The unveils at Rockynats always have their own unique vibe compared to other events around the country and 2026 was no exception! 10 stunning builds we shown off to the public for the first time last night in front of a packed crowd in the Meguiar’s Pavillion.

2QUIK4U: XA COUPE

Brad Jenkins paid good coin for his dream XA Falcon coupe 16 years ago, only to find the coupe was much, much worse than expected under the skin. Being boilermaker by trade, Brad has some solid skills to fall back on, but had a steep learning curve to adapt them to what was needed to bring the XA back up to better-than-factory standards.

“The XA was just a base model 302 Falcon 500, with Wild Viloet paint and white trim, so we kept that colour scheme when it came time to paint it,” says Brad.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do the paint to the level required, so I contacted Pat at Pat’s Pro Restos to do the job and I couldn’t be happier. That was definitely when the intensity of the build ramped up.”

The panel and paint isn’t the only area of the build that got a little out of control. After purchasing a F1R ProCharger on eBay, Brad had the boys at Competition Engines in Victoria go to town on a 410ci Arrow-block-based Cleveland, with all the fruit including a water-air intercooler. The donk is backed by a Paul Rogers TH400 and a Race Products third member by Altra 9.

Brad has left nothing to chance underneath, with RRS power rack steering and RRS strut conversion up front and Motofab split mono leaves, ERA anti-roll bars and MotorFab split mono leaves out back.

Inside is a removable chrome moly cage and a stunning trim job by Muscle Car interiors that includes both race and road options for the front pews.

HELBENT: DRAG & DRIVE VC

We’ve see Grant Pollard getting around town and tracks over the years in his tough WB ute, but his new build is a massive step up on that! The two-tone VC is has the detail of a showcar, but with the grunt and streetability needed serious drag & drive competitor.

How serious? How about a 2000hp-capable Warspeed 388ci LS, with hidden twin-turbos and Nexus R5 control. The car is teched to run down to 8.0 and Grant is planning on doing his Drag Challenges with minimal fuss, running E85, a full exhaust, 275 radials, legal four-seater capabilities and even air conditioning. He’d even like to try some drag & drives in the US.

The stunning bodywork as done by Grant’s mate Russell at Weavers Autobody Restorations, with Grant handling the paint side.

CONFUZD: VW BEETLE MEETS KOMBI!

Allen White’s VW Beetle panel van is quite the custom, grafting a Kombi rear onto an unsuspecting Beetle. Bodywork includes the handmade roof, widened body kit, deleted Kombi side door, relocated tailgate bubble, lifted tailights and custom doorhandles.

Inside is a wonder of diamond stitching, with a pressed sheet metal parcel shelf, wild roof lining and padded dash delete.

While the 1600cc flat four is nothing special, Allen has ensured that the Beetle sits tough, with 2.5in drop spindles, front disc brake conversion and 17x10in B45 Simmons all ’round.

SPAZMS: LH TORANA

Jason Brisenden of the Fossil Fuelers already has a tough, Harrop-blown and LS-powered Torana in his fleet, but the desire for more lead him to build another car from scratch, with everything turned up to 11.

Decked out in an eyeball-searing hue of Suzuki Swift Champion Yellow, SPAZMS is as tidy as they come, with a detailed undercarriage and a beautifully minimalist interior that you don’t often see on cars destined for the eight-second zone.

Powering the beast is a Warspeed-built, 427ci Dart-based LS, topped by a Harrop 2650 blower and controlled by a Haltech R5. Getting the 1200rwhp to the ground is a reverse-pattern TH400, 5000rpm converter and a full floater 9in.

MIWAY: 1934 CHEVROLET SEDAN DELIVERY

Local legend Peter Harding has built more than a few hot rods in his time, but was never 100% happy with the results – until now. True to its name, MIWAY is as individualistic as they come, with Peter handling every aspect of the build bar the trim, including creating the fiberglass body!

The body was made using a local steel car to create the moulds, but Peter has put his own spin on the the concept, treating it to a chop and channel, converting the back to a windowless configuration and reversing the rear door opening.

Peter also steered away from the usual with the driveline, opting for a classic Holden 202, backed by a column-shift Trimatic and Jag IRS.

The custom trim was done by Aaron at All Stitched Up Upholstery, with the seating based on a Mazda ute. With plenty of roadtrips on the horizon towing a tear drop trailer, extra comforts include air conditioning and fast glass.

K-CODE XA FALCON HARDTOP

Peter & Kim Mifsud’s XA coupe was sold new by GR Motors in the Central Queensland town of Clermont, where it remained when Peter purchased it a decade ago. Being a K-Code car, the XA came with GT running gear, but without the attention-getting GT identifiers.

The concept for the build is a car that looks stock at a glance – even when you open the bonnet – but with some key improvements including a 427 stroker Cleveland, T56 Tremec gearbox, 9in with Truetrac and RRS rack and pinion conversion.

For the visuals, Peter and Kim stuck with the factory Wild Plum duco, but changed the saddle trim to off white and added a GS grill with spotlights, colour-coded bars, a front spoiler and rear louvers.

Even stock XA GTs did not fill out their guards very well, but Peter has solved that problem with 10in wide Globe rims wrapped in 295/50R BFGs out back and 8in Globes with 245/60Rs up front.

Credits: Paint and panel by Resident Restorations & Afterlife Customs; interior by Lea McCarrol, wiring, fab and assembly by Cal’s Garage and engine build by Teuma Performance & Mechanical.

SIXTY5: 1965 MUSTANG FASTBACK

Anton Duval of Muscle Car Restorations is no stranger to a Rockynats unveil, but the SIXTY5 Mustang he unveiled last night had a rockier road than most, as we detailed here.

In short, the ’65 was a US import that fell far short of the owner’s expectations when it arrived in Oz. How far short? Let’s just say the seatbelts were fastened onto the roof skin in silicone!

The solution was to strip the car to its jocks, unpick most of the panels and put things to rights. It was a massive build, so seeing the finished result for the first time was a thrill for all involved. The BMW Tanzanite Blue sets a classy theme for the car, which flows through into Anton’s signature attention to detail – not just for fit and finish, but for how nice the car is to drive and live with.

BAD BULL!

We don’t see too many Lamborghini’s at unveil ceremonies, at least not in Australia! Craig Barrass’s 2004 Gallardo might break that trend, though! While the mechanical upgrades are limited to a titanium exhaust, there are a stack of mods to just about everything else.

Inside is a complete custom retrim in Alcantara with Nero Green highlighting. Anything not trimmed in Alcantara is probably carbon fibre! Other goodies include LED strip lighting, custom head unit and C&C machined speaker covers.

The engine bay has also copped a birthday, with colour coding to made the neon green brake calipers, with more LED lights, concealed wiring and carbon fibre intakes.

JOKER

If we weren’t expecting a Lambo at the unveils, we were floored to see a twin-supercharged, big-block trike! What we are looking at is a Boss Hoss Sierra, powered by a 502ci big block that is assisted by twin centrifugal superchargers and Holley Sniper EFI. Shifting duties are handled by a Powerglide.

Owner Gary Gibons imported the bike two years ago, stripped it down and went to town on a killer Joker-themed custom paint job that is a riot of fuchsia and lime green.

SANTA MONICA

Our final unveil was Luke Van Twest’s 2004 FLHR Road King Custom. The bike features Air Ride front and rear, with a modified swingarm and stretched, reshaped and repositioned front and rear guards to lay frame. Rims are DNA Cali spokes measuring 21in front and 16in rear with whitewall rubber.

The list of mechanical mods is vast, but include mild engine mods, Arlen Ness hidden axel forks, a hydraulic clutch conversion, Performance Machine twin 4-pot chrome brake calipers and Steady Custom Cycles Beach Bars with internal wiring, clutch and brake lines.

The bike’s theme is 50s Santa Monica pier, with wild pink flake paint, engraved chrome covers and exquisite custom seat pan and trim.