After it was recently revealed Australian businessman and racer Kenny Habul was the new custodian of the HDT brand, plans for the storied company have been confirmed following the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Announced were plans to relaunch the brand in Bathurst through construction of a new facility focused on producing modifications and performance enhancements, while a museum is also in the works.
HDT traces its roots back to 1969 and came under the ownership of Peter Brock in 1980 when the Special Vehicles department was formed to build hotted up Commodores for dealer’s supporting the race program.
Brock won eight of his nine Bathurst victories with HDT and added three Australian Touring Car Championships as well.
HDT assembled 4246 high-performance Commodores during a run from 1980 until 1987 featuring legendary models including VK Group A SS ‘Blue Meanie’, VH Commodore SS Group 3 and the VL Director, which forced the end of Brock’s relationship with Holden.
Retro-inspired models were introduced 20-years on when the HDT brand was under the custodianship of Brock fan and collector Peter Champion.
Habul has now taken on the ownership and will continue the legacy of the brand, one in which he has a personal link with after working under Brock at the company in the 1980s.
As part of the announcement, Habul confirmed plans for a new Bathurst-based facility, a road-going prototype and much more.
“We have huge plans for the reborn HDT brand,” Habul said.
“They include building a factory in Bathurst focused on a range of enthusiast applications including restorations, performance enhancements and more.
“We are respectful of what this brand means to people, and we recognise these cars need to be preserved and improved.
“If you own an HDT you will be able to come to us for parts that we will have on the shelf, plus we will also be offering performance upgrades that will be HDT approved with increased power outputs, better brakes and enhanced safety.”
“We have prototype cars being tested here in Australia, as well as in Germany and the USA.
“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.
“We will confirm more details about this stage of HDT’s next chapter in due course.”
Habul owns an extensive collection of HDT race and road-going models including the 1987 Bathurst 1000 winning Holden VL Commodore Group A SS.
The famous HDT logo also appeared on the Garry Rogers Motorsport Wildcard and the Snowy River Racing Bathurst 1000 entries.
HDT will confirm further details soon.