We were bowled over by the response to his year’s Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse Young Street Machine of the Year, with stacks of high-quality entries flooding in. This made the task of narrowing the field down to 16 finalists tougher than ever!

The resulting list is a cracker, with some tough, traditional street machines rubbing shoulders with JDM weapons, cool Europeans and even a rotary. Now, it is your turn! Cast your vote at www.ysmoty.com and you’ll be in the running to win $3000 cash! And help make Street Machine history.

Riley Clatworthy
1979 Holden Commodore VB

“I bought the car in 2023 as a bare shell, and being around the old boy with cars, I wanted to build my own tough car. This VB came up for sale, and the unique factory fitted steel sunroof was the selling point. I saved every penny I could while doing an apprenticeship to build it, and from the start I never wanted to short cut it. I got the car painted, the holes welded up and the engine bay smoothed.

I then bought the 308 engine and made it a very healthy cranky 308 with all the fruit. It also has a fully manualised Trimatic, and then I bought a set of Enemies Racing wheels to finish it off. The entire car was built by my Dad and I in a shed at home, the only thing that was not done by us was the paint and panel due to not having the resources to do so. Originally, the car was built to be a tough sounding cruiser, and got out of hand quickly and turned into a bit of a stand out car. I’m proud to have a car to this standard at only 21.” Instagram: @clatworthy332

Anthony Crouch
1965 Ford Falcon XP ute

“This is my 1965 XP falcon ute. I entered last year in YSMOTY when the car was still in the build, with the hopes to make it to Summernats 38. By some miracle, my amazing partner and I did it. The car was totally built start to finish in a 19 week window by only myself and my partner whilst both working full time. This included panel and paint, tubbing the rear, engine assembly and everything in between – and I mean everything!

The only jobs outsourced on this car was the built C4 transmission, upholstery and the tailshaft. This is a true shed-built, home grown street machine built with every cent I’ve had to my name. It has a 347 Windsor, with Detroit Racing heads, a Lunati cam, SRP pistons and Scat bottom end. To get the car to sit as low as it does, it has had the entire rear cut out, and a Mcdonald Bros read clip installed. It has a parallel four link, with a nine-inch diff.

I recently ran it at Willowbank, and got an 11.4@118mph. The car has probably done 1000kms since being finished this year, mainly pub runs! I hope in future to get it out more. I used a heap of Hare & Forbes equipment to build this vehicle, including their MIG and TIG welders, their rollers and so on.”

Lachie Roberts
2000 Nissan Silvia S15

“I’ve had her for just under two years, and it was almost stock when I bought it with just a few mods under the bonnet. It was always my dream car growing up, and definitely a goal to get one when the time was right. I’ve always had a picture in my head of what I wanted the car to look like, and it’s crazy seeing it parked up in front of my house after all those years of dreaming.

It’s a Japanese import that was shipped to Australia in 2007. I’ve done a lot to the outside of the car to make it stand out, and I think that’s what makes it feel more like my own. I’ve done lip kits, spoiler, coilovers, wheels and so on to make the look of the car pop. It’s only got a few mods under the hood like intake, intercooler, exhaust and ECU.” Instagram: @15japs

Abby Bruce
1985 Holden Commodore VK

“Here is my 1985 VK Commodore Group A replica. My Dad built one with the same custom number plates when I was around 12 years old, and I fell in love. He unfortunately sold it a couple years later. That’s probably where my love for cars came from, and how I knew I wanted to be a mechanic. I bought it when I was a first year mechanic off Facebook Marketplace as a Berlina in Queensland for $1500, and made my Dad drive 15 hours straight to get it.

I started collecting parts from all over NSW, and saved up all the coin I could. I started building it from a bare shell at the start of 2025, and I decided to enter it into Street Machine Summernats 38, when there was only about seven months to go to the event. I built a 304, converted it to carby with a T5 ‘box behind it and a VL turbo diff with 4.11:1 gears. I made sure I had the Scheel Herringbone interior, and painted the dash in Cerulean Blue.

For my eighteenth birthday, my Dad found the plates again and bought them back. It was a GMHGPA 2.0, with the same running gear and interior . A 12 year old dream come true!” Instagram: @abbybbruce

Jonny Murgana
Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25-t

“Here is my Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25-t, which I bought when I was 19. At the time, it was not running and overall in very poor condition. I was quick to get it running and intended on just enjoying it as is for a few years – but oh, how the tables have turned!

These last few years have been non-stop spending long days and long nights cleaning the car up and upgrading it to where it is now. All could not have been done without the help of dad, Frank Murgana, and of course my older cousin Frank Marchese and all the boys from Dandy Engines. All their help and advice has helped shape this car to the incredible machine it is today. It has a fully built RB25, capable of 1000hp and currently safely running at 600hp. It’s equipped with a Fueltech FT550 ECU, with rolling antilag and two-step hooked up.

Whilst the motor was getting built, I decided the engine bay needed a re-spray. So, Dad and I took the challenge on ourselves. I soon carried out all body repairs myself, and wrapped the car in an immaculate paint-like Midnight Purple colour PPF. Most of the suspension arms have been upgraded with Hardrace and ZSS parts. The car is set up for drag racing, with Outlaw drag wheels with big 255/60 R15 tyres and skinny 17in front runners. I am about to undergo the process of having a roll cage fitted, which will finish off this amazing build. I believe this car is the perfect street, drag, circuit and show ready car.” Instagram: @r33rb_

Lacey Sines
1976 Holden HJ ute

“This is a HJ ute that I designed the whole look of, and built with my Dad. I learnt to weld and cut rust, plus panel and paint. Everything about this whole build I helped with, as it’s my car and I need to know how to fix it. It’s a purpose built burnout car, that’s still show-worthy and clean, as I like presentable cars.

The car has been in Street Machine as an Iron Maiden, and I recently went to Darwin for Gazzanats and entered the driving events.” Instagram: @lacey_s88

Jake Matheson
1974 Mazda RX-4

“Here is my Mazda RX-4, which has been a three and a half year build that’s been 95 per cent done by myself, with a couple good mates helping me with some bits of fabrication and laying the paint down. It started off as a shell, with a ladder bar rear end that I stripped right down.

For power, it consists of a Billet 13B engine built by me, with a big turbo, C4 auto and a nine-inch rear end. It has Wilwoods on all four corners, and the whole car is controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 and PD16 wired in a Millspec harness by me. There has been no shortcuts throughout this build, and lots of attention to detail throughout. Built to handle the streets, the track and everything else I can throw at it.” Instagram: @mathos.racing

Koby Wade
1989 BMW E30

“There is a huge story behind this car, when I was 12 my dad bought the car for me to learn to drive in and race in. We sadly went through a rough patch and sold the car to one of dads mates, it sat in his workshop for eight years. I bought the car back last year, and started going at the car building it to what I had visioned for it.

This E30 is two combined, a 318i and a 325i. It has a fully built motor, stroked out to 2.9L from its original 2.0L. A built gearbox and built diff. It has E36 M3 Evo front suspension and an E36 rear conversion, along with five stud to run bigger brakes.

It has a full BBS bodykit with an M3 touring wing. I have fully restored the interior, stripping the roll cage and putting in a full leather interior. The theme was black and white. My vision was to create a look like a BMW E30 M3 touring car.” Instagram: @itsstocke30

Declan Harcombe
1988 Holden Commodore VN wagon

“I bought this 1988 VN wagon about two years ago. It already had an LS conversion, but the car was very rough. With encouragement from my brother and close mates, the idea of building a VN SS Wagon—something Holden never built but definitely should have—became more than just an idea.

The biggest challenge was the body kit. Using a genuine VN SS rear lip, we created a one-of-a-kind moulded rear bar by modifying it to suit the wagon and welding the three-piece bumper into one. We found Statesman side skirts that were long enough to fit and finished it off with a genuine SS front lip.

The interior was another major part of the build. With the help of my dad—Trimmed by Dad—we sourced the correct materials, completely retrimmed the interior and fitted new carpet throughout. There isn’t a part of this car that hasn’t been touched.

The body was in poor condition, but with plenty of hard work from myself, my partner and some great mates, we brought it back to life. There was only one colour it could be—Atlas Grey. We also tidied the engine bay, turning the original slap-together LS conversion into something the car deserved.

The finishing touch was a set of Momo Star wheels, while a refurbished set of genuine SS wheels and a factory flat bonnet will complete the original Holden-inspired look. This build represents the support of my family and mates, and my vision of creating the VN SS wagon that Holden never built.” Instagram: @vnsswagn

Charley May Goldsmith
Ford Falcon BA ute

“MISBAVN is a project car built by my Dad, Jeremy, and I. Dad finished his car build of a 1TUFFVQ in 2024, and since then, I’ve been obsessed with being in the passenger seat of a burnout car. This sparked the search for my own car which we bought, just a stock BA Falcon Ute.

From there, my Dad built the back end himself, making the car what it is today. The car acts as a reminder that just because I’m a girl, my dad never limited me to the typical “girly” activities.” Instagram: @misbavn

Jordan Fawell
1980 Holden Gemini TE

“This is my 1980 Holden TE Gemini wagon. It’s taken us around two years to get the car to this stage, as it was in a very rough state. It was full of rust, bog and dodgy repairs. We decided to give it a crack and completed all the rust repairs, bodywork and paint ourselves, with help from a good painter I know – my Dad! The colour is BMW Marrakesh Brown Metallic. Exterior mods include a CDT-style front spoiler, ZZ/R Gemini bonnet vents, shaved rear end, tidied up engine bay, and a set of 15×7 Rota wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tyres.

Every steering and suspension component has been rebuilt or upgraded to bring it up to current standards, including an adjustable pan hard rod, lowered springs and shocks, polyurethane bushes all ‘round and upgraded front and rear sway bars – it handles like a go kart! The engine and driveline are all standard refreshed or rebuilt items, except for electronic ignition, a Weber carby, and custom extractors/exhaust that I made myself.

The interior boasts standard caramel colour seats to keep that period look, with custom black and flannel door cards, boot area carpet and roof lining done by me and my old man. My fiancé and I have been cruising the hell out of the little Gemini anywhere we can point it and have been loving every minute of it!” Instagram: @jordanfawell

Jack Francis
1979 Holden HZ ute

“This is my 1979 HZ ute Sandman mock up, with a 400ci small-block Chevy. It has a BDS manifold and 8/71 blower, with two QuickFuel Brawler 750cfm carbies. It runs a Powerglide auto with RTS bellhousing, and a nine-inch. It sits on Rod Shop IFS, Viking coil-overs in the front, with Gazzard Brothers split mono-leaf & traction bar kit in the rear. Spinners are Weld Alumastars 17×4.5 (f) and 15x10in (r), with 255/60 R15 rubber on the rear.” Instagram: @_jackfrancis

Jake Tsaikos
1988 Toyota Cressida

“I was working with Dad as a 16-year-old and saw this Cressida parked in front of a Coles shopping centre, so I left a note! The old fella Gary got back to me six months later saying I could buy the old girl. So. Mum dropped me off at Gary’s house, and I paid him a hard earned $500! I drove the car for a few years and learnt the ropes, including turbocharging the original motor.

That was too slow, so I bought a $300 Barra motor and the snow ball started. I ported the cylinder head and installed everything, fire ringed the motor and built it all myself, made my own engine mounts, trans mounts, rear axles, coil over mount plate brackets, rear adjustable arms, fuel system made all the lines myself from hard lines to PTFE lines, made my parachute and now I’m beginning the roll cage.

So far, I’ve gone 9.9@151mph on a pair of 10 year old 255 radials, I just managed to fit a 275/60 R15 under the car, so I’ll hopefully make some test passes soon! I built everything but the transmission and tail shaft, the ‘box done by DNL transmissions for a 2000hp-rated TH400.” Instagram: @jaketsaikos1

James Gazeas
1976 Toyota Celica

“This is my 1976 RA23 Toyota Celica with a twin turbo Cleveland V8. It has a Powerglide, nine-inch and tubs. I built the motor myself, set up the whole turbo system as well as all fabrication. It has a full rewire for the Fueltech FT600. I built a whole new fuel system, and I’m changing the whole car over to the new turbo setup from carby nitrous in three months to get it done and ready for Summernats as it was in the ICE ignition stand.”

Jack Agnell
1981 Toyota Corolla AE71

“This is my 1981 Toyota Corolla, powered by a turbocharged 4AGE and controlled by a Haltech ECU. This is the third Corolla I’ve owned. I bought it from a friend as a bare shell for $1,000 because I wanted to get properly into drifting. All of my mates were driving Corollas, and I wanted to be part of it but I also wanted to build something different. Instead of following the crowd and staying na, I decided to turbocharge a 4AGE from an MR2 and fit it into the car.

With help from a few friends we did all the work in my parents’ two car garage, I built the car from the ground up. Every night after work and every weekend for almost a year was spent turning the shell into the car I’d imagined. My goal was to have it finished in time for an event I’d always dreamed of having the car in, and finally getting it there made every late night and setback worth it. This Corolla taught me everything I know about building cars. It features a Toyota Tarago differential that I modified to fit the Corolla, paired with a Lexus IS200 gearbox behind the turbo 4AGE. It’s a mix of parts from different Toyota models, but the Haltech ECU ties it all together and gives the car the drivability of something much newer.

Once all the mechanical work was complete, a friend painted the car and added a custom flame design on the roof to give it a more personal touch. It’s more than just a drift car, it’s a reflection of the time, effort, and passion that went into building it, and it’s a car I’m incredibly proud to own and say I built it.” Instagram: @jacks_ae71

Luka Brix
1969 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback

“This is my first car, a 1969 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback. I bought it as a rolling shell off one of my Dad’s mates when I was 15, I’m now 17-years-old. It was supposed to be an easy and reasonably quick resto, but ended up being close to three years. I did about 80 per cent of the work myself, with the help of my Dad and a few friends. I built it on a budget, so I did as much as I could myself. Even the interior door cards I bead-rolled aluminium sheet and the carpet is cut up spotlight rugs.

We don’t really know the full history of the car, it was originally a US-spec car that someone at some point in time converted to RHD and brought over here. It’s a very rare factory three-speed auto. It is all original paint, that I spent a long time sanding back through to show the fading and patina.

As far as modifications go, it is reasonably stock, apart from it being lowered on some Porsche 911 Fuch wheels. It still has the little twin carb 1600cc engine in it, with a nice throaty exhaust. It’s an awesome car to daily and have fun with on the weekends with mates.” Instagram: @lukabazooka31