FEATURE – 2015 Holden VF Commodore SS-V ‘HDT’ wagon
Words: Mike Ryan
Photos: Courtesy of Prestige Motor Gallery
Of all the ‘Brock Commodores’ created by HDT in the 1980s, the VK SS Group A ‘Blue Meanie’ is the most revered, with countless unofficial clones and tributes created by enthusiasts over the years. Genuine Blue Meanies are out of the reach of many enthusiasts these days, but there’s a modern – and much more affordable - alternative available from HDT.
The fact that HDT still exists today is largely due to Peter Champion. Something of a latecomer to the world of Brock and his cars, Champion bought his first Brock Commodore – a VL SS Group A Plus Pack – in 1994. Four more followed in quick order, and he soon owned an example of every HDT road car built, funded by a successful business in the mining industry.
After his first brief meeting with Brock in 1994, Champion approached the legend later in the same year with a plan to recreate his Austin A30 racer. This led Champion to add Brock race cars to his road car collection and also kickstarted a friendship with Brock, fuelled by a mutual desire to bring HDT road cars back to the market.
Brock’s death in 2006 could have ended those plans outright. Instead, it made Champion more determined to see the dream that he and Brock shared become a reality. He bought HDT in 2007 and launched a series of cosmetic and mechanical enhancements for VE (and later VF) SS Commodores, inspired by the HDT VC-VL models, as well as reproduction parts for original HDT cars.
Along the way, Champion also paid tribute to his friend by establishing the ‘Brock Collection’ museum in Queensland to showcase what was the largest collection of Brock road and race cars in Australia. Regular readers of JUST CARS will remember that the majority of the 40+ vehicles in that collection went to auction in 2018, although Champion retained a handful of the most personally significant cars.
Blue Meanie - then
Of the original HDT cars, those built on the VC, VH and VL Commodore platforms have their devotees, as do the handful of WB ‘Magnum’ Statesmans that HDT also produced, but it’s the VK-based cars that remain a favourite with collectors and Brock Commodore enthusiasts today. And of the VK range, it’s the SS Group A that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
While previous HDT cars followed the race team’s (and Brock’s) success, combining go-faster bits with the premium appointments of a Commodore SL/E, the VK SS Group A would lead that success, built specifically to homologate the Commodore for the international Group A formula that the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) adopted in 1985. Holden tasked HDT with building the 500 cars needed to allow the Commodore to race in Group A, but according to hdt.com.au, a miscount ultimately saw 502 cars produced.
Common to all VK SS Group A Commodores was a 'Formula Blue' paint scheme inspired by the corporate colours of Mobil, who were a major sponsor of the HDT race team at the time. That colour led to the ‘Blue Meanie’ nickname, which was taken from The Beatles’ 1968 animated feature film, Yellow Submarine. Other features on the VK SS Group A included a ‘letterbox’ grille insert, deep front spoiler, larger rear spoiler than the VK SS and VK SS Group Three, and larger (16-inch) wheels than those cars, too.
To avoid a weight penalty for engines that were over 5.0-litre capacity in Group A, the 5,044cc Holden V8 was de-stroked to 4,987cc, with port matched heads, extractors, L34 con rods, a lumpier cam, roller rockers and cold air induction all added. The result was 196kW compared to 177kW from the SS Group Three, despite the latter’s larger V8. All 502 Group A cars came standard with an M21 four-speed manual and LSD with 3.08:1 ratio, but a five-speed manual was optional.
Under the skin, Bilstein shocks and suspension improvements that had already been applied to the VK SS Group Three were fitted, along with upgraded four-wheel disc brakes.
To better ensure all the units required for homologation found buyers, the VK SS Group A was based on the entry-level Commodore SL, where earlier cars had been based on the premium Commodore SL/E. As such, appointments (like the simple 2-speaker stereo) were meagre compared to what had been offered before. HDT’s additions inside were limited to Scheel sports seats, a Momo steering wheel and Momo shift knob, with each car’s individual build number in a plaque on the glovebox lid.
That lower-spec level and a smaller fuel tank (63lt v 90lt) meant the Group A was lighter than the Group Three by 50kg, and $2,000 cheaper, too, but at $21,950, it was still around $10,000 dearer than a basic Commodore SL six-cylinder sedan.
How rapidly the HDT VK SS Group A found buyers is not recorded, but it seems it wasn’t as hard a sell as past homologation specials or limited editions had been. Later, some customers bemoaning the lack of appointments on the Group A saw HDT build a run of 48 additional cars that had the Group Three appointments. Despite being produced in much lower numbers, these Group A/Group Three hybrids aren’t as desirable as the “pure” Group A homologation specials.
High-Priced Classic
Since it became a bona fide collectable in the 1990s, prices for the HDT VK SS Group A have remained solid.
More recently, evidence of the reverence for the Blue Meanie was seen when Brock’s own HDT VK SS Group A – Build #005 of the 502 built – sold for $1.14 million (including buyer’s premium) at auction in 2021. This was a new record for an Australian-made road car sold at auction, knocking Ford’s XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III off the top perch.
While such a price hasn’t been seen since, six-figure sums for these cars are the rule, rather than the exception. Values have rarely dipped under $100,000, with around $250,000 now considered the basement for very good examples.
Increasing appreciation (aka hoarding) by collectors means genuine Blue Meanies rarely come on to the market these days, hence the proliferation of clones and Champion’s commitment, through HDT, to offer some of the original car’s aura on the VE and VF platform.
Blue Meanie - now
Since Champion purchased HDT in 2007, tributes to the original VC, VH, VK and VL HDT Commodores have been offered. All were based on the VE Commodore that GM-H built from 2006 to 2013. A special ‘VC VE Retro 30th Anniversary’ edition was released in 2010, limited to 30 examples and inspiring a similar approach to the car featured here.
HDT’s first VK SS Group A tribute came in 2012, limited to 250 examples. To the base VE Commodore SS or SS-V, the ‘VK Group A Retro’ package added cosmetic and mechanical upgrades, like a ‘Performance Enhancement Package’ with a performance cam and freer flowing dual 3-inch exhaust system for the factory 6.0-litre V8, plus an OTR intake and recalibrated ECU that kicked power up from the factory 270kW to 350kW. HDT suspension improvements and Aero-look 19-inch wheels were also in the package.
The VK Group A Retro’s cosmetic additions to the VE base included Formula Blue paint, a ‘letterbox’ grille insert, HDT-specific front bumper, rear spoiler, rear bumper spats, retro-inspired decals and a custom cloth interior.
Options included a supercharger that boosted power to 450kW, a stronger clutch and flywheel set, performance brakes, leather interior and a range of HDT-branded cosmetic accessories – from floor mats and headlight covers, to engine dress-up parts, a bonnet scoop, billet shifter and number plate frames.
The popularity of the VK Group A Retro saw HDT continue to offer it on the VF Commodore, which was launched in mid-2013.
Celebrating a 30th
In 2015, HDT announced the ‘VK Group A Anniversary Edition’. Marking 30 years since the launch of the original VK SS Group A, the Anniversary Edition was limited to just 30 builds, and defined by a range of cosmetic and performance parts inspired by the 1985 Blue Meanie.
Available for the VF Commodore SS, SS-V and SS-V Redline in factory Perfect Blue paint, HDT’s extras for the Anniversary Edition included most of the same equipment as the VK Group A Retro, but added the bonnet scoop as standard and limited options to the supercharger, performance brake package, headlight covers, floor mats and number plate frames.
Unique to the VK Group A Anniversary Edition were decals in the style of those on the original VK SS Group A, plus a tag identifying its number in the 30-unit build order.
While ostensibly limited to SS/SS-V/SS-V Redline sedans, longstanding HDT customers could request the VK Group A Anniversary Edition be added to VF Commodore wagons or utes. One such customer was Neil Schembri, who ordered both.
Racer, Enthusiast, Collector
If Schembri’s name sounds familiar, it may be from his time as a privateer in V8 Supercars during the mid to late 1990s, or the string of Bathurst 1000 starts he made in the same period. Like Peter Champion, Schembri’s success in business, composting and fertiliser in this instance, allowed him to build up a collection of cars. Some of these have been classic Falcon hardtops, which he’s raced in the Heritage Touring Car Series for Group C ATCC cars, while others have been genuine or replica Commodores of the type he raced.
Schembri also has a passion for the Blue Meanie.
In addition to an original VK, Schembri commissioned HDT to build him a VK Group A Retro on a VE Commodore sedan, wagon and two utes – one with a soft tonneau and one with a hard tonneau. That preferred customer status meant that, after the VF Commodore was released, Schembri repeated the dose, creating what would have to be the biggest single collection of Blue Meanies in Australia.
The vehicle featured, a 2015 VF Commodore SS-V Redline wagon in Perfect Blue, was acquired by Schembri in 2021 and sent to HDT to get the VK Group A Anniversary Edition treatment.
For what would be build number 8 of 30 for the Anniversary Edition, Schembri ticked every box except the supercharger, meaning this wagon runs the 350kW engine upgrade package, matched to the factory six-speed automatic transmission.
Around a year ago, Schembri sold the wagon through Prestige Motor Gallery, whom he also has a long-term relationship with, having bought and sold several cars through the Sydney-based specialists in classic, modern and collectable performance vehicles.
After some time with a subsequent owner, this unique wagon is now back on the market.
Blue Meanie - Future
Being the sole VF Commodore wagon to get the VK Group A Anniversary Edition treatment (to date) is only part of this car's appeal. A greater appeal lies in its outstanding condition, which appears to be spotless inside and out. Being a station wagon, there's a practicality factor, too.
The cherry on top, though, is that this car delivers some of the VK SS Group A magic, at a fraction of the price that original examples command today.
For Sale
The only VF Commodore wagon to receive the HDT VK Group A Anniversary Edition treatment at time of writing, this 2015-model SS-V Redline is truly unique. As offered, the car appears to be in excellent condition inside and out, with 77,500kms on the odometer.
Offered unregistered, but with log books included, the asking price is $79,990.
Contact Prestige Motor Gallery on (02) 9546 5400 for more details.
See the advert online at www.justcars.com.au with the ad code JAFD5335954.
