GREG Rowley’s XT Fairmont has an interesting history a drag racer back in the eighties when it ran a 302 on nitrous.

“I BOUGHT this car when I was 21 and have owned it for 19 years now. Back in the late 80s, Ballarat panel beater Debbie Osborn built it for drag racing on the eighth-mile. It ran a 302 on nitrous before she sold it; I found it on the last owner’s farm in Balliang and paid $2700 for it.

“I stripped it in 2013 for a freshen-up, and four years and nine month later, it was finished. I did everything myself except for the motor and trans. I enlarged the fuel tank, raised the rear inner guards to get a lower stance, and fabricated a new set of torque boxes to strengthen the chassis.

“The motor is a 427 Windsor Dart SP block with an Ohio crankshaft and rods, Cam Motion solid-roller cam, Crane lifters and AFR Renegade Comp heads, topped by a Victor Jr manifold and 950 BTE carby. It puts out 611hp and 590ft-lb.

“It’s backed by a C10 auto with a 4000rpm BTE stall converter – full-manual reverse pattern and still column-shift. The shortened nine-inch runs Mark Williams 31-spline axles and a Truetrac centre with 3.5:1 Motive gears. The interior is original Parchment vinyl except for the custom gauge pod I made.

“Thanks to Brian from Western Street Trim and Turk from Volkswagen Spares.”