Dream machines

Where it all began

The mid to late 1980s was a boom period for aftermarket specials, largely inspired by the success of Peter Brock’s Holden Dealer Team operation.
Unfortunately, most budding entrepreneurs failed to recognise the two crucial ingredients that made HDT Special Vehicles such a huge success. One was the association with racing great Peter Brock; the other was full Holden factory approval, which meant you could buy a new ‘Brock’ Commodore through a Holden dealer with full GM-H new car factory warranty.
Even so, there was no shortage of hopefuls willing to put their money and names on the line to become successful ‘special vehicle’ manufacturers, too. In fact, there were so many being produced that motoring magazines devoted special editions to this boutique industry.

In its 1982 Road Tests special, Modern Motor did a comparison between the original HDT VC or ‘Brock’ Commodore and the ‘Phase 5’ Falcon. This was a classic Holden v Ford battle yet, unlike the HDT Commodore, the hot Falcon-based offering had no connection with the Ford factory.
It was an indication that if you wanted an Australian-made Ford muscle car with real attitude in the ‘80s, you shouldn’t bother looking for one in a Ford showroom.
“For more than 10 years ‘they’ have been trying to kill the Aussie Supercar - the Bathurst blaster - the Kings of Con-Rod,” wrote Modern Motor editor Barry Lake.

“First ‘they’ were misguided safety authorities and shortsighted do-gooders. Recently the OPEC Arabs threw their spanner in the works with the energy crisis (read profit incentive).
But some people won’t take NO for an answer. People still want to drive powerful V8 cars that handle well, perform well and stop well.”
Barry Lake’s comparison test was hampered by a wet Oran Park circuit, but it was obvious that the Brock Commodores (one manual, one automatic) had the edge on handling. The Phase 5 Falcon, with its 351ci (5.8 litre) Cleveland V8, had the expected advantage in straight-line speed.