“This is my 2004 WK Holden Statesman, which I bought in 2019 from an elderly lady while still on my L-plates. It started life as a V6, but it didn’t take long until I decided to change the wheels, lower it, change out the stereo and add a few extras.

“Eventually, I decided to do a V8 conversion, but like most project cars, that idea snowballed into basically a full rebuild. I ripped out the V6 to make way for an LS3 crate motor, with an OEM ECU controlling it and a custom loom, handled by Wayne at Kaotic Customs. I upgraded the LS with a BTR cam, Higgins ported heads, a FAST manifold and Pacemaker extractors.

“The exhaust is a custom stainless twin 3in system fabricated by Brandon at Proline Fabrication. To take the extra grunt, I selected a built 4L60E transmission sending power to the rears via a GJ Drivelines tailshaft. A 3.91:1-geared Detroit Truetrac diff rounds out the driveline, housed in a Harrop cover.

“The interior has been retrimmed in leather by Sash at NSR Automotive Interiors, including the Coulson seats, steering wheel, door trims, handbrake handle, console lid and shifter boot.

“The car sits on Ksport front coil-overs and rear King Springs with shortened shocks. The 20×8 GMax Heritage rims are large enough to cover the Harrop Performance 343mm brake kit. All the body and engine bay work was done by me and my dad.

“Given the level of work mechanically, the exterior was no longer quite up to scratch, so I took it to Rob and Braydon at Unique Body Smash Repairs to lay down a full open-door respray. During the build, I was studying how to tune and understand EFI, so I decided to tune the Statesman using the hub dyno we have at work. It’s the first car I completely tuned myself, which is something I’m really proud of.

“This car was built to be my ideal summer cruiser, and I think it does that just fine.”