Greg Murphy mind-blown by 1996 Bathurst Holden restoration
1996 Bathurst winner restored by Eggleston Motorsport, on display at Bathurst
Ambition to return famous Commodore to the track very much alive
Greg Murphy has been left in awe over the restoration of the Holden Racing Team Commodore he raced to victory in the 1996 Bathurst 1000.
Murphy, Craig Lowndes and original crew — including then team boss Jeff Grech — from the 1996 Great Race were reunited with the VR Commodore they took to victory lane.
It marked the first Bathurst win for both Lowndes and Murphy, who ended up with seven and four victories respectively.
The car was restored by Eggleston Motorsport, led by eponymous team owner Ben.
On display at this weekend’s Repco Bathurst 1000, the Commodore is making his first public appearance since 1999, when it was damaged in a crash at the Gold Coast Indy event.
Eggleston Motorsport purchased the chassis 10 years ago, and under the direction of original fabricator George Smith, commences a painstaking restoration.
The work was completed in time for the 2026 Bathurst 1000, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Lowndes/Murphy victory.
"I am in awe of what Ben has done., not just with that one, but all the cars,” Murphy told Supercars.com.
"His passion for the Holden Racing Team and all that stuff is next level. His detail, his focus on having all the documentation and all the right part numbers in the right place, using the guys that built that car.
“Even George Smith was doing all the work on them, and the collaboration around how he goes about restoring these cars and retaining all that history, it's mind-blowing and I absolutely love it.”
The Commodore debuted midway through 1996, with Lowndes racing to the drivers’ title before doing the Sandown-Bathurst double with Murphy.
Murphy revealed that the plan is to get the car back on track — and he wants to get behind the wheel.
“At some stage we’ll get together and, and commission it on a racetrack, and he's all about all that too,” the 28-time Supercars race winner said.
"He wants to see the cars on the track and actually have people see them as well, which is amazing. I can't wait, to be a part of that.
“For me and Lowndesy it’s a very, very special bit of kit, you know? So to actually have another drive of it again will be very much a highlight for me, and I'm sure it will be for Craig as well.
“We'll definitely have a drive. As I say, Ben wants to commission that car again and get it going, which is just music to my ears.”
Murphy is in the Supercars broadcast team for this weekend’s event, while Lowndes is making his 33rd consecutive start in the race.
