Peter Brock in 1980. Image: Glenis Lindley / Speedcafe Archive
As revealed by Speedcafe on Friday, the brand operated by Peter Brock from 1980 to 1987 has been purchased by Habul from Peter Champion.
While HDT is set to unveil its new era on the Monday following the Bathurst 1000, Champion has taken to social media to confirm the development.
“For those who have heard the rumours floating around, it is now official,” he wrote.
“After nearly 20 years of owning HDT Special Vehicles – the brand that was made famous by Peter Brock from 1980 till 1987 – I felt it was time for me to move on and sell it to someone that is just as passionate as myself and that person is Kenny Habul.
“A lot of people will have heard of Kenny who has won two Bathurst 12 Hour races and many other races on the world circuit.
“I’ve known Kenny for quite a long time and he, like myself, had a personal friendship with PB so that makes it easier for me to let go and move on.
“Kenny has some amazing ideas of what he wants to do with the brand and is moving it all to Bathurst.”
Kenny Habul is a frequent GT3 racer. Image: Supplied
Brock’s HDT hit the skids when Holden cut ties in 1987 amid the legend’s insistence on fitting vehicles with a crystal-filled box dubbed the Energy Polarizer.
Champion revived the brand following Brock’s death as an aftermarket parts and merchandising company.
The coal mining magnate had been friends with Brock, collecting many of his road and race cars that were housed in a museum at Yeppoon and then the Gold Coast before being sold off.
Habul already owns several Brock race cars and has purchased Champion’s remaining HDT roadies as part of the transaction.
An Australian who has made it big in the US in the solar energy sector, Habul owns property at Bathurst and will be moving HDT to the regional New South Wales city.
Habul has previously spoken of his own connection to Brock, spending time with the King of the Mountain and partner Bev in Melbourne during his youth.
Champion with Peter Brock. Image: HDT Special Vehicles
“In letting go of HDT, I decided it was time to let go of my HDT Brock built Commodores that I had been collecting as far back as the early 90s,” Champion added.
“That has been one of the toughest decisions I’ve made in a long time. The truck turned up [Sunday] and picked up five of those cars and that my friends was a tough day.
“To show how passionate and thoughtful Kenny was that he got out of bed early hours in the morning from the other side of the world to check and make sure that I was okay.
“That tells me that Kenny is the right person to take on the challenge of keeping this famous brand with these amazing cars alive.”
Champion declared it otherwise “business as usual for the brand”, noting he’ll be staying on as an ambassador and in attendance at the October 12 HDT relaunch.
Brock’s legacy will be celebrated throughout the Bathurst 1000 event following the recent 20th anniversary of his death.