Each Meguiar’s MotorEx, a car with engineering prowess that stands out from the rest is awarded the Laurie Starling Engineering Excellence award. At MotorEx 2026, that accolade was bestowed upon Robi Fekete and the Fekete Fabrications 1970 Ford F100 pre-runner.

The truck is the first build of its kind in Australia, publicly displayed for the first time in completed form as part of the Shannons Unveil earlier today here at Meguiar’s MotorEx.

Not be confused with the Laurie Starling Memorial Scholarship given out at our SMOTY VIP party at Summernats every year, the Laurie Starling Engineering Excellence award is aimed at honouring Laurie’s innovative style of car modification.

Rob’s F100 needs to be seen in person to fully soak in the level of detail and fabrication that has gone into it. Although still a 1970 F100 in name, the fully complied, engineered and registered truck is well beyond a 1970s farm truck.

“As well as taking inspiration from American pre runner-style trucks, I wanted this build to really push the limits of what’s legally possible here in Australia, showcasing that to the industry,” says Robi.

Running a fine-tooth comb through the engineering legislation for Victoria, Robi consulted with his engineer throughout the entire process as he pieced together the F100. “It’s challenging, but in a good way,” he says. “Understanding the rules is key. The new chassis replacement rules in Victoria that came when I started the build are what allowed me to keep it a 1970 F100, rather than an Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV).

Robi built the new chassis himself, as well as all the arms and pickup points to suit the trick Fox Racing offroad suspension. The car is engineered for 40-inch tyres, but is photographed with 39-inch rubber.

For the driveline, a fully forged and dry-sumped Ford Coyote V8 takes boost from an Edelbrock blower, all controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5. A Tremec T56 Magnum and Fekete custom fabricated nine-inch are tasked with taking that shove, with the F100 running as a rear-wheel drive.

“The last week-and-a bit has been a whirlwind, from getting it roadworthied and registered to getting it down here; it’s been surreal,” says Robi. “Now that’s done, we can take it back home, finish off the final bits and really start driving and testing it.”

Along with the F100, Robi also unveiled a customer’s Chevy 3100 Apache truck, worthy in its own right of winning the Engineering Excellence Award. Converted to a unibody as part of the build, it uses an LSA with the blower removed, and induction now coming from a pair of turbos under the tub. The chassis is another bespoke Fekete Fabrications creation, and just like the F100, it’s also fully complied, engineered and registered in the state of Victoria.