HOLDEN: Brock & Perkins re-united with 'missing' race-winning Commodore
11/9/2003 16:40 (Press Release) -
Peter Brock and Larry Perkins will cast their minds back 19 years at the
Sandown 500 this weekend when they visit memory lane with the 'last of the
big bangers' - the Holden Dealer Team's famous 1984 Marlboro 05 Commodore.
It is the only Commodore with a 100 percent race-winning record, and does a
re-appearance where it all started when Brock fires it up for a swift
demonstration lap prior to the big race on Sunday.
Arguably HDT's best ever racecar, the dazzling dayglo-liveried Holden had
caused a sensation when debuted by Brock and Perkins in the 1984 Sandown 500
to claim a resounding victory. A one/two result by the team at Bathurst saw
the duo record their third Mountain victory in succession, followed by
another win by Brock at Surfers Paradise, after which the car was
subsequently retired at season's end.
Regulation changes saw Group A introduced into Australia for 1985, while HDT
changed sponsors from Marlboro to Mobil.
The '84 car was sold to European interests and exported to the UK where it was campaigned as a Vauxhall and won two championships in the British Thundersports category and had remained there ever since.
The car has been lost to Australians for 17 years until purchased last year
by Queenslander Peter Champion and returned to Australia for full-on
restoration in its original livery to original HDT specifications.
Melbourne classic car specialist John Van Roosmalen has spent 12 months on the job at a cost of $200,000-plus.
HDT engine builder Neill Burns, who built the original 05 engine in 1984, rebuilt it again this time around and found his initials still engraved on the camshaft.
Only genuine Holden parts have been used, while original HDT suppliers and staff have been consulted. Originality has been the key theme of the restoration.
--Holden press release
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