Kenny Habul, the solar panel billionaire and two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner, has bought the HDT brand along with an epic collection of rare Holdens from long-time custodian Peter Champion, and he is now laying out ambitious plans for its future.
Speaking on Monday after the Bathurst 1000, Habul said he was determined to stop the famous name from fading away. “It’s early days, but there is a lot to come,” he said.
“For me, I didn’t want the brand to die, I didn’t want it to disappear,” he said.
The Holden enthusiast said the reborn HDT operation is expected to cover restorations, performance upgrades and fresh builds. “We’re probably going to restore a lot of these cars,” he said.
“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.
“A lot of things are on the table.”
Habul said re-imagined HDT vehicles are already being tested in Australia and Germany. Those future models could emerge as resto-mod style machines, pairing classic body designs with upgraded mechanicals and modern safety technology including anti-lock brakes and traction control.
A key part of the plan is a new Bathurst base dedicated to bringing Peter Brock’s HDT road cars back to top condition. “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.
“This is about building world-class performance vehicles in Bathurst, the home of Australian motorsport and the spiritual home of HDT.”
Peter Champion said Habul was the right person to guide the company into its next phase. “After nearly 20 years of owning HDT Special Vehicles, the brand that was made famous by Peter Brock from 1980 to 1987, I felt it was time for me to move on and sell it to someone who is just as passionate as myself, and that person is Kenny Habul,” he said.
The news arrives 20 years after Peter Brock’s death. At this year’s Bathurst 1000, he was remembered as the king of the mountain. Kenny and his team hope their investment in reviving Brock’s road car division will help ensure his legend lives on.
Habul is already well known as a devoted Holden collector, owning several meticulously restored examples of Brock’s road and race cars. An original “blue meanie” Brock Commodore sold for more than $1 million in 2021, underlining the enduring fascination with the HDT legacy.
Garry Rogers Motorsport brought HDT back to Mount Panorama at the 2026 Bathurst 1000, adding another layer to the brand’s return as Habul pushes ahead with a new era in Australia.
