Brock Commodore bids hit $1.6m

An HDT VH Holden Commodore race car driven to victory by Peter Brock in the 1982 and 1983 Bathurst 1000 has already attracted an auction bid of $1.6 million dollars – and there's still three days of bidding to go.

By comparison the current imported ZB Holden Commodore sells from $33,690 brand new, so you could have one extra-special Brocky Commodore, or almost 60 German-made Commodores.

As the most desirable vehicle to be sold in what Lloyds Auctions claims is "the largest collection of Brock cars in the world," the iconic Holden race car could reach $2 million as interest heats up before the auction during this weekend’s 2018 Bathurst 1000.

“This car is an incredibly special part of Australian motorsport history and the level of interest doesn’t surprise me to be honest,” said former owner and HDT custodian Peter Champion.

The hammer will drop on the winning bid on the eve of this year’s Bathurst 1000 this Saturday evening (October 6) – an event "set to rival the Bathurst race itself", says the auction house.

The annual Bathurst auction will this year include three other Brock cars expected to fetch more than $1 million each, plus an array of signed Brock automobilia, and is expected to generate more than $10 million from highest bidders.

It has become so popular that an online ticket sales system has been initiated and some of the thousands of expected attendees will pay $199 for a VIP seat with table service and a goodies bag.

The current auction record for a homegrown Australian car is held by the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III formerly owned by cricketer Jeff Thomson.

A cashed-up buyer paid $1,030,000 for the famous Falcon in June but Brock's Bathurst-winning early '80 Commodore racer has already eclipsed that price by a considerable margin.

"Who knows what other records will be broken this weekend," said Bill Freeman, head auctioneer at Lloyds Auctions. "What I do know is that this will be a once in a lifetime event and will be an extremely emotional weekend for Peter Brock fans and motoring enthusiasts.

"Although three other cars in the Brock Collection are expected to reach the magic seven figure mark, I expect the 1982/1983 Bathurst-winning Commodore which wrote its place into Bathurst history with Peter Brock, to sell for quite a bit more than what it’s currently at," added Freeman.

Fifteen minutes before the Brock auction, Walkinshaw Andretti United will sell the #2 Holden Commodore Supercar (Chassis 24) that Scott Pye drove to victory at the 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

The new owner will be entitled to a backstage race team experience, with special benefits during the 2019 Supercars Championship season including hot laps, team hard cards at all Supercars events, hospitality passes and other opportunities.

Doors open to the Brock Collection at 9:00am this Saturday at Sydney Road, Kelso. The Brock auction will commence after qualifying and the Top 10 Shootout for the 2018 Bathurst 1000 finishes on Saturday afternoon.