EACH November, the picturesque tourist town of Bright in north-east Victoria bursts into life for the annual Bright Rod Run, featuring cool cars, live music and street partying going late into the night. The 28th running of the three-day event took place over the weekend of November 9-11, and was packed with chrome-bumpered goodness, with hot rods, muscle cars and cool classics cruising Bright’s streets. Here are some of our favourites.

Sydney’s Romeo Susnjara has owned his VH Charger for 20 years. It rocks a 6.1-litre Gen III Hemi, backed by an old-school 727 Torqueflite transmission and a nine-inch diff with Truetrac and 31-spline Moser axles, with Wilwood brakes all ’round. “I like to get it out and drive it, so Bright’s been a lot of fun,” Romeo said. “I’m about to add a blower to it; either a Whipple or a Magnuson.”

Frank Talese’s blown, injected big block-powered ’68 Camaro is MEAN by name and mean by nature. Frank made the six-hour drive down from Sydney to cruise the car on the streets of Bright. The 454ci big-block is topped with AFR heads and an 8/71 Blower Shop blower, while the tubbed rear end runs a full-floating nine-inch diff. The Camaro is fully engineered and registered for street duties.

Steve Vella’s 427ci big-block Ford Landau looked sharp cruising the streets and on display at Sunday’s show ’n’ shine.

Sergio Ciccotelli had his ’70 Cuda out for some street duties at Bright. The 426ci Hemi is backed by a Powerglide and Mark Williams nine-inch, with the whole package rolling on Forgeline wheels.

Colin Barclay drove his LS3-powered LH Torana up from Berwick for the weekend. “The car’s been on the road since Christmas; it’s fully engineered and registered,” Colin said. “I did a full rotisserie restoration on the body then sent it out to Customair Airbrushing in Berwick for paint. The motor is an LS3 crate motor backed by a Mal Wood T56 Magnum manual and a Truetrac nine-inch rear.”

Peter Whiston loves his early Corvettes; at 2017’s Rod Run he showed off his wife Gayle’s restored ’54 Corvette, taking out Best In Show. For 2018, Peter cruised the streets in his blue pro tourer-styled 502ci EFI ’Vette.

Peter and Anne had their ultra-cool, fully restored split-window 1959 Kombi out and about in Bright over the weekend.

Milan Dokic hit the streets for a lap of Bright in his legendary blown, injected big block-powered 1968 Camaro, MENTLE – still one of the toughest pro street cars ever built in Oz.

Local Jayden Grimshaw has recently completed his 408ci stroked LS2-powered HT Kingswood and hit the streets of Bright for some much-needed cruising. Backing the LS2 is a Turbo 350 transmission and BorgWarner rear end, while inside is all original, with immaculate factory trim.

Perry Meka completed a full rebuild on his 1968 SS Chevelle late last year. Immaculately finished throughout, the Chevelle is one cool cruiser that also packs a mean punch thanks to a ProCharged 588ci big-block Chev.

Tom Galea’s ’glass-bodied 1928 Ford Victoria tourer runs a tunnel-rammed 351ci Cleveland/auto/nine-inch on a custom chassis, with an HT Holden front end.