Chase Walsh
Ford XC Fairmont

“This is my 1978 XC Fairmont build. I bought it as a bare shell, and I plan to install a sheet-metal nine-inch rear end to fit some big feet under it, along with a Castlemaine Rod Shop front end.

I’ll also be adding a Rod Shop Barra engine conversion kit, as I eventually want to run a turbo Barra. It’ll also get a custom interior.

My plan is to have the car done for Northern Nats next year, before hopefully taking it on Drag Challenge in the following years.”

Robert Troon
Holden VE Crewman

“I’d like to introduce my VE Crewman. It actually started out as a 2004 VY Crewman with a L36 V6 and auto transmission, but having liked the body style of the VE, I decided to rebuild the VY into a VE Crewman.

I began the build by buying a VE Calais as a donor car for body panels. I then grafted the Calais’ radiator support panel, front guards and bonnet onto the VY.

I needed four front doors to convert the Crewman’s doors, as the rear doors don’t have the dog-leg in them, so I grafted the door skins from the VE to the door frames of the VY.

I then continued the VE bodylines through the back pillars. The L36 V6 has been rebuilt and will run a modified L67 supercharger.”

Renee Van Kalken
Valiant VJ Charger

“I’ve been building my 1974 VJ Charger for the past six years, having owned it for around three decades. It will run a blown 354ci Hemi, which was imported from Big Al’s Toy Box in Connecticut, USA.

We also flew to Texas to buy our personally designed custom rims, as well as to Adelaide to pick up our electrics.

The build has definitely been challenging, emotional and expensive; however, we’re starting to see the fruits of the hard work, which is extremely exciting. We are booked in to unveil the car at Chrysler on the Murray in March 2025, and it’s currently in the final stages of paint and upholstery.”

Alex Dexter
1967 Chevy Impala

“I’ve been building my 1967 Chevy Impala for the past two years here in Auckland, New Zealand. It’s a barn-find, NZ-delivered, right-hand-drive car.

So far, I’ve rebuilt the chassis with all-new suspension and brakes. For power, it has a built 406ci small-block, teamed with a rebuilt Turbo 350 and 12-bolt rear end.

My plan is to keep the patina on the body, and I’m happy to say that the car is now not far from its first drive in 20 years!”

Dan Galvin
Holden VH Commodore

“I’ve been building my 1983 VH for a couple of years now, doing all the work myself with help from mates. It runs a Dart 427 LS with twin mirror-image G42 turbos. Behind that is a Powerglide and a sheet-metal nine-inch.

The car is tubbed to fit a 325 radial on the rear, and it will also be getting a rollcage and all the safety gear so I can hit the track in the near future.”

Darryl Kim
Nissan GQ Patrol

“Here’s my short-wheelbase 1989 Nissan GQ Patrol work-in-progress, which began as a lockdown project a couple of years ago, with all the work done in my single-car garage.

I’ve removed the right-hand quarter, deleted the old fuel plumbing and door panel, and installed twin fuel filler necks for a twin-tank fuel system with 230L of capacity.

It’s engineered now for a Holden 355 stroker, which makes 500hp through a Compushift-controlled RE4 auto. It has full Holley engine management and digital dash. The rest of the driveline is all later-model GU running gear, twin-locked with 4.6:1 gears, and it has all the suspension fruit like remote-reservoir shocks, heavy-duty arms and so on.

The paint and bodywork were done by yours truly. The wheels are beadlocked Peco Stars, just for something a bit different.”

Got a sweet ride that’s currently in the build and want to share it with our readers? Email photos of it (2MB+ each) along with some details on the build to [email protected].