Fraser Ridgeway
WB Holden ute

“I have a 1982 Holden WB ute with a 202 blue motor and Aussie four-speed manual.

“I have undertaken the full resto myself, including lots of rust repairs, a respray and fitting the second-hand engine and ’box.

“It still needs finishing off, but it’s not far off being registered. The longer-term plans are to repower it with an LS1 and T56 once it’s got plates and is on the road.”

Grant Watson
1940 Chevy Pullman

“This is my 1940 Chevy Pullman ute, one of 125 hand-built by Aussie women. It was used in WW2 and somehow made it back.

“It was sitting in a field in Albury when a mate of mine asked if I wanted it, so I paid him to deliver it to my home in Newcastle.

“It was all original, still with the hand-crank start for the engine. Now, it has brand-new front and rear independent suspension, a 400ci small-block Chevy and a four-speed Muncie gearbox.

“It is currently being built by Kurt Shearer at his Mini Fabrication & Mechanical workshop in Beresfield, NSW.

“The goal is to create something that is one-of-a-kind, and I have made an Instagram account for people to follow the build @1940chevypullman.”

Jason Binder
Dodge Challenger

“I’m building a 1972 Dodge Challenger that’ll have the front and rear ends from a 1970 model, so it’ll basically be a 1970 Challenger.

“It’s getting a right-hook conversion, but the biggest piece is the all-aluminium, Gen II 426 Hemi stroked to 572 cubes.

“It’ll make 800hp aspirated, and will be backed by a Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed manual and a 9in diff with 4.11:1 gearing.

“The car will be mini-tubbed, and the final look will be a matte silver with black striping. I’m building the car down in Devonport, Tasmania.”

Chris Stuttard
EJ Holden

“My father and I had started restoring his EJ Holden before he passed away from cancer in December 2015.

“The car is all original, running the factory 138ci grey motor, three-on-the-tree and diff. I’ve welded in four new floorpan sections and have started repairing the rusty sections on the front guards, and because I was a qualified electroplater 15 years ago, I stripped and re-chromed all the bumper bars to a concours finish.

“I’ve sourced a reconditioned original steering wheel and some brand-new seat covers in the original-style trim, which will go in soon, and I’ve spent thousands on new or reconditioned parts over the years.

“Now with three kids and running my own business, life has got in the way a bit, but I promised my dad I’d finish the car in memory of him. It just needs rubbing back to get ready for paint, so I’ll get there eventually for Dad.”

Emma Buckley
HQ Holden

“My parents have owned a heap of HQs over the years, so I was around them from a young age, including going home from the hospital as a newborn in an HQ Kingswood.

“When I was around 10 years old, I saw this HQ sitting for sale for $1000 in someone’s front yard. We took it for a test drive, and I distinctly remember sitting in the front bench seat, lap belt on and feet not even able to touch the floor, beaming from ear to ear.

“We took it home, but then it sat for several years as life happened. In 2014, I decided to finally make a move on it, so we stripped the interior and took the whole car back to bare metal. It was very rusty, so it has been cut, plated and rust-converted in all the usual-suspect areas.

“Dad is a panel beater and spray painter by trade, and my mother is a motor trimmer, so I was in good hands for the respray in Zodiac Blue Metallic Mk2 and the fresh cream interior trim.

“The 202 wouldn’t do, so it now runs a stroked, VN-sourced 383 built by Shane Alex Engines. The transmission is a Turbo 350, with a Ford 9in diff in the rear. We’re still deciding on the exhaust, and the plan is to get the car sitting on some Weld V-Series wheels.

“Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the build and taught me so much along the way, but biggest shout-out goes to my parents and James – it wouldn’t be where it is without them. You can see the build on my Instagram @her_qee.” Photos: Charlie Bird Creative

Oliver Diggles
Ford Escort Mk1

“I have a 1971 Ford Escort 1300XL, which I bought off one of Dad’s good mates near the beginning of my apprenticeship.

“I started getting ideas about doing a few things here and there to make it a neat little streeter, and six months later, I had a 13B rotary ready for assembly to then be lowered into the poor little Ford.

“The engine has plenty of bits from various Aussie producers to neaten it up, and it has a W58 gearbox behind it and a HiLux diff.

“The car needed re-tunnelling to suit the wider box, which was made possible with heaps of help from the Spot On Performance team. They also fitted up and fabricated the mounts for the rotary, doing a nice, neat job.

“All that needs to be done is fitting the ’Lux diff, along with some plumbing and wiring, and then it’ll be ready for the odd test-and-tune night.”

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