The 2025 edition of Meguiar’s MotorEx, presented by LMCT+, is coming up fast, ready to hit Melbourne Showgrounds, 3-4 May. This year’s event will be the biggest ever, with a stack of new features added in to give spectators the best possible bang for their buck.

One feature we’re particularly excited about is the Street Machine Hall of Fame, which will showcase seven iconic cars from across the spectrum of Aussie hot-car history for your viewing pleasure. Here’s a rundown on all seven in roughly chronological order.

‘ALLEY CAT’ HJ SANDMAN

The Jaguar V12-powered HJ Holden Sandman known as ‘Alley Cat’ is one of the most influential and awarded modified cars, period! The van was bought brand new by John Strachan, who began modifying it almost immediately in his backyard.

In V8 form, and bearing its iconic Frank Lee murals, Alley Cat graced the cover of Van Wheels & Street Machine, August-September 1981 – the very first mag to ever bear the Street Machine name.

In its final incarnation, the van copped a Jaguar V12 powerplant and went on to win Australia’s Top Van in 1983. Alley Cat is currently being rebuilt by 679style for the van’s current custodian, Russell Smith.

JOHN ZEIGLER’S HJ UTE

John Zeigler’s famous HJ ute came from the same formative period as Alley Cat, and also went through a number of evolutions in the 70s and 80s. The ute was bought new by John in 1975, specced out with a 308/TH400 driveline. JZ began customising the car immediately, culminating in its first major form in 1977 as ‘Techno’, featuring Jade Green paint along with wild graphics, body mods and trim.

By 1979, the car was modified further with a T-top conversion, shaved handles and more. In this format, it made its famous cameo in Mad Max.

The ute scored another makeover in the 80s as ‘The Sorcerer’, with further body mods, black duco and a Jaguar IRS. It was featured in Street Machine, July-August 1986.

Finally, the ute was rebuilt as ‘Black Magic’ by Delux Kustoms for John Zeigler II, combining elements of the previous builds, and was featured once again in Street Machine, October 2018. It remains an amazing time capsule of what a high-end street machine looked like in the very earliest days of our sport.

CHRIS CHRISTOU’S ‘HO 775’ XY FALCON

Chris’s Falcon was made famous with its tyre-frying appearance on the August-September 1984 cover of Street Machine, breaking sales records at the time. Chris went on to win two Street Machine Summernats Burnout Championships on the trot in 1990 and 1991 – the first of those with a manual gearbox!

HO 775 also starred in Bridgestone’s iconic ‘Real Men Smoke Eagers’ ad campaign and earned eternal fame for Chris’s signature arm-out-the-sunroof skid technique.

In later years, a replica HO 775 was built so that Chris could thrill a new generation with appearances at Summernats 25 (2012), 30 (2017) and 37 (2025).

HOWARD BELL’S ‘LITRE8’ LX TORANA

One of Australia’s first and most prominent pro touring builds, LITRE8 started life as a genuine LX SL/R 5000, bought brand new by Howard in 1976.

Howard initially modified the factory 308ci Holden V8, then removed it to fit a highly modified, turbocharged Holden inline six, as featured in Street Machine, July-August 1986.

The turbo six was later replaced with a fuel-injected, all-aluminium 479ci Keith Black big-block, Doug Nash five-speed, and MoTeC ECU, as featured in Street Machine, April-May 1992.

Howard continued to race and enjoy the car over the decades, with regular appearances in SM. In 2019, the engine was rebuilt and stretched to 564ci.

RHYS CHRISTOU’S XR FALCON

In a case of the apple falling close to the tree, Chris Christou’s son Rhys has carried on the family tradition of building stunning Falcons with his own pro street XR. Powered by a Rhys-built 427 Windsor, the XR’s stunning build quality saw it star on the cover of Street Machine’s April 2016 issue. It went on to win the show ’n’ shine at Summernats 29, Tuff Street Champion and Best Pro Tuff at Summernats 30, and Top Ford at Showcars Melbourne in 2016, 2017, 2024 and 2025.

HEATH VAN DER WAERDEN’S UC TORANA HATCH

Heath’s UC-turned-LX hatch is inspired by the 80s and 90s street machine scene and early pro tourers. Almost entirely built by Heath, the only original UC parts remaining on the car are the doors, glovebox hinges and rear glass. The hatch was built to drive, both on the street and on track, and boy, does Heath drive the wheels off the thing, camping in the Hatch Hutch along the way.

The hatch was voted Street Machine of the Year 2024 and took out the Muscle Car Class at Optima Ultimate Street Car for 2025.

The Street Machine Hall of Fame is located within the Street Machine Custom World building, which will also host our merch stand and this year’s unveil cars. Just outside will be the dyno and the Drag Challenge display. Come and say g’day!