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- Kenny Habul has purchased the iconic Australian HDT Special Vehicles brand.
- Operations will relocate to a new world-class facility in Bathurst, NSW.
- HDT will offer approved performance upgrades and parts for existing cars.
- A museum dedicated to the Holden Dealer Team is also planned.
- HDT is developing a modern prototype of a reimagined HDT vehicle.
Australian-born, US-based businessman and champion racing driver Kenny Habul (CEO of solar energy provider SunEnergy1, two-time winner of the Bathurst 12 Hour) has officially purchased HDT Special Vehicles. The new owner has confirmed plans to relocate the legendary Australian brand to Bathurst, NSW, with a major investment in a new facility dedicated to modifying, restoring, and eventually reimagining the classic HDT road cars.
The venture aims to elevate the HDT badge to a premium restoration-and-performance tier, echoing the bespoke business model of international restomodders such as Singer Vehicle Design.
HDT Special Vehicles originally produced 4,246 high-performance Holden Commodores between 1980 and 1987. Today, these models represent some of the most valuable collectable Australian cars ever produced, as highlighted by a 2021 auction in which Peter Brock’s HDT VK Commodore Group A SS fetched over AUD$1 million. The first phase of this brand relaunch will focus on supplying off-the-shelf parts and HDT-approved performance upgrades to existing owners. Beyond parts supply, Habul has confirmed that prototype testing for a completely reimagined HDT vehicle is currently underway across Australia, Germany, and the United States.
Bathurst Headquarters and HDT Upgrades
The new HDT Bathurst headquarters will feature a world-class workshop with panel and paint repair facilities. Speaking alongside former HDT race team members in the Bathurst CBD, Habul outlined his vision for the iconic marque: “This is about building world-class performance vehicles in Bathurst, the home of Australian motorsport and the spiritual home of HDT.”
With an undisclosed timeline, the workshop will eventually serve current owners looking to preserve and improve their classic vehicles.
“If you own an HDT you will be able to come to us for parts that we will have on the shelf, plus we will also be offering performance upgrades that will be HDT approved with increased power outputs, better brakes and enhanced safety,” added Habul.
The Bathurst site will also house a dedicated museum celebrating the achievements of the Holden Dealer Team on the racetrack and within its road car division, alongside a showroom for display cars and vehicle sales.
The Reimagined HDT Prototype
While the initial focus rests on restoring and tuning existing HDT models, the company is actively developing a modern successor.
Habul confirmed the brand is in the early phases of creating a new, reimagined HDT vehicle: “We have prototype cars being tested here in Australia, as well as in Germany and the USA.”
“There is a lot of work to do before we have a HDT reimagined car to present, but there is a fundamental recipe that I think will be very impressive. We will confirm more details about this stage of HDT’s next chapter in due course,” added Habul.
Kenny Habul brings a significant motorsport and business pedigree to the project. After graduating from Bond University with a law degree in 1994, he built a luxury home construction business before founding SunEnergy1 in 2009, which is now one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world.
On the track, he is a two-time Bathurst 12-Hour winner and a four-time class champion in the Intercontinental GT Challenge series.
Preserving the Peter Brock Legacy
The HDT brand is closely linked to Australian motorsport icon Peter Brock, who formed the HDT Special Vehicles road car division in 1980 to help fund the race team.
Under Brock, HDT produced celebrated homologation specials like the VC Brock Commodore and the VK SS Group A, famously known as the ‘Blue Meanie’.
Habul, a Sydney native, was a personal friend of Brock and worked around the race team in his youth. He purchased the brand from Peter Champion, who had owned HDT Special Vehicles for nearly 20 years.
“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,” said Champion in a statement.
What Will the Restomod Holdens Cost?
The HDT brand is currently in a team-building phase and is actively recruiting talent for the Bathurst project.
“We have huge plans for the reborn HDT brand,” said Mr Habul. “They include building a factory in Bathurst focused on a range of enthusiast applications, including restorations, performance enhancements and more.”
Further announcements regarding specific part pricing, performance upgrade packages, and the official opening dates for the Bathurst facility will be made in the near future.
FAQs
Australian-born businessman and two-time Bathurst 12-Hour winner Kenny Habul purchased the HDT brand in September 2026.
HDT is relocating its operations to a newly constructed facility in Bathurst, NSW, which will feature a workshop, a showroom, and a dedicated Holden Dealer Team museum.
HDT is currently testing prototypes in Australia, Germany, and the United States to develop a new, reimagined HDT vehicle, though full technical details and release dates have not yet been confirmed.
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