Jez Allin
HQ Holden ute

“Here’s my 1973 HQ Holden Belmont ute, which originally had a 202 and Trimatic. It’s now converted to a 308 with a four-speed. I’ve had the signwriting added to the doors for the extra patina effect.

“I’ve always had late-model Holden utes, including an early twin-turbo kit on a VU SS ute, but when my mum passed away, I wanted to get an HQ – she had one as one of her first cars when she moved to Australia, so I found this beauty!”

Steve Main
Holden LX Torana

“I bought our LX Torana hatch seven years ago as a roller and have been slowly building it since with my two boys, Bill and Harry, in between building a house and a business and the kids’ sporting commitments.

“From the outset, the build philosophy was to create a Torana as if it had rolled off the factory floor in the 90s.

“We wanted injection, a five-speed, four-wheel disc brakes, and bigger wheels – but no billet! It runs an Iron Lion stretched out to 383 cubes with ITBs, controlled by a Haltech. It has a full stainless exhaust, TKX five-speed manual, a BorgWarner diff, VN Group A disc brakes, and an original NOS ‘Fashion Pack’ interior.”

Riley Randolph
Ford XE Falcon

“Ever since I can remember, it’s always been Ford in my family, and thanks to my dad, I followed that path.

“I always told Dad from a young age that I would have the biggest and baddest cars, just like he did back in his heyday, so I saved and worked hard. Originally, I was going to buy an XF ute, but that fell through, and then this XE popped up.

“It’s a full granny-spec car, left untouched in a country barn since ’84, and I was stoked to get behind the wheel and call it my own.

“While she might be a grandma’s ideal car to drive to church on a Sunday, it won’t be like that for long. I’m going to restore this beauty to its former glory, really giving it that 80s street machine look, with a big motor and all the bells and whistles to go have a ball on the strip.”

Cameron Large
Holden WK Statesman

“This is my 2004 Holden WK Statesman, which I bought with absolutely nothing done to it.

“Now, it has a healthy LS1 with MAF-less tune and a full exhaust system, and has been lowered on Momo Star wheels.

“I’ve cleaned up the interior, and now it’s just a nice daily cruiser. The long-term plan is to drop a 6.0-litre in it, backed by a six-speed manual.”