Articles by Carly DALE
Born into a racing family, Carly feels most at home among a throng of revvy V8s. Having spent many years as an active enthusiast, in 2007 she found her niche as a writer for Street Machine, allowing her to chat with amazing people about their cars – and if they race them, all the better. An iron lion-motivated VL Calais is her road-going (and sometimes racing) steed, and she’s also home-building a Hemi-powered ’34 Ford three-window coupe. Up-skilling is Carly’s jam: from lathe work, MIG and TIG welding and metal-shaping, to automotive painting, mechanics, graphic design and stringing together a decent yarn.Instagram @carlys_garage


Tuff Mounts test bed: 4CE FED VK Calais
Jason Waye’s seven-year love-hate relationship with his '84 VK Calais proves good things come to those who hate

Sue Boyle’s 1960 FB Station Sedan
Holden pride shines in a Ford household with Sue Boyle’s beautifully restored FB Station Sedan

Drag Challenge 2025 – eight of the best
We take a look at some of our fave movers and shakers from Day One of Street Machine Drag Challenge 2025

Shenade Austin’s L98-powered VL Calais
Shenade Austin customised her VL Calais, including the strikingly bold pink paint, drawing inspiration from the wild cars she had seen at Summernats

Bec Robinson’s 410-cube 1971 VH Charger
Bec Robinson lives life in the fast lane, chasing bike records on salt flats. But her main pride and joy is her recently restored 1971 VH Charger

Michelle Jellicoe’s Torana LX SL/R 5000
Michelle Jellicoe says she wanted her Torrie to be a road-legal, Bathurst-style car running a 355ci stroker because she loves power!

Caitlin Diwell’s LS2-powered WL Statesman
After being a passenger during her husband Brody's burnouts, Caitlin Diwell wanted to get behind the wheel herself. She now has a WL Stato purpose-built burnout car

Video: Ian Wright’s twin-turbo HT Holden Kingswood
Last time Ian Wright’s HT Kingswood appeared in the mag, it was an under-the-radar sleeper. Now? Not so much

Blown Gen III Hemi-powered CH Chrysler By Chrysler
Scott Lawrence catapulted his 1972 CH Valiant into the current century with a blown, Gen 3 Hemi powerplant

Serena Channing’s hot-pink XD Fairmont Ghia
Ford fanatic Serena Channing’s 351 Clevo-powered XD is built for both street and race duties

Top 15 cars from the 2025 Sydney Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo
Here’s our pick of the sweet rides on show at this year’s Sydney Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo

Julia Crane’s ProCharged LS-powered VE SS
Heavy diesel mechanic and Commodore fanatic Julia Crane built her ProCharged VE SS into a 770hp weekend weapon

Peter Kelly’s restomod 1961 EK Holden
Peter Kelly's vision of a slick EK holden pro tourer shot straight from his brain into the Summernats Top 20

Jess Johnstone’s RB30ET-powered 1987 VL Berlina
Over two decades, Jess Johnstone has turned her once humble, stock VL Commodore into a turbocharged powerhouse

Judi Karaka’s ’55 Buick Century & Hemi-powered ’34 Ford three-window
Judi Karaka balances work with a passion for classic cars, driving her ’55 Buick and Hemi-powered ’34 Ford while organising car club events

Anika Hodges’s 355-cube VC Commodore
Anika Hodges inherited her passion for modified cars from her father and has used her mechanical skills to transform this once pristine, stock VC Commodore into a 355ci V8-powered stunner

Jacinta Locke’s Candy Fuchsia LS1-powered HQ One Tonner
Jacinta Locke’s HQ Tonner underwent a 14-year, beater-to-beauty transformation to steal every heart at Rockynats

Natalie McClelland’s 1923 Ford T-bucket
Natalie McClelland grew up in the world of hot rodding, and her V8-powered 1923 T-bucket was a DIY project with her dad, built in just 11 weeks

Wendy Cockroft’s HQ GTS Monaro
Wendy Cockroft has owned her HQ Monaro for an incredible 39 years. After a recent five year resto, it's back to its original colours and now serves as her cherished weekend cruiser

Anneke Schelfhorst’s 1964 Valiant AP5 & 1978 CL
Mopar girl Anneke has plans to give her AP5 Val a spruce-up and V8 swap, while her CL was initially bought as a project car