The Holden Dealer Team was founded as a factory racing team in 1969, but a change in its structure entering the 1980s led to some of the most desired and high performance Commodores entering showrooms.
When Holden pulled out of racing at the end of 1979, there was a scramble to keep the manufacturer at the forefront of touring car racing.
Leading Adelaide dealer Vin Kean came up with the idea to create special versions of the Commodore to be available to dealerships supporting the HDT.
Peter Brock was the figurehead as John Harvey and others including Kean played a pivotal role in continuing Holden’s presence on the track.
Brock won the 1979 Bathurst 1000 by six laps driving a Torana A9X, but months later was victorious at Symmons Plains piloting a new Commodore.
This first ‘Brock Special’ as the HDT models came to be known aimed to provide not only performance advantages, but offer the luxuries of foreign makes as those became more prevalent heading into the 1980s.
Just 500 of the original VC Commodore-based VCs were produced including a prototype.
Prices at the time were at a premium compared to the top-of-the-range SL/E by some $7000 in the early-1980s, but now the $19,000 sticker price is cheap when these HDT models demand more than $100,000.
Featuring the venerable 308 V8 with work completed on the heads, inlet manifold and the four-barrel Rochester carburettor leading to a bump up of 40kw to a top speed of 215km/h.
An M21 four-speed manual or three-speed TH350 automatic were the transmission choices sending power through a 3.36 ratio heavy-duty limited-slip diff.
Handling was off high priority as Bilstein supplied the springs, dampers and sway bars, with the overall geometry being tweaked as it was lauded by motoring journalists.
Ventilated disc brakes were upgraded on the front as a larger master cylinder was installed.
Holden’s über luxury items were fitted such as power windows, air-conditioning, central locking and velour trip, available only in Carmine Red.
Designed by the legendary Leo Pruneau, it was a tasteful adaptation of the Group C bodykit featured on the Commodores Brock and Harvey drove on the track featuring stripes in addition to the classy Irmscher wheels.
HDT not only built these road going versions to sell, but also these became a useful tool to homologate either new models or parts for the racing version, which occurred throughout until the infamous divorce in 1987.
This first VC Commodore HDT version actually raced in an exhibition event at the Australian Grand Prix when then unknown open-wheel driver John Bowe took victory.