WE FOLLOWED the build of Nathan Borg’s stunning HDT LE VL Commodore earlier this year, as the guys at MPW Performance transformed it into a twin-turbo 440ci LS-powered monster. Nathan’s last big build, a bright red Datsun ute dubbed HRDWRK, took out the Grand Champion gong at Street Machine Summernats 28, and his VL build is no less extravagant.

After Adam Rogash and Luke Foley from MPW finished Adam’s own ALLSHOW seven-second VK Brocky tribute in September last year, they got stuck into Nathan’s genuine HDT LE, giving it a similar treatment. Powerhouse Engines built up a 440ci LS Next motor as per ALLSHOW specs, McDonald Brothers Racing made up a tubular chrome-moly front end, and MPW got stuck into taking the car from a roller to a turnkey driver.

As with Adam’s car, the VL runs twin Turbonetics 75/75 puffers, a Plazmaman intercooler and dual-injector billet intake manifold, all the Turbosmart gear, Powerglide trans and a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU. There are a few choice improvements here and there that the boys learnt from building Adam’s car.

Just a couple of months ago the car left MPW having made over 1000rwhp on the dyno, and was sent back to Nathan in Sydney for him to enjoy.

Nathan had the car at Sydney Dragway last weekend to give it its first few shakedown passes, with some really impressive results. On the car’s first-ever run down the quarter it went straight into the eights, with an 8.76@165mph on a very soft tune. Nathan brought it around for a second run with a few more pounds of boost dialled up, and she went 8.17@171mph, getting off it early after a couple of pedals in the top end. It’s only a matter of time until we see this thing in the sevens.