ONE of 12 HDT-prepared Holden Commodores used in an all-star race at the 1980 Australian Grand Prix has been placed on the market.
Dubbed the ‘HDT Race of Champions’, the event was all about showcasing Peter Brock’s new range of hotted-up Holden road cars under the HDT Special Vehicles banner with a dozen HDT ‘RoC’ cars prepared in three colours – Tuxedo Black, Firethorn Red and Palais White.
Televised on the Nine Network as part of the Grand Prix coverage, the event saw a pair of sprint races held with drivers not holding back in leaning on one another around the tight confines of the small Melbourne circuit.
The driver line-up included not only Brock but also fellow Aussies John Bowe – who won the race in his first touring car drive – Dick Johnson, Charlie O’Brien, Bob Jane, Kevin Bartlett, Jim Richards, Tony Edmondson, Colin Bond and Sir Jack Brabham in addition to French F1 star Didier Pironi (in town to compete in a Formula 5000 car in the Grand Prix) – a 12th car intended for John Harvey was withdrawn with engine issues.
More pictures from the HDT Race of Champions feature in our new book Racing the Lion: An Illustrated History of Holden in Australian Motorsport, a 400-page hardcover book paying tribute to the marque’s rich competition history spanning over seven decades.
It’s now in stock in the V8 Sleuth Bookshop – click HERE to order!
The car that has come up for sale is the Palais White car used by Jane – the cars and grid positions were allocated by drawing a number out of a hat!
Its listing states that the car has had three previous owners across the past 40 years and comes with log books and a stack of original paperwork.
Click HERE to see the listing on carlocators.com.au.
