No prep racing has gone gangbusters in Queensland in the last couple of years, paving the way for purpose built machines like Mark Tralau’s Chevy Malibu wagon. 

If you reckon this car looks familiar, then you may remember it from when it was racing in the US at Hot Rod Drag Week in the hands of the late Harry Haig’s son Corty, and their good friend Robby Abbott.

Main image: 44 Photography

“It’s actually a funny story as to how I got the car, Robby said I wouldn’t buy the car, and I called his bluff!” laughs Mark. “The deal was without an engine, but we went through the whole car and re-did everything anyway.”

We’ve profiled several of Mark’s cars and builds before, including his 1961 Chevy and sleeper UC Torana hatch. “I built the hatch as a street cruiser, and then it started turning into a race car,” he says. “So the Malibu is built to more to spec for racing to alleviate that stress from the UC.”

A new Dart big block has found a home in the Malibu, with a pair of Pulsar 88mm turbos. “On 5psi it made 1100rwhp, so it’s good for around 2500rwhp we reckon, but I don’t plan on going beyond 2000rwhp,” he says.

Behind that is a Turbo 400 Mark built himself, combined with a nine-inch and the choice of either 275 or 325 rubber, depending on the racing he’s doing. The car has been completed since Queensland Powercruise in September, and Mark has already got plenty of racing under his belt.

“We did Dragfest at Warwick, some no prep at QR during Powercruise and eighth-mile stuff at Lakeside,” he says. “We did a 5.1@140mph at Warwick on around 13psi.”

Mark will be taking the Malibu to Rare Spares Rockynats 5, 4-6 April 2025, contesting the awesome no-prep drags on Quay Street. “I’ve never raced there, and I know a few of the regular heavy hitters have, so the plan is just to take it as it comes – but I’m quietly confident,” he says.

You can grab tickets to Rockynats 5 here.