I can remember the first time I saw Adam LeBrese’s 1964 EH Holden. As I picked up the August 2003 issue of Street Machine, I’m pretty sure I said to myself: “Self, that’s the next SMOTY for sure.” And I was right! At the time I hadn’t started working for the mag; I was just a regular punter absolutely gobsmacked that someone in Australia had built an Aussie car that looked for all the world like it came out of a US shop.

As published Street Machine Legends, Volume II

In the story, Adam admitted that he was heavily influenced by the stylings of Troy Trepanier, and that’s easy to see with the car’s smoothed and moulded bumpers, ultra-low stance and massive (for the time) 17- and 18-inch wheels.

Converting a four-door wagon into a two-door sedan delivery was a stroke of genius, and Adam nailed the proportions by lengthening the remaining two doors just the right amount.

For a guy like me that had recently returned to reading SM after many years absorbing everything I could find on the US rod and custom scene, the EH really resonated. Its smoothed body,

Buick-inspired airbrushed side trim and big-diameter Torq Thrusts set it apart from everything else in the local scene.

The most amazing part of the whole story was that Adam had a background in earth moving and did the whole build himself at home, except for some work on the interior with some help from mates.

The car had such an impact that Adam ended up making a career out of it and went on to create another SMOTY-winning masterpiece in the form of an XC Falcon coupe – but more on that one later.

When Adam got busy building cars for other people, the EH got pushed to the back of the workshop, but the good news is he’s giving the car a bit of a freshen-up, and, with the advantage of almost 20 years’ experience under his belt, the finish and level of detail will be even better than before.

SPECS:

Engine: 308ci HOLDEN
Induction: 780 VAC-SEC
Gearbox: POWERGLIDE
Diff: BORGWARNER
Rims: TORQ THRUST II