Joel Blake’s life with cars

First published in the March 2014 issue of Street Machine

Thumb through Brisbane street machiner Joel Blake’s photo albums and you’ll find a pretty wild variety of cars. He’s had enough HK-T-G Holdens to start his own club, but has also toyed with turbo four-pots and is now deep into an obsession with US-style lowriders. Whether low ’n’ slow or aimed to cut a healthy pass, they share a common trait – they are all built to be driven and are regular sights around Brisbane hotspots.

MORE Joel's 434-cube 1967 Holden HR sedan – CRAYZER

1. Late 90s: 10-second turbo Mk1 Escort

Built in the late 90s, Joel’s Mk1 Escort ran a turbo 2-litre OHC Ford donk and ran a stonking 10.62 @ 128mph. Finished in GT Tango and sporting custom-order four-stud Convos and a UK grille, the Pinto motor put the power down via a Corona four-speed and narrowed Borg Warner diff.

“You couldn’t get front cuts back then and turbo stuff was in its infancy, so it was all pretty new,” Joel said. “I kept blowing steel-case Supra five-speeds, but that $50 wrecker four-speed just wouldn’t quit. It was a hectic car, but just started tearing itself apart.”

2. 2005: Ex-Kevin Campbell Datsun 1200 sleeper

Originally built by Kevin Campbell in the early 90s, Joel’s innocent Datsun 1200 is infamous to those in the know. He bought the 302 Windsor-powered Datto in 2005 and used it as a daily before selling it in Sydney.

“A mate found it recently on a Datsun forum and I was able to buy it back. I’ve fitted an alloy-headed 347 stroker and new gas kit, so I’m hoping to improve on the old engine’s 10.50 best, although the single 2.5-inch sleeper exhaust may be a little restrictive [laughs].”

3. 11-second HK pano

Joel was a huge fan of Craig Thompson’s HGs and decided to build one of his own. After struggling to find a decent windowless van, he settled on an HG ute, but as is always the way, found a van midway through the ute’s build.

“I finished the ute, but once the van was painted I swapped everything over – engine, trans, wheels, even the front interior. It was the same colour and everything, so although I did it the hard way, we got it there in the end.” The HK pano with its VN-headed 304 was no slouch, cutting 11-flat.

4.Aussie-bodied ’48 Chev lowrider

Joel continues to almost single-handedly fly the lowrider flag in south-east Queensland and loves what the US crowd refer to as bombs.

“It’s easy to make 60s Chevys look like lowriders, but the 40s gear is much harder when you’re starting with something far uglier [laughs].”

His Aussie-bodied ’48 Chev was bought from a farmer’s shed in Gippsland (Vic) and has evolved into a legit bomb. Two-tone paint, airbags and wire wheels are complemented by imported Fleetline stainless trim, Fulton visor and swamp cooler. Full Commodore 202 running gear replaces the old Stovebolt six for reliable family cruising.

5. ’83 Buick hopper

This ’83 Buick was bought from a mate who was building it purely as a hopper.

“He’d had the body off the chassis, wrapped the frame and fitted a big-dollar hydraulic set-up. It’d jump 10 feet off the ground, but was too violent for a street car. I wanted it driveable, so spent a month of spare time tidying it up and getting everything working again.

“I’d not long finished it when another friend made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I’ve regretted it ever since and keep trying to buy it back.”

6. Wife Kylie’s HG sedan

Joel’s wife Kylie was keen for a toughie of her own, so they built this HG sedan from a bare shell.

A 454, turbo 400 and 9in diff were matched with minitubs, Wilwood brakes and full leather trim, including the baby seat.

“I got really keen for a ’64 Chev convertible, so kinda sold it without her telling her. One of her friends said she’d seen it on eBay, so I was in the doghouse for a fair while after that.”