Mark Arnold
Ford XC Fairmont

“Here is our street-and-strip XC Fairmont, which I’m building with AFL superstar and fellow car nut Charlie Dixon!

We’re going a bit more old-school with this build, getting power from a stroked, 460-cube big-block Ford V8. We’re obviously going to do all the driveline to cop the power from that, but the idea is to keep the outside as close as possible to the same condition it is now.

The car may look rough, but underneath it actually has really solid bones, so it’s the perfect candidate for a build like this. It’ll be getting tubs to go with the nine-inch diff, with the idea of the build to showcase what the South Australian aftermarket automotive industry has to offer.

So far we’ve already got the support of Tuff Mounts, Adelaide Motorsport Fabrication and Dave Lee Race Engines to help with the build.

At the end of it, we’re aiming to have a streetable car we can use for things like Drag Challenge, as well as for our car events we’ve been putting on around Adelaide.”

Josh Oates
1957 Pontiac Super Chief

“This is an Australian-delivered 1957 Pontiac Super Chief that I’ve been building for quite a few years.

It originally ran a Pontiac 347 V8 and three-on-the-tree manual ’box, so back in 2017 we put in an LS1 and Turbo 400 just before my wedding, which it was a part of.

Since then, I’ve upgraded the engine to a forged and stroked 427-cube LS with a four-litre Whipple supercharger running 19psi and E85 fuel. It’s also had a full Series III Jaguar front suspension grafted in underneath, so it has rack-and-pinion power steering along with four-pot brakes.

I’ve decided to four-link the 93/4in rear end, and it’s airbagged on all four corners with an AccuAir e-Level system.”

Jarrett Scott
EH Holden

“This is my 1964 EH Holden Special sedan that I bought for my 18th birthday. I also got myself a donor car for a complete LS1 conversion for the EH, which I’m in the middle of doing.

As part of the conversion, I’ve mini-tubbed it so I can run the rear 15×8.5 Street Pro wheels, and it’s also got a Castlemaine Rod Shop chassis kit.

Up front is a Southern Chassis Works IFS, and it’s got a heap more goodies so far.

It’s always been a dream of mine to have a car I’ve built make it into Street Machine!”

Zac Torrisi
Holden VL Berlina

“This is my blown VL Berlina project. The engine is an LY6 iron-block LS with a K1 crank, Callies rods, CP Bullet pistons and 823 CNC-ported Higgins heads.

The blower is a TBS 8/71 topped with twin APD E85 carbies, sitting on a Shaun’s Custom Alloy tall blower manifold with a two-inch spacer. I’m aiming for around 700rwhp on 13-15psi.

The gearbox is a 1200hp Powerglide, while in the rear I’m currently making a custom nine-inch to help fit the 20×12 Simmons rims, which will be running 305-wide tyres.

The project is going really well so far, and I’m hoping to have it wrapped up soon.”

Terry Rasmussen
HQ Holden ute

“My HQ ute has come a long way, from rounding up sheep in the hills of Harcourt North to countless camping trips, collecting firewood, finding every back way home and a whole bunch of shenanigans.

But after all that, it sat in the backyard for over seven years before I decided it was time to restore her back to her former glory.

I chose to go down the all-original and factory-spec path, but I do plan on getting another HQ eventually and doing a modified build that I can have some proper fun with!”

Josh Lizza
1967 Chevy Camaro

“This is my 502-cube 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS. During lockdown, my dad and I decided that it was time for some more power and bigger tyres, so we took the car down to a local metal fabricator in Ferntree Gully in the hope of getting mini-tubs to fit the 295/55R15 tyres and some Weld V-Series rims to give the car strong street presence.

We ended up getting full round-shoulder tubs, with a flat boot floor and swage supports to help the fuel tank. We also had the tank remounted on chrome-moly supports.

The bottom and top chassis arms were mounted for a triangulated four-link set-up, which accompanies the nine-inch with billet 35-spline axles. An Enemies Racing Australia anti-roll bar was installed with new QA1 coil-overs mounted.

The ’Maro, as it’s affectionately known, was tow-trucked straight from the fabricator to Danko at Adicted Performance to switch out the old manual ’box and Holley double-pumper carby.

The 502 had been fitted to a four-speed Muncie when we first bought it, but Dad realised that a late-model 4L80E would be a better match for the big-block. The ’Maro is still at Adicted getting the 4L80E, along with an Aeroflow trans cooler and an Edelbrock Super Victor intake manifold with fuel injection installed.

The interior is also getting some attention, including a Haltech iC-7 digital dash and a B&M Stealth Pro Ratchet shifter. All of this will accompany the Haltech Elite 2500 ECU.”

Kevin Mottley
1969 Ford Capri

“My Coyote-swapped Mk1 Ford Capri has had over 600 hours of work to make it what it is today.

The car got a full rotisserie rebuild, including a rear tub job and a full rollcage. It now has a Yukon alloy nine-inch diff, with 15-inch Weld wheels wearing 295 rear tyres. In the middle of the driveline is a Reid Powerglide, but the real party piece is the supercharged Coyote V8 from an FG FPV.

Upgrades include an MFP blower snout, 10-groove pulley kit with a 15 per cent overdrive, 102mm throttlebody and E85 fuel. It also has FG Falcon brakes all ’round, and coil-overs with CalTracs bars in the back.”

Got a sweet ride that’s currently in the build? Send photos of it along with some details to: In The Build, Street Machine, Locked Bag 12, Oakleigh, Vic 3166 or email [email protected]. Please note: Send us copies of your prints as we are unable to return photos.