Australian billionaire and racing driver Kenny Habul has announced plans to revive Peter Brock’s Holden Dealer Team (HDT), including the development of modernized Commodores and a new performance vehicle manufacturing operation in Bathurst.
Habul, a solar energy businessman and two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner, acquired HDT Special Vehicles and an extensive collection of rare Holden vehicles from former owner Peter Champion in September 2026.
- Australian billionaire Kenny Habul has acquired HDT Special Vehicles from Peter Champion and plans to revive the Peter Brock-associated performance car brand in Bathurst.
- HDT is developing modernized versions of classic Holden Commodores, with prototype vehicles undergoing testing in Australia, Germany and the United States.
- A new Bathurst facility will provide vehicle restorations, replacement parts, performance upgrades and modern safety systems, alongside a proposed HDT museum.
Speaking following the Bathurst 1000 on October 12, Habul confirmed that the company intends to restore historic HDT vehicles, introduce officially approved performance upgrades and potentially manufacture new interpretations of Brock’s iconic Commodores.
For me, I didn’t want the brand to die, I didn’t want it to disappear. We’re probably going to restore a lot of these cars.
Kenny Habul
“Some of them, for sure need restoration, we’re going to make upgrade kits and improve their performance and make them safer and do different things so you can enjoy them, and we’ll probably build some new ones.”
HDT plans new performance cars and Bathurst headquarters
HDT has already begun developing prototype vehicles, with testing underway in Australia, Germany and the United States. The proposed models could follow a restomod approach, preserving the appearance and character of classic Holden performance cars while incorporating upgraded engines, braking systems and modern safety technology.
Potential improvements include anti-lock braking systems, traction control and higher power outputs.
There is a lot of work to do before we have an HDT-reimagined car to present, but there is a fundamental recipe that I think will be very impressive.
The company has not confirmed which Holden models will form the basis of its new vehicles, their specifications or when production might begin.
HDT also plans to establish a permanent headquarters at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, including restoration workshops, panel and paint facilities, a showroom and a dedicated museum.
Temporary premises have already been established in the Bathurst suburb of Kelso.
Existing HDT owners will be able to purchase replacement components and approved performance upgrades through the revived business.
The facility is intended to support both the preservation of historic vehicles and the development of new performance models.
Peter Brock’s Holden Commodores return after decades
HDT Special Vehicles was established in 1980 under Peter Brock, the nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner whose racing achievements helped establish the Commodore as an Australian performance car icon.
Between 1980 and 1987, the company produced 4,246 high-performance Commodores, including the VK SS Group A, commonly known as the “Blue Meanie,” and the VL Group A SS.
Brock’s relationship with Holden ended in 1987 following controversy surrounding the VL Director and its Energy Polarizer device, which the manufacturer had prohibited.
HDT continued producing modified Holdens after Brock sold the business in 1988. Subsequent ownership changes eventually brought the company to Peter Champion in 2007, when it returned to producing retro-inspired performance Commodores.
Original Brock-era vehicles remain highly collectible. In 2021, a 1985 HDT VK Commodore SS Group A previously owned by Brock sold for A$1.057 mn, setting what was then an auction record for a production Holden.
The revival faces a manufacturing challenge because Australian Commodore production ended in 2017, while General Motors discontinued the Holden brand in 2020.
Habul has not disclosed whether future HDT vehicles will use existing Commodore platforms, extensively rebuilt donor vehicles or another technical foundation.
For now, the company’s confirmed priorities are restoring historic HDT models, supplying parts, developing performance upgrades and establishing its Bathurst operations. Details of the first reimagined production vehicle will be announced as development progresses.
