It’s rare these days for someone to own the same car for decades, so it’s pretty special that Jim Lambas has been the proud custodian of this VG Valiant since 1988. Jim’s story is a classic, and may even bring a tear to your eye – especially when you hear the price he paid for what was a meticulously cared-for classic.

First published in the December 2025 issue of Street Machine

“I bought it off an old fella in Dandenong for $2500. It had 27,000 genuine miles on the clock, and it was immaculate,” says Jim. “It was a stock-standard sedan, looking a lot like the VG on the cover of the Gregory’s Service & Repair Manual.”

While $2500 might seem like a cheap asking price, it was still a stretch for Jim back then on his $92-a-week apprentice mechanic’s wage. Even so, he couldn’t get the money out of his pocket quick enough, before happily driving the Val around for the next four years.

By 1992, Jim was working as mechanic, so he decided to treat the VG to a quick make-over. “I reconditioned the 245, fully rebuilt the front end, and put on a 350 Holley, a bit of an exhaust, disc brakes, and a set of W35 wheels to finish her off,” he says. For those not familiar with Mopar-speak, that’s a set of jellybean mags.

Happy with those improvements, Jim found himself easily dealing with any other hot sixes that might pull up alongside him at the lights. But he wanted more, both in looks and performance.

“In 1999, I went down the path to tub the car,” he recalls. “This took about nine weekends to complete in the backyard garage of my mate’s house. I remember at that time thinking, ‘What the hell? It’s just dragging on and on!’” Ah, the impatience of youth. How stoked would you be these days if you could get your car tubbed in a little over two months?

Of course, it wasn’t just the tubs. The leaf springs were moved inboard and the stock fuel tank was cut-and-shut to fit within the now-narrower space between the springs. A shortened nine-inch also found its way under the Val’s bum, and the final touch to complete the new look was a set of Convo Pros – 15x4s up front and 15x10s wrapped in 295/50R15 Mickey Thompsons on the rear. “It gave her that final finish I was looking for,” recalls Jim.

Given the Val’s new pro street look, Jim also had to up the ante in the engine bay, and while most would have opted for a V8 conversion, he stayed true to the mighty Aussie Hemi six-banger, selling off his warmed-over 245 and getting to work on a hot 265 with a set of triple 45mm Webers, backed by a 904 Torqueflite.

After those upgrades, the VG’s look and performance did the trick for Jim for well over 15 years, which he spent happily cruising it around and going to car shows and casual meet-ups.

But in 2016, he decided the time was right to pull it apart for a full nut-and-bolt resto.

“Geez, what was I thinking?” he laughs. “Everything came out of it, right down to the window regulators – the car was just a rolling shell. I spoke to my good friend Petros at Oakleigh Panels to come up with a plan.”

Fortunately, the VG was a very low-mileage car when Jim got it and he’d pampered it all through his ownership, so there were no major rust problems or accident damage to repair. But he did opt for a fresh lick of paint, replacing the factory Alpine White with Alaskan White from the VS Commodore colour charts, although it was tweaked a few times before he was finally happy with the shade.

The fresh paint really needed to be matched up to a fresh engine, so Jim had Anthony Dove at HPS High Performance Services go to town on the 265. The block was sonic-tested, grouted and blueprinted, before being fitted with a race-prepped, port-matched aluminium CHI head, a solid-roller cam, and triple 55mm Webers. “I asked Anthony for a tough engine, and I got one,” Jim says. “Dyno figures don’t lie – naturally aspirated, the motor made 442hp and 395lb-ft of torque.”

Jim also treated the Val, which he lovingly refers to as ‘Valerie’, to some new shoes. As much as he loved the Convos, he found himself hooked on the look of Weld AlumaStars, so the order went in for a set of 17×4 and 15×10 rims, as well as some 325 rubber for the rear. The wider rubber meant the diff needed a bit of a trim, so it was sent off to Sashy at Diff King to get the tyres sitting perfectly in the tubs.

While the interior was still in pretty good nick, Jim had the seats returned to a factory-fresh finish in burgundy vinyl, with matching carpet. Against the white paint, it’s a classy and timeless combination. The B&M QuickSilver shifter, white-faced Auto Meter gauges and Alpine head unit had all been part of the car since the 90s, and they remain to this day – hell, Jim’s still got the eight-stack CD changer in the boot!

The last thing to button up on this latest build was a new exhaust. “Michael Ryder at MR Fabrication carried out the work, fitting a stainless exhaust and muffler. The look, along with the welding and sound of the set-up, is candy to my eyes and music to my ears,” Jim enthuses.

Like most long-term relationships, Jim’s time with Valerie has had its ups and downs over the years, but it looks like it will be smooth sailing for the foreseeable future. “For me, it’s about driving her as often as possible, catching up with mates and their cars, cruising the streets of Melbourne, parking up for chats, and getting a bite to eat,” he says. “Long live the Vals!”

JIM LAMBAS
1970 VG VALIANT

THANKS
My wife Mary and daughters Tia and Sophia for their ongoing support; my brother Soul for encouragement and guidance; Nick Korovilas for his ongoing advice and support; Anthony Dove at HPS High Performance Services; Petros Nousias at Oakleigh Panels Autobody; Tony Kamarinos at TJ’s Wreckers; Jim Leontaris at Terry’s Motor Trimming; Chris Mirabito at Mirabito Performance; Darren at Trikfab; Carlo Sassano; Michael Ryder at MR Fabrication; Joe Carlo Li Donni; Chris Thorogood; the Albury boys.