Brock XU-1 expected to fetch around $1.2 million
The Holden Torana GTR XU-1 Peter Brock used in his first Australian Touring Car Championship-win will appear in Shannons upcoming Timed, Online Winter Auction, to run from August 2 to 9.
Shannons said the Holden Dealer Team car was raced by Brock in the 1973 season, finishing second at Bathurst after it famously ran out of fuel and had to be pushed up pitlane by co-driver Doug Chivas.
It went on to win the Manufacturers’ Championship that year, before winning the South Pacific Touring Car Series in early 1974. Brock then used the car (and later a Torana SLR/5000) to win the 1974 Australian Touring Car Championship.
Built by HDT chief mechanic, Ian Tate, and team boss Harry Firth, the Torana disappeared from sight after it was replaced by the SLR/5000, but was rediscovered in the early-’90s, sitting abandoned on a nature strip in Dandenong, Victoria, where it had been for a decade.
The famous Torana racer was bought by Tate’s son, Paul, and a thorough restoration was undertaken. The Tates estimate that around 95 per cent of the restored XU-1 is original, including its bodyshell, aluminium roll cage, and custom-made Weber carburettors. It sits on custom-made Globe Sprintmaster alloy wheels and retains its other period racing features.
The vendor purchased the XU-1 in 2006. It is offered in excellent condition throughout, with original CAMS log book, history notes, race results, some photos of its restoration and various magazine articles over the years. The car is expected to sell in the $900,000 to $1.2 million range.
A 1985 Holden HDT VK SS Group A Group 3 Brock Commodore sedan, the 41st of just 50 Group A Group 3 models built, will also be auctioned.
One of the most desirable of what colloquially has become known as the Blue Meanie Commodores, the VK-model SS Group A was available in any colour you like as long as it was Formula Blue. These were built to homologate the Commodore for global Group A touring car regulations.
Shannons said there’s the smallest amount of wear to this car’s almost 40-year-old interior, not surprising given it’s covered a low indicated 33,315km (at the time of cataloguing – thought tobe genuine).
Outside, the Formula Blue paint has been refreshed at some stage, and together with its contrasting black exterior trim, Shannons said the car presents very well.
Fitted with silver Momo five-star wheels and optional five-speed gearbox, the car is expected to bring between $200,000 and $300,000.
