars quadrupled in value ... everybody wants a piece of that era,” he says. “Collectors are buying them, not selling them again; and they're not getting driven."“A lot of people are buying them to make money, like buying a house.” HDT Brock Commodore VCYear: 1980Price: If you could believe the published values for a VC HDT, you'd expect to pay about $20,000 for one in good condition, but try double that and expect it to keep going up.Engine: 5.0L/V8 160kW/450NmPerformance: 0-100kmh 8.4 secsRating: 75/100Verdict: Attractive Australian sports sedan that has the potential to increase in value. Rivals Falcon S XR6Years: 1992-1993Price: $8000-$9000 Nissan Skyline SilhouetteYears: 1986-1990Price: $5800-$6500 XB Falcon GTYears: 1973-1976Price: $15,000-$25,000 Features High fuel consumptionPotential to increase in valueSolid performanceCheck to ensure it is the real dealRumbling V8 exhaust noteReassuring handlingComfortable ridePresence of special Brock parts Have you driven this classic Aussie performance car? Do you have one stored away, quietly increasing in value? Let us know below... 

As a friend and fan of Brock, Len Pennisi not only owns and treasures his three Brock Commodores, he's also keeping the Brock memory alive through Brock's former company, HDT Special Vehicles based at Revesby.Pennisi and his brother Sid bought the HDT Special Vehicles company in 1994.“It always was a legacy to keep the cars going the same way he did it, exactly the way he ran it, with enthusiasm and passion. And to make sure people have the parts to keep these cars on the road,” he says.Not only does he own the company, he also raced VC Commodores himself and currently owns three Brock Commodores; a white VK group III model, a red VH and a white VC.He says through HDT — where they fix, provide spare parts and build and sell Brock Commodores — they've seen the cars recently boom in popularity.“Unfortunately with Peter Brock's demise last year, cars quadrupled in value ... everybody wants a piece of that era,” he says.“Collectors are buying them, not selling them again and they're not getting driven.“A lot of people are buying them to make money, like buying a house.”Pennisi says Brock's first VC Commodore model was worth around $12,000 to $15,000 just 18 months ago. They're now selling for around $35,000 to $40,000. “ I sold a good VH a couple of days after Brock's death for $24,000 and it sold recently for $46,000. I can't see them going down ... we have more people wanting to buy than we have cars to sell,” he says.Pennisi says it's not only the death of Brock that has contributed to the increase in value, but also the astronomical amounts being paid for other older cars such as Holden Monaros, Valiant Chargers and Ford Falcons.As they become less accessible, people turn elsewhere to cars such as the Commodores, he says. Pennisi says about 5000 cars were officially built, with perhaps 3000 surviving .He says there are still some owners who enjoy their Brock Commodores as daily drivers, but a lot of care has to be taken as they are easy targets for thieves. And while the older, more sought-after cars may have taken muscle to drive, Pennisi says the Brock Commodores have no such problem.“They have airconditioning and power steering, disc brakes, plush interiors and they are comfortable to drive. They have everything — power, handling and room to put five people in them,” he says.And the other appealing factor is the cars served a dual purpose; they could hold their own on the track or the road.Most Brock Commodores came out with 5.0-litre V8 engines, although Pennisi says six-cylinder turbo engines were also available as an option in the late 1980s.“It's not like today's supercars. You can't buy a car raced on the track as a road car but in those days you could buy almost the same car as was being raced,” he says.“You could take it to the track as well as (use it as) an all-purpose type of car. They had a very nice interior, unique wheels, unique body kit and specific engine modifications.”As for the Pennisi brothers, keeping both HDT and the memory of their racing hero alive is a top priority.“I knew him personally for over 20 years,” Len says. “The day it happened (Brock's death) reminded me of JFK. The world stopped, everyone was ringing us up and asking what happened. I got phone calls from all over Australia and even overseas, 2 1/2 days after that people could not believe it happened. It took me months to believe it.”And with the passion that Pennisi as well as fellow Brock Commodore owners possess, people won't forget these cars.“Obviously I was that passionate that I raced them, bought the company, own the cars and still work with them today,” he says.Fast factsVehicle: Brock CommodoreValue: when new: around $20,000Value two years ago:VC: $12,000-$15,000VH: $24,000Value now: $35,000-$45,000Verdict: The legend lives on in these classic Brock Commodores of the 1980s. They've become even more sought-after since the death of Peter Brock last year.