We’ve already brought you the Holden, Ford and Japanese cars entered in our Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse Young SMOTY competition so far, and now it’s time for the rest!

If you’re 24 or under with a cool car of any brand or genre, get it entered at the link below for a shot at $9000 in cash and prizes!

Josh Gentle
CL Valiant

“I bought this really cool ’77 CL Val as my first car when I was 15. I found it up north of NSW, where it had resided all its life before I took it down to Sydney. There was a fair bit of rust on the front of the engine bay frame, so I repaired that and tracked down another nosecone. I’ve always loved the look of jellybean wheels, so I found a set of ROH ones that I polished up and fitted with meaty tyres.

“I got it all ready six days before taking it down to Chryslers on the Murray – a 1350km road-trip there and back! I love the 265 Hemi it’s got; I haven’t done much to it other than just maintaining it, but it’s making great power and is on song for now, although would love to give it a freshen-up down the track. The Val is such an awesome cruiser; it has taken me to so many beautiful places across the country, and I continue to do more road trips in the beast.”

Emily Attard
Valiant AP6

“I bought my 1965 AP6 Valiant sight-unseen from an eBay ad when I was just 16 years old! It was sitting out the back of Colac, owned by an old fella who’d held onto it for years. From the moment I saw it in person, I knew it was something special. The car hadn’t been registered in 24 years when I picked it up, and to our surprise, it still had a tank of leaded fuel in it. It was in great shape though, with minimal rust and an almost perfect interior.

“I set about bringing it back to life with the help of my dad. We rebuilt the iconic 225 Slant Six engine, added a 2in exhaust, tackled some rust repairs and gave a few spots a fresh spray of paint. We didn’t go crazy making it perfect, because it was rebuilt to be driven. So far, I’ve done over 5000km in the Val in a year, from day trips to full-on, two-week roadies across Victoria and South Australia, and she hasn’t missed a beat!

“As a young woman in the hot rodding and car scene, the Val has done more than just turn heads – it’s given me an identity, helped me hold my own in the industry, and inspired me to create space for other young women and young people to get involved. It’s a conversation starter, a community builder, and the start of what I hope will be a lifelong collection. Today, the Val’s legacy continues alongside my latest project: an improved Model A roadster build.”

Keanu Santucci
1963 Dodge Phoenix

“My 1963 Dodge Phoenix has been part of my family for over 60 years and holds significant sentimental value. It has been passed down through generations, from my great-grandparents to the present day. It was originally a 318 poly but was stroked to 330ci, and was also resprayed back in the 70s. It’s definitely not a show car, but it still turns heads everywhere it goes. Plans are underway to restore it in the near future.”

David Fermor
Valiant Galant GC wagon

“This is my little GC Valiant Galant wagon, a car that I have owned since I was 20 and have loved driving everywhere. Besides the four-speed, muffler upgrade and 13in Hotwire wheels, it is all factory and an absolutely great cruiser. The looks and smiles it gets from other people passing by is awesome, even if they do often mistake it for a Datsun! But that’s part of the fun. I have taken her to multiple local car shows, and I’d love to take her to Mopar Sunday. Maybe one day I will restore her, but in meantime, I am enjoying every mile I can get out of her.”

Tyler Zahabi
1950 Chevy 3100

“I bought this 1950 3100 from the USA in March 2023 and shipped it back to Australia to start the build at our Rides By Kam workshop. It was a rusted, beaten-up army truck with barely any colour left on it, so I had a lot of work ahead of me! For the past two years, I’ve built it from the ground up – everything from panel beating and patching up rusted panels, to boxing the chassis, C-notching the rails, recreating the original colour and so on.

“It’s running a 383 stroker motor with a Scat crank, forged pistons, H-beam rods, Dart heads, Edelbrock high-rise intake and a Quick Fuel carb, and pushes 540hp. Behind it is a Turbo 350, and a nine-inch diff that’s attached via a triangulated four-link under the notched chassis rails. It has custom-made independent front suspension, and Ridetech airbags and Wilwood brakes all ’round. It sits slammed on a set of Rocker wheels, with 20×12.5s on the rear. Inside, it has a Dakota Digital dash, Vintage Air air con, bucket seats and custom trim.

“Being the first car I’ve ever built, it was a lot of hours and a lot of learning, but the end result was worth it, and it’s all mod-plated and engineered.”

Kate Dawson
1956 Morris

“This is my 1956 Morris Oxford, which was a rusty wreck bound for the scrapyard when I bought it during the peak of COVID. The car has undergone a full restoration, with all the work done only by me and my father, including sanding, welding, painting, seat retrimming, engine rebuilding and more.

To most people, the Morris probably looks like just another restored classic, but to me, it represents every late night, every early morning, and all the blood, sweat and tears that went into rebuilding it alongside my father. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”