First published in Street Machine’s Australia’s Slickest Commodores #6, 2013

As the multi-coloured VL rolled out from behind the big factory doors, the engine running as lumpy as my grandma’s gravy, I knew this was going to be a special car.

I’d been told that these guys here in Melbourne’s Campbellfield know a bit about VLs, but I wasn’t quite ready for this. They brought out three of these beasts in all – two customers’ cars plus the one featured here – and the noise was awesome.

There are quite a few people in the know in Melbourne who will tell you that when it comes to 3.0-litre VL Commodores, the Rajab brothers are the guys to talk to. Rajab Body Works – aka Rajab Racing – has been around for about 10 years and in that time have developed a string of turbo VLs, many of which have gone on to be the quickest of their type over the quarter mile.

Billy Rajab, the owner and builder of the gorgeous VL that graces these pages, reckons it’s putting out around 430kW at the back wheels when it’s set in full race trim and running C16 fuel. That’s pretty damn impressive. And what makes it even more so is the fact that the cylinder head is a standard, single-cam, job.

Rather than fit a twin-cam head off any of the Japanese RB family motors, the Rajabs reckon (or rather, have proved) that the single-cam head is not a drawback to making big, big power. Another surprise is that the engine retains its original 3.0-litre capacity.

So far, Billy and his brothers have built eight similar monsters for customers who will all testify to their low nine second performance down the quarter. But these cars are more than just go cars. Apart from their ability to extract outrageous amounts of power, bodywork and attention to detail is another Rajab trademark.

While all the attention created by these cars has seen the family business go from strength to strength, the family has also faced pain that, ironically, was associated with a product of their success. About a year or so ago, Billy’s brother, Albert, was tragically killed in a vehicle identical to the one you see here. The close-knit family was devastated, and Billy vowed to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps.

“He wasn’t racing or being silly at the time like some people think,” says Billy. “For some reason, the car swerved sharply, spun out on him, and hit a pole. That’s it.

“I should know; I was driving behind him when it happened,” he added solemnly.

In memory of his brother, and the cars that he loved to build, Billy has taken as many parts as possible from the wrecked car and put them in this VL. “It took us eight months to build and it’s virtually identical to the one he had,” said Billy. “His was the first.”

Albert Rajab did most of the early development work for these super-hot VLs, and, fortunately, had passed on most of his tricks to his brothers. These tricks involve such things as the plenum, extractors, intercooler and cam. Inside the motor you’ll just find forged pistons and steel rods, while Motec handles the fuel and ignition, and a big TA51 turbo forces in the air.

Around town, the car runs a more moderate set-up that’s good for about 300kW at the wheels. With that much power, you’d have to expect that it would chew heaps of fuel, but when asked exactly how much, Billy just shrugs: “Who cares?”

To cope with all this power as well as get the best times over the quarter, Billy has found that the Powerglide two-speed auto is the best transmission to use. Torque is multiplied through a 5200rpm-stall converter that allows the engine to build boost while the car’s stationary, then take off like a slingshot. The 3.8:1 diff ratio provides the best compromise between acceleration and top-end speed.

By now, the question on all your lips probably is: How much does it cost to get a VL to go and look as good as this one? According to Billy, to take a VL that’s in good condition to this point (excluding the paint), you’re looking at between 25 and 28 grand.

As you can see, the paint job is something very special. The colour is Harlequin green to purple and, according to Billy, it’s worth a thousand bucks a litre. “To get a job like that would cost about eight grand,” he told us. “But shit, it’s worth it if you have the money. On a sunny day you can walk around it for hours and the car looks different from every angle.”

Inside, the VL is sumptuous with a full VT GTS interior replacing the existing Calais stuff. So what of the future for this stunning VL? What more could you possible want from a car like this?

“I’m thinking of converting it to methanol,” says Billy. “That way it’ll be more versatile and also it’s cheaper and easier to get than C16. When using C16 the tuning tolerances have to be spot on to get the best out of it, but methanol is more forgiving.”

Finally, asked what he doesn’t like about the car, Billy is emphatic: “The cops. I can’t drive it around the streets ’cause every time I do, the cops hassle me for no reason,” he says. “They think that just because we have a nice car, we’re out to race or do burnouts. Maybe in the past, but we’re over all that now. The cops really should be concentrating on other things. I just want to be able to drive my car and remember my brother.”

The Harlequin paint might cost a grand a litre, but it makes the car look a million

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

Producing monster straight-line performance is one thing, but the Rajab brothers have managed to do it without sacrificing ride, handling or luxury.

This is a car that does it all, producing the goods at the top end of performance, while still being as tractible as any city car in the everyday grind.

The finish on the VL, both inside and out, is absolutely seamless, the interior sourced from a VT GTS and customised to fit the VL’s dimensions perfectly. The paint of course needs no further mention, the whole project produced to the highest standards.

No doubt Albert would be suitably proud of the the car, and his brothers’ tribute to him.

BILLY RAJAB
RB30 VL Calais