Out with a bang! Peter Brock’s ‘Big Banger’ could fetch $2m at auction

He was one of Australia’s best known and most successful racing car drivers before his sad death in 2006, and now the original car that Peter Brock enjoyed some of his biggest successes in is expected to fetch more than $2million at auction.

The famed driver, well known as ‘Peter Perfect’ or simply ‘Brocky’, won the 1984 Bathurst 1000 as well as the Sandown 500 and Surfers Paradise 300 in his Day-Glo ‘Big Banger’ – the Group C Commodore. Now, the original car itself is up for grabs, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

The ‘Big Banger’ is one of 30 cars, all previously raced by Brock, to be displayed across the country in NSW, SA and VIC, before going to auction – in what could be the very last time they’re all seen under one roof.

The auction is set to take place in Bathurst on October 6 – the same weekend as the Bathurst Race.

“I’ve raced the ‘Big Banger’ around the track several times, she still goes like a beauty and that’s what this entire collection is about – enjoying the cars is what Peter would have wanted.” HDT owner Peter Champion said. “This car has a lot of great history and even better stories that come along with it. This is not just an ordinary car – it’s a very special piece of history.”

Read more: This classic Aussie Falcon is every car-hoarding hubby’s dream

While it’s possible each car will sell separately, there are talks of potential partnerships and syndication to keep the whole collection together.

“This car has already had enormous interest – we’ve had thousands of enquires every day since the collection has been announced including enquiries from overseas,” head auctioneer Bill Freeman added.

“We expect it to sell in excess of $2million which will break all Australian records. Cars of this calibre are hard to find and with its substantial motorsport and celebrity heritage, it’s no wonder the ‘Big Banger’ is expected to sell for more than any other Australian produced car.”

Brock was inducted into the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 2001 after winning the Bathurst 1000 endurance race nine times, the Sandown 500 touring car race nine times, the Australian Touring Car Championship three times and the Bathurst 24 Hour once.

The auction comes after a Ford GTHO Phase III, previously owned by Australian Test cricketer Jeff Thomson, sold for $1million, setting a new record for an Australian built car. The Phase III car originally sold for just over $5,000 in 1971.

Do you remember watching Peter Brock’s racing career?