Steve Godber
FJ Holden hearse

“I am currently restoring the late Pat Fay’s famous ‘Humpy Mekka’ hearse. I bought the car from Pat’s widow, Carol Fay, picking it up from the Canberra Institute of TAFE in Fyshwick.

The car is being prepped for paint at the moment, and will be getting new running gear and suspension. We are trying to preserve as much of the trim as we can.”

Kenneth Walker
Ford XF Falcon ute

“Here are some before and current pictures of my first big project, an XF Falcon ute. It is a near-complete car that I bought off a guy in northern Tasmania.

“It had been sitting in his paddock for over 12 months. Someone before him had spray-painted it with cheap-and-nasty rattle cans.

“I’ve only had the car a month, and have already removed the rattle-can paintjob to reveal the original white.

“I am pretty happy with how straight the car is, and the big question is: do I drop in a Windsor or a Barra?”

Gene Ellwood
Bedford J1

“One of my builds is this Frankenstein’s monster. I cut the whole body off a 1996 Pajero, bar the floorpan and firewall, and on top of it I’ve dropped a gutted J1 Bedford cab.

“I customised the front guards and front end, and I’ve test-fitted a Barra for it as well.

“The idea is for it to be an old-school rat rod with patina, but with all the modern creature comforts and driveability.”

Davo
HSV VS Senator 215i

“This is my 1996 HSV VS Senator 215i. It’s a genuine, matching-numbers HSV stroker 215i in Botanic Mica, fitted with optional leather interior and the HSV Premium brake package.

“The build began via the usual story, when the transmission let go. At first it was, ‘I’ll just replace the trans’, and then it was, ‘Well, I may as well put a cam in it’; then that spiralled to re-ringing the engine, and it escalated from there.

“What was meant to be a couple weeks off the road is now a year down the track, and has led me to where the car is now.

“The motor is now a stout 355ci package, running forged flat-tops and 10.5:1 compression. The transmission is rebuilt with all the fruit and matching stall converter, backed by a rebuilt 3.7:1 IRS LSD.

“The engine breathes through a twin 2.5in stainless Manta exhaust. It rides on Pedders suspension, and stoppers are upgraded brake pads and rotors.

“Finishing the handling package is semi-slicks on the rear. I’m hoping to have it back on the road within the next three months, and future plans include an intake manifold and throttlebody upgrade, or possibly supercharging it.”

Reilley McKay
VE Valiant Regal

“This is my 1968 VE Valiant Regal. She runs just a wheezy little slant-six, but she’s a beautiful cruiser.

“One time when it was raining at work and we had nothing on, I started scrolling Facebook Marketplace, as I often do. Lo and behold, up pops this Val for sale on the Sunshine Coast, and I had to have it.

“It’d been crashed, but I had a failed project in the shed that could donate some good parts.

“After a few transport headaches, I picked her up, and a fortnight and a few hundred bucks later, thanks to some help from good mates, my mum and my partner, she was on the road cruising.

“Big thanks to Sambo, my better half Mady, and my mum Sally for putting up with my Valiant obsession.”