A new Blue Meanie

[Reaper]

A Queensland businessman has developed a modern version of the Brock Commodore based on the touring car legend’s 1985 Group-A VK Commodore.

The king of the mountain may be gone, but his spirit has been revived in a 21st century take on the VK Brock Commodore.

Queensland businessman and Brock fanatic Peter Champion today unveiled a re-make of the VK Group A Commodore raced by the nine-time champion at Bathurst in 1985.

The retro-styled car, which is based on the current model VE Commodore but has styling cues from the VK Brock Commodore of the eighties, can be bought for $75,000.

Champion has bought the rights to the HDT brand name that Brock established before his famed falling out with Holden in the eighties.

Champion, who has also set up a museum in Brock’s honour at Yepoon, near Rockhampton in Queensland, has previously developed retro versions of the VC and VH Brock Commodores, which have sold in very limited numbers.

But the new HDT Commodore, unveiled at Bathurst by Brock’s long-time partner Bev, will have an ambitious production run of 250 cars.

The general manager of HDT, Darren Gillis, says that although the company has only sold 30 cars so far, he expects the VK to sell in much bigger numbers.

“We feel this will be a lot more popular, because the VK was the most popular of the Brock Commodores,” he says.

He says the company is confident of re-building the nameplate that was once revered as the pinnacle of performance by Holden enthusiasts.

“We have been trying to put the HDT name back where it belongs. It was an icon in the 80s and we’d like it to be that way again,” he says.

The original HDT VK was a “homologation special” limited run of 500 cars, designed to qualify the model for Group A racing at Bathurst.

As new, the car cost $21,950 and put out 196kW, slightly more than the current base model Commodore.

The VK model is now probably the most collectible of the Brock Commodores, with some models worth up to $120,000.

Buyers who order an HDT Commodore first have to buy a manual black VE SS-V Commodore (No autos are available) from a Holden dealer. The car is then re-sprayed in the original “Formula Blue” of the VK version, before undergoing extensive modifications to the engine, brakes and suspension.

Tweaks to the camshaft, engine management system and exhaust boost the car’s output from the factory’s 270kW to a hairy-chested 350kW.

Peter Brock lives on in limited edition Commodore

Reaper

[50LTRv8]

I have had a look at the VE's dressed like the old HDTs and I think they look heaps better than the HSV's. They are much less over the top and don't look anywhere near as chunky.

[VL_5SPEED]

gayyyyyyyy ve's are fat and ugly. VKs are small and hot.

[fuzzy2308]

i have seen 2 of the ve's dresed up as the old hdt's they are hot

[Astranomical]

I agree, when I first saw the pics I thought they looked ****ing hideous....though I saw a white one at uni a few months ago...and it just looks shit hot in real life.

[Sphinx]

Are HDT doing this? Might be time to give Jez a ring...

[Cobez]

I'm biased on on the VC / VB / VH and VK HDT's. Can't re-create as classic in my opinion. I love the original blue meanies. ****ing sexual car!!

[Rufus®]

I like the interior, but don't like the badges.

Overall, it could grow on me.

Only 250 to be produced?

[minux]

Wow...that is one ugly looking car...

[fourstar82]

Stuck in the 80's. They can keep them, sorry...

[ari666]

vk's are ugly, i should know, i gotta look at one each time i get in and outta my car

[Astranomical]

Its different, but I have to say, I like it.

[S2_VR_]

yeah seen one of the HDT Ve's... they're ****ing hot IMO... much better than ANY VE... although hate them in black.. white FTW

i reckon this thing is hot as.. would look sick sitting in my driveway

[Cobez]

vk's are ugly, i should know, i gotta look at one each time i get in and outta my car

VK's are ugly, VK SS's are sexy

[Cobez]

Oh and also on the recreating front of old school HDT's into VE models. I am against it. I saw that Marlboro VE that was around, looks haggard, this new blue meanie looks just as bad, especially the redesign of the old style wheels.

Should be illegal. Classics are classics for a reason. Leave it be.

[Calaber]

Fancy sticking those ugly old VK wheels on a VE. They were ugly back then. Time hasn't improved them.

It sucks.

[Pub247]

i like it i dont care about others opinions if could have one i would

[Goon]

That's nice !!

[Jezza]

i hate the choice of wheels but thats all i probably would buy it if i had the money and i would change the rims straight away

[Reaper]

Hmmmm - First impression..... Looks good. Good enough to buy one? Probably not but it looks good none the less.

Reaper

[STEALTHY™]

I like the ideas of the HDT VEs, but this one doesn't look any different to the ones already out.

[Cobez]

Anyone know the price of one of these? I'm assuming some rediculous price like the W427....

[Reaper]

$75k apparently. Not sure if that is on top of the cost of a car from Holden or including. You need to supply them a black SSV to upgrade.

Reaper

[fuzzy2308]

$75k apparently. Not sure if that is on top of the cost of a car from Holden or including. You need to supply them a black SSV to upgrade.

Reaper

couldn't you get a real one for that

EDIT by a real one i mean vk

[hsvpunk]

all i can think of is Melbourne's C4C and this... they go really good together. Big Fail.