The covers are set to come off 25 brand-new rides at 7.30pm, Thursday 2 January at Exhibition Park in Canberra with the Meguiar’s Great Uncover. Some of debutants are already well-finished while others will be thrashed on all through the Christmas break.

JEREMY & ROB GULJAS, HG HOLDEN

One that fits into the latter category are Jeremy and Rob Guljas from Automotive Creations in Geelong, who are confident of having this tough HG Holden ready in time.

The HG isn’t quite as wild at the twin-turbo Impala they debuted in-the-build at MotorEx earlier this year, but it will be well worth a close look if you are down in Canberra for the Nats.

PRO FLO PERFORMACE, XW FALCON UTE

The team for Pro Flo Performance always have some wild cars ready for the Great Uncover and this year is no different. One car we’ve been waiting to finished is this tough-as-nails XW Falcon ute.

With 22×12 inch rear rims, stout twin-turbo SBF power and more sheetmetal work than you can poke a welding stick at, it will be sure to join the pantheon of Pro Flow-built greats.

ANDRE BROADHEAD, HJ GTS

Originally featured in SM back in June 2020, this genuine HJ GTS is now owned by Andre Broadhead and has been fully rebuilt over the last 3.5 years with a 1225hp Harrop 2650-blown 427ci LS, radius tubs and four-link from Pro Flo Performance. Down Town Kustoms in Taree redid all the bodywork to get it millimetre perfect, along with handling a full colour change to a custom metallic brown. Mick Carter took on retrimming the interior to a stock-themed cabin with hidden smarts like a custom 3D-printed dash housing Speedhut gauges, one-piece hoodlining, and full-length console. Wheels are billet Intros measuring 19x8in and 20X10in out back, while brakes are Brembo 6-pot front and 4-pot rears.

MATT SMOORS VL COMMODORE

Matt Smoor’s VK (pictured below) was the first-ever cover car for our LSX Tuner series in 2014. The Magnuson-blown VK an awesome genuine street car, but his new VL build a whole new ballgame. We’re talking about a high-end drag and drive build that Matt hopes will run in the sixes!

“We wanted to unveil the VL because it’s a little too nice to ruin it straight away, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But, on Sunday I’m pushing it to the outside of the hall, we’re putting fuel in it and we’re driving it.”

CRAIG GOODSHAW, 1969 CHEV CAMARO RS/SS

Purchased 12 years ago as an abandoned race car project, Craig’s genuine RS/SS Camaro now boasts a 502-cube rat motor topped by a 2.3-litre Whipple blower that draws through the original Cowl Induction bonnet. A full SpeedTech coil-over front subframe replaces the spindly bow-tie parts, while a SpeedTech torque-arm lives out back and brakes are giant C6 Z06 Corvette disc units. “My wife has a ’67 Camaro RS/SS, which is why I went RS/SS with mine, and she doesn’t let me drive her car very often,” laughs Craig. “I can’t wait to do a couple of shows with it and then put it on the track.” 

 PAUL BUTTIGIEG, 1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR

Paul Buttigieg’s ’55 Chevy is a loud, low and luscious throwback to 80s Pro Street builds. Forget the late-model LS, Paul’s heavy Chevy packs a monstrous 502ci big-block rat motor up front, with EFI to improve its manners. Behind the 8.2-litre powerhouse the Western Street and Custom-built brawler rocks the traditional drivetrain of a TH400 and nine-inch diff, which has been heavily narrowed to fit those giant 15×16.5in Weld V-series rear wheels. The four-year build is engineered as Paul intends to put plenty of “street” in Pro Street, despite the smoothed and detailed undercarriage. 

CHRIS SYMEOU, 1971 VG VALIANT

Bringing the Hot Mustard spice to the Elite hall is Chris Symeou’s ’71 VG hardtop Valiant. Originally a special-order 770, the restomod was in a sad state when Chris found it seven years ago. “It’s been off the road since the early 80s and it went through various hands, and then became a parts car so, when I got it, it was a basket case,” Chris says. The original 245ci Hemi six packs hidden EFI courtesy of a Haltech ECU, while the electric A/C and power steer modernise the car while it appears like a stock restoration. “I’ve always been a Holden nut but the first family car I remember was a VF Valiant,” says Chris.