No factory Holden or Falcon revival has been announced in the sources reviewed, and we found no announcement from General Motors, Holden or Ford Australia of a new factory muscle car. The phrase can refer to two separate private projects announced in October 2026. Holden Dealer Team (HDT), now owned by Bathurst 12 Hour winner Kenny Habul, says it is developing a reimagined HDT performance car. Separately, the Ford-aligned specialist HO Phase Autos is building modernised V8 Falcon restomods. Neither has announced a price, launch date or final specifications.
This explainer sets out what each project has confirmed so far, and what has not been announced.
What has actually been announced
HDT (Holden Dealer Team) | HO Phase Autos | |
|---|---|---|
Who | Private brand owned by Kenny Habul, bought from Peter Champion in September 2026 | Independent Ford-aligned performance builder |
Factory connection | Not a GM or Holden project | Not a Ford Australia project |
What it is building | Prototypes of a “reimagined” HDT performance car, plus parts, upgrades and restoration for existing HDT cars | Bespoke Falcon restomods, the first an XE-bodied car called Trudee |
Powertrain | Not announced | Ford 7.3-litre “Godzilla” V8 for Trudee, as reported |
Price and timing | Not announced | Not announced |
Source | Drive, 17 October 2026, reporting a Habul media statement |
HDT’s reimagined car
Habul bought the HDT brand in September and plans to move the business to Bathurst, with a workshop, paint and panel facilities, a performance and tuning centre and a museum. As we reported earlier, a permanent headquarters at Mount Panorama still needs approvals.
On the new car, Habul said in a media statement reported by Drive: “We have prototype cars being tested here in Australia, as well as in Germany and the USA.” He added: “There is a lot of work to do before we have an HDT-reimagined car to present, but there is a fundamental recipe that I think will be very impressive.” He also said: “We will confirm more details about this stage of HDT’s next chapter in due course.”
The base vehicle, engine, power output, build numbers, price and reveal date have not been confirmed. Drive reported that it is unclear whether the car will be based on a Commodore or be an all-new car.
For existing owners, Habul said, as quoted by Drive: “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.”
HO Phase’s new V8 Falcons
WhichCar reported on 18 October 2026 that HO Phase Autos has recruited race car builder Gary O’Brien of Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars to develop bespoke Falcons. They combine classic Australian muscle car styling with modern engines, suspension and technology.
The first project, Trudee, is described as an XE-bodied Falcon with an XD front end, Phase 5 style wheel arch flares, a bonnet scoop and a rear wing, powered by Ford’s 7.3-litre V8. According to the report, HO is also looking at projects based on the AU Falcon, an FG ute and an EB Falcon.
These are restomods built from existing bodies, not new cars from Ford. We could not find a public statement on an HO Phase website, so the details above are credited to WhichCar.
Why the two are being linked
The two projects were reported within days of each other in October 2026, and both draw on the Ford versus Holden rivalry of the 1970s and 1980s. WhichCar framed them as a possible revival of that rivalry. They are separate businesses with no announced connection.
What this means if you are interested
Prices, volumes and timing are unconfirmed for both projects.
HDT has said it will offer parts and HDT-approved upgrades for existing HDT cars.
Don’t pay a deposit for a car without a confirmed specification, price and compliance pathway.
A short history of HDT
Peter Brock founded HDT Special Vehicles in 1980 to build modified Commodores that helped fund his racing. The relationship with Holden ended in 1987 after the Energy Polarizer controversy. The brand later passed through several owners before Peter Champion revived it in 2007 with retro-styled Commodores. Holden stopped selling new cars in 2020.