WhichCar

Simon Major

Journalist

Simon Major Jpg

A custom panel van tragic from childhood, Simo’s car-loving DNA was further sharpened as an impressionable 1980s teen, immersing himself in the pioneering builds of Greg Carlson, Wayne Pagel, Rob Beauchamp and others in the pages of Street Machine. He went on to create a number of mainly Chrysler-based builds of his own, one of which – a Valiant police car – caught the eye of SM’s then-deputy editor Telfo in 2008, who offered him the opportunity to cover the next Nostalgia Drags for the mag. More than a decade on, Simo has become our resident modified-car historian, bringing to life a time when real men smoked Eagers, matching numbers were only important for the Lotto and a pair of shorts were, er, short.

1974 Ford XB Fairmont hardtop
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Howard Nessen's 1974 Ford XB Fairmont hardtop

After 41 years and the automotive adventure of a lifetime, Howard Nessen is finally ready to call his iconic XB hardtop 'done'

1975 Ford XB Falcon
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Sam Gauci’s tubbed 1975 Ford XB Falcon

Sam Gauci's take on this 1980s street machining icon still has all the good bits in the right places

VF Valiant hardtop
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The ‘joys’ of selling a car in the digital age - Blowin' Gaskets

Keyboard warriors can be par for the course when selling your car on social media

Lock Up movie review
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Lock Up (1989) - Ripper Car Movies

When you’re behind bars, all bets are off

Ford Vs Ferrari Jpg
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Ford v Ferrari (2019) - ripper car movies

They took the American dream for a ride

Mark Milliott Shed Jpg
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Mark Milliott's custom cars and hot rods - My Shed

Mark Milliott's cars might not win many trophies, but they sure get plenty of attention

More American Graffiti 1422 Jpg
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More American Graffiti (1979) - Ripper Car Movies

More laughs, more music, and most importantly, more car action

Studebaker Pickup Front Jpg
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Chopped 302 Cleveland-powered 1948 Studebaker M5 pick-up

A Studebaker body, Ford engine and bits from a VW might not sound like the recipe for a ride this smooth

Dragular Dragster 4 Jpg
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Home-built bare-metal 1932 Ford Roadster

Father and son team, Mark and Taylor Fry take home-built to a whole new level

Roadhouse 66 3 Jpg
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Roadhouse 66 (1984) - Ripper Car Movies

You can still get your kicks on Route 66

Chrysler Centura Jpg
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408-cube 1975 Chrysler KB Centura

Chris Carter has taken this compact econo-Chrysler and turned it into a street 'n' strip bruiser

Chrysler Vg Valiant Hardtop Onroad Jpg
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1970 Chrysler VG Valiant Hardtop - flashback

Love for a Valiant Hardtop gets a new bride to the church on time

Hot Rod Gang 2 Jpg
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Hot Rod Gang (1958) - ripper car movies

Crazy kids...living to a wild rock 'n' roll beat!

Black Dog 1422 6 Jpg
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Black Dog (1998) - ripper car movies

For a B-grade flick with a mostly B-grade cast and even B-grade distribution, Black Dog has without question the best trucking action you’ll ever see on film.

Herbie The Love Bug 2 Jpg
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The Love Bug (1968) - Ripper Car Movies

Herbie honks his way into your heart

Plymouth Coupe 2 Jpg
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Big-block pro street 1937 Plymouth coupe

Inspired by a father's memory and a love of pro street styling, Dean Wilson created the ultimate show-and-go Plymouth coupe

Bluey Hill Hj One Tonner 2 Jpg
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Bluey Hill's iconic blown HJ One Tonner returning with even more grunt

After a 25-year slumber, Bluey Hill's legendary 'Meeen & Grumpy' HJ One Tonner is on the verge of a triumphant return - and it'll be packing even more grunt

Aloha Bobby And Rose Camaro Jpg
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Aloha, Bobby and Rose (1975) - Ripper car movies

Two young lovers in a city of dreams

Last American Hero Jpg
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The Last American Hero (1973) - Ripper Car Movies

It took 20 years to find out who he was, and two laps to let the world know

Chrysler Engine Jpg
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418ci small-block Chrysler - Mill Of The Month

It's not unusual for gearheads to become obsessed by a model of car, or even a particular part. This longing could be for an HT Monaro or maybe a Trans Am front to fit to your panel van, but in Andrew ‘Macka’ McDonald’s case, it was for a pair of, er, cylinder heads.

3 Xy Freedom Roller 6 Jpg
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Coca-Cola/3XY Freedom Roller CF Bedford van - flashback

Let's return to that hallowed time when there were two cool meanings for the word 'flares' and you could win a custom van by slapping a sticker on your mum's 180B

The Devil At Your Heels Movie 3 Jpg
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The Devil At Your Heels (1981) - Ripper car movies

The story of a daredevil who wants to jump a mile

Mick Curren Jpg
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Mick Curren interview

More than three decades after Michael Curren's tough-as-nails 'Terminator' HQ Monaro graced the cover of Street Machine we chat with him about why the car made such a massive impact

Gumball Rally 6 Jpg
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The Gumball Rally (1976) - ripper car movies

A cross-country race for the ultimate prize - a gumball machine