Sleepers rule! Cars that look stock, but secretly pack all kinds of horsepower.
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
Twin-turbo 2011 Holden VE SS-V ute sleeper
Chris Cutajar’s VE ute may blend into traffic, but it hides a 1500hp secret
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
549hp 1971 Ford XY Falcon 500 sleeper
Mark Whelan has been wanting a wolf in sheep’s clothing since before it became fashionable
Turbocharged 202-powered EH Holden
Corey Columbro still has his first car, this mild-looking EH Holden, which was originally owned by his grandfather
Paul Little’s 1970 HG Holden sleeper
Paul Little’s HG boogies to 355 Holden power but looks stock as a rock – roof rack and all
Injected 5.0-litre-powered 1958 Holden FC Special
The tin is pure Holden FC but the driveline is hotted up VP V8 Commodore
Supercharged 2007 Holden VE Calais V sleeper
Plush comfort and smooth styling meets supercharged 6L power in Ben Hiles’s 622rwhp sleeper Calais
Turbo LS3-powered Holden VS Commodore sleeper
This stock-looking Holden VS Commodore executive hides a 550rwkw sting in the tail from a turbo LS3
Turbo LQ9-powered Toyota KE20 Corolla sleeper
KE20 Corolla powered by a turbo LS motor!