Sleepers rule! Cars that look stock, but secretly pack all kinds of horsepower.
Milwaukee SMOTY contender #9: Deluxe Rod Shop-built FX Holden
It might look like it from the outside, but deluxe Rod Shop’s latest build isn’t just a beautifully restored humpy. It’s a finely detailed pro touring masterpiece
1000rwhp 2JZ-swapped VL Commodore sleeper
Chris Ethell’s VL Commodore makes 1000rwhp with a Japanese inline six, but there’s no RB to be seen
Six of the best: drag-and-drive sleepers
There is nothing better than a drag-and-drive car that flies under the radar! Here are some of our faves
Turbo LS-swapped Hyundai iLoad sleeper
Reckon this is just your average plumber’s van? Think again!
LS1-powered 1962 Morris Minor 1000 sleeper
This mild-looking Morris Minor 1000 might not catch your eye stopped at a light, but with an LS under its bonnet, it sure can launch from one
Turbo LS-powered HQ Belmont
Chris Pilkington was a nitrous SBC diehard until he was swayed to the turbo-LS side of the Force for his snoozy, 622hp HQ Holden
LSA-powered HK Monaro
John and Travis Oberg’s HK GTS looks like a nicely restored stocker – so why is it in Street Machine? We think you already know the answer to that!
Sleeper King: Shane Bridge’s 429 Mk1 Cortina
Sporting factory looks but with a 429 Ford big-block under the bonnet, Shane Bridge’s Mk1 Cortina was one of Australia’s first and most-iconic sleepers
Nine-second turbo LS-swapped AU Falcon wagon
Three workmates set out to have bulk fun for minimal bucks, mixing up the go-fast recipe to produce a staunch Drag Challenge sleeper
1100hp Barra-swapped CF Bedford van
After a Barra swap for his CF Bedford van, Mendoza Miller was hooked and craved more power – 1100 horses’ worth!
L98-swapped Holden EH sleeper
Glenn Swift’s EH Holden might look original, but a 400hp demon lurks within
1447rwhp seven-second VK Commodore
Amien Zeitoun’s motivation for building this 1447rwhp, seven-second VK Commodore was simply to beat all his mates!
Vortech-blown VK Commodore sleeper
On first glance, it looks like a nanna-spec VK Commodore – but would we do that to you?
800hp Holden VL Commodore SL turbo sleeper
Is Ron Haddad’s 800hp VL turbo the ultimate factory-look sleeper?
1JZ-powered 1981 Toyota Corona
A 700rwhp 1JZ means this nine-second Toyota Corona will never be late for a round of lawn bowls
600hp Ford XY Fairmont sleeper
This factory-fresh Bronze Wine Fairmont packs a sleepy 600hp punch and GTHO flavour
355-cube 1971 Holden HG wagon sleeper
While he calls it a ‘cruiser’, Tim’s wagon is not short on herbs thanks to a tough 435rwhp small-block Chev under the bonnet
616hp 1998 Ford EL Falcon sleeper
Maurice D’Alberti’s EL Falcon is a 616hp tribute to his little boy Adam, who passed away in 2018
Barra-powered 1966 Ford XR Falcon sleeper
Ben O’Neill tackled the Barra swap in his XR Falcon almost entirely in his own shed
Farewell Commodore: top five sleepers
With the Commodore nameplate going the way of the dodo, we look back at some of the more unassuming models that hid some real punch