HDT VL Director to be auctioned in Melbourne

Infamous for being the car that ended the successful partnership between Peter Brock's HDT operation and Holden, the high-performance, high-specification VL Calais Director was Brock's vision of a challenger to the dominant European luxury performance saloons of the period, essentially a homegrown version of Mercedes-Benz's AMG or BMW's M performance models.

With leather seats, wood grain trim and high quality sound system to move it upmarket, what also set the Director apart from any other HDT, and indeed any Hodlen of the time, was its independent rear suspension. Only the first two Directors built, including this example, had the IRS fitted.

The Director's bodykit may not be as recognisable as the HSV Walkinshaw's, but was just as complex, comprising 21 separate pieces. In addition to the front and rear spoilers, the bodykit included wheelarch extensions, lower body skirts and even caps for the A and C pillars.

Underneath all that plastic was a 220kW 4.9-litre V8, with the option of an HDT modified 5.6-litre V8 capable of 231kW, mated to either a 5-speed manual of 4-speed automatic transmission. Also under the bonnet was Brock's infamous 'Energy Polarizer' that caused almost as much friction between Holden and Brock as the Director. Suspension was fully independent up front, with a live axle rear, if the IRS wasn't fitted. Braking featured Chevy Corvette-spec discs behind the 16-inch Momo 5-spoke rims, with Simmons rims available as an option.

When new, the $55,000 Director was more than double the price of the most expensive standard Commodore, with a fully optioned example nudging towards $90,000. Despite this, a dozen found buyers before the Brock-Holden split, including the example to be auctioned.

What makes this one extra valuable is that it's one of the two fitted with IRS. Described as being in original, pristine condition, the Director to be auctioned has only 13,000 kilometres on the odometer. The last time this car appeared for sale, by tender, in 2010, it was expected to make $300,000, but the final sale price then, if it sold, is unknown.

Another Aussie car of interest that's been consigned for the auction is a 1967 Elfin 300. With an impressive 11 wins from 11 starts competition record at the end of the 1960s, the Elfin features a Coventry Climax F1-spec engine and presents in outstanding condition.

The Director and Elfin will join, at time of writing, almost 30 cars and 6 motorcycles in the auction, which will be one of the highlights of the closing day of the 2012 RACV Motorclassica.

The event runs from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28. The consigned cars will be on display throughout the event, ahead of the auction on Sunday, October 28 from 2:00PM.

For more details, go to www.motorclassica.com.au