From the Desk
SO, BY NOW YOU’VE PROBABLY CHECKED OUT THE COOL COVER –OR SHOULD I SAY COVERS!
So, what do you think about the multi-car, video front cover? Pretty cool, huh? It’s a first for us, and after spending too much time with Mr Google searching for others, I can confidently say, we may be the first online magazine to unleash a video front cover! Ever! And, it won’t be the last, I can assure you of that. I have some ideas for many more video covers to come. Watch this space! Now to watch others follow my lead…yet again! It’s a Killer Rides thing and it’s what sets us apart from the others.
Have you ever been involved in a car club? My first foray into the car scene was when my brother formed the South Coast Street Modifieds – cool name, don’t you think? I was in Year 10 at school and from that point on, I was hooked. Over the following years, we had formed a few different clubs until we set up Wollongong Street Machines, or should I say, the Club of the Year winning, Wollongong Street Machines. That club won many awards at events and through local Council etc and held many charity events including our local show that regularly attracted in excess of 200-plus cars each year. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and the Club is now defunct, though I do have copies of every newsletter we produced over the years that I can look back on and reminisce. We shared some amazing times as a group and I made some life-long friends that I still stay in regular contact with all these years later.
I still believe that the scene needs car clubs for growth, but I also understand that with the restraints of the modern world, finding the time to get to meetings, clubs runs and the like is getting harder all the time. There are certain clubs that you can join to find out about what’s happening in the scene that don’t require a commitment to attend a number of meetings and events before your membership is valid, you just need to find the one that is right for you. And if you can’t, remember that Killer Rides is an online car community too, even more so with the formation of Club Killer Rides! More on that next month…
See you on the street,
WHAT’S HAPPENING
KILLER RIDES ROAD TRIP IS GO!
The dates are locked in, the cruise route has been sorted and the area’s for displays are waiting for us to arrive! All we need now is you!
DAY ONE - THURSDAY OCT 23RD
START - Wollongong
LUNCH - Goulburn
OVERNIGHT - Canberra
DAY TWO - FRIDAY OCT 24TH
START - Canberra
LUNCH - Junee
OVERNIGHT - Narrandera
DAY THREE - SATURDAY OCT 25TH
START - Narrandera
LUNCH - Wagga Wagga
OVERNIGHT & FINISH - Albury
There will be lots of photo opportunities along the cruise route with many cool places travelled through, instead of just hitting the freeways. Every entrant will get detailed maos of where we are heading, what there is to see as well as a list of service stations etc. Each overnight stop will see the cars on display for the general public to enjoy.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE PART OF THE FIRST KILLER RIDES ROAD TRIP? GO TO WWW.KILLERRIDES.COM.AU FOR DETAILS!
CLICK THE LINKS!
If you’re new to the Killer Rides experience, you may have noticed that when you turn a page, some sections will breifly light up blue. This shows you that the logo, photo, website or Advertisement is live and clickable. Do yourself a favour and take the time to click on these to check out the website, catalogue, video or social media page. Likewise, every photo on the contents page is active and when clicked, will take you directly to that feature within the magazine. It’s all a part of what makes Killer Rides interactive.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
SUPER ROD MAGAZINE TO RETURN
It’s been too long since Killer Rides sister magazine, Super Rod was published, and I’m happy to say that the title will make a return very soon. Super Rod will be focussed purely on Hot Rod’s and Customs. That means no muscle cars, no classic Chevs unless its a full-tilt, true custom car. You can count on a variety of styles, models and even video contant along with great event coverage from around Australia and across the globe! To keep up with all the Super Rod happenings, jump onto the Killer Rides website - where you can read the previous issues, and make sure you go to and like the Super Rod Facebook page at; https://www.facebook.com/superrod51
WHAT’S HAPPENING KILLER Video
INDEPTH LOOK AT KINDIG’S ‘TWELVE-AIR’
Video By 247 Car Show
COVER UP YOUR NUMBER PLATES WITH KILLER RIDES!
There’s been a lot of concern about having your number plates exposed at events and when people post photo’s of your car on show. So to help take that fear away, we now have Killer Rides covers available that you can simply stick over your cars plates when at events. Made from sturdy cardboard, these are the ideal way to keep your plates from being plastered all over the internet. And the best part, you’ll be able to get these for free! I’ll have them with me, so if you see me at an event, hit me up for a set!
CADIMINO – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!
How cool is this custom ’59 Cadillac? The perfect mix between luxurious 50’s cruiser and oh-so-cool hauler, there’s been a huge amount of metal work performed on this Caddy before having litres of candy red paint laid down. The quality of the paint in the tray makes me think it will never have anything loaded in the back, but it’s a great idea none the less…
7PLUS EXTEND THEIR COMMITMENT TO DRAG RACING
The National Drag Racing Championship (NRDC) have announced an ongoing commitment by the Seven Network to broadcast all six rounds of Drag Racing free to air via their 7PLUS platform. The deal will see Drag Racing delivered to audiences around Australia for at least the next two-years after the Network agreed to continue their partnership with the NDRC. Congrats to NDRC Promoters Andy Lopez and Nathan Prendegast for the hard work behind the scenes to get all levels of Drag Racing into Australian homes on a regular basis. Let’s all show our support to keep the ratings high for 7PLUS to keep promoting Drag Racing in Australia!
MORGAN & WACKER HARLEY DAVIDSON
OPENS IN SYDNEY
Morgan & Wacker have been part of the Harley Davidson family since the very early days of the brand being part of Australia’s motorcycling history. Primarily based in Queensland, the company have recently opened a stote in Sydney on Parramatta Rd in Auburn and recently held their official Open Day which incorporated a Bike Show, new models on display and lots of specials to be had in store to mark the celebration.
CHECK OUT OUR
GOT SOMETHING IN THE BUILD?
WE WANT TO SEE IT!
Everyone loves to check out new cars in the build, that’s why I have implemented a section at Killer Rides Live so people car see just how much work goes into creating the final masterpiece. Its also one of the most popular sections in the magazine too! So if you’re currently up to your elbows in a new project, send me some pics and info to paul@ killerrides.com.au
HAVE YOUR SAY
Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerride.com.au or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page.
EARLY LEAVERS
Hi Paul,
I’m with Mark in regards to people leaving events after an hour or so. It gets damn annoying when you pack the family into the car, drive a fair distance, only to see a bunch of cars on their way out of the venue. Bring back the good old days, long before Cars and Coffee meets dominated the scene, and a time when going to a car show, run by a car club, was a fun day out for all involved. Now, with the family enjoying my passion for the car scene, it’s hard to make the early starts for the Cars and Coffee meets and when we do try, by the time we get there, most of the cars are long gone. Please, please, someone bring back the good old days of cars shows that ran all day!
Darryl J – Sans Souci, NSW
EARLY LEAVERS – THE OTHER SIDE
G’day Paul, I know there’s lots of people who don’t like the everpopular Cars and Coffee meets, but as a busy car enthusiast, these are ideal for me and most of my mates. Every Sunday morning, we can get our cars out, meet at the local servo and all cruise together to a crowded car meet. For me, it’s a social outing. Due to work, I don’t get to see my car mates during the week, so to spend a couple of hours with them in our cars is ideal for us. Most of the time, I’m home to do the family thing (they aren’t really into car shows that much) for the rest of the day. And, the car gets used every weekend! I’m happy with the way things have turned out. Great mag, love your work!
Aaron H – Penrith, NSW
You’re never going to please every one I guess. At least there’s plenty to choose from especially now with the days getting longer and the weather becoming warmer. It’s going to be a busy few months ahead for sure.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO DUBBO
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the efforts you go to, to bring us cool coverage of great events, just like you did in this issue (#68) on the Dubbo Motorfest. I too ventured out there to have a look after hearing great things about the first event in 2023. Like you, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount (and quality) of the cars and bikes on show. For a one-day event, everyone put in a huge effort to make it happen. My family and I spent a full day at the show, taking it a vast variety of vehicles, lots of traders and good quality food. It really was a great show. Killer Rides’ feature will no doubt help the event grow in 2025 and I’ll definitely be heading there with my HQ Ute if I can get it done in time. Again, thanks for all you do for the car scene. Love the mag!
Tony L – Lithgow, NSW.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your kind words. Kathy and I spend a lot of time in the car travelling to events all over the country to fill the pages of Killer Rides. I’m very fortunate to have Kathy with me to help out and keep me company on the often long drives to events like Dubbo. We had a ball and can’t wait to head back in 2025. Which by the way, is set to happen on Saturday, Aug 30th. Good luck with the Ute. Hope to see it there…
PRO-STREET PERFECTION
G’day Paul,
Love seeing all the tough Pro-Street stuff you have in Killer Rides. Case in point the feature on the Indy Pro-Street Invasion in the USA last issue. I hadn’t heard about that event before and after googling the event (as you do!), I’ve managed to come across lots of other cool Pro-Street content, including some amazing videos. It still amazes me what the guys in the US can get registered as a street car! I wish those regulations were global!
Michael D – Sale, VIC
Hi Michael,
It’s well documented that I’m a big fan of Pro-Street in any and every form. I’m lucky that our good mate Greg Ball was heading to the Pro-Street Invasion and sent back some cool pics for me to do a feature with. I definitely agree with how relaxed the rules are regarding engine hardware, wheel tubs and cages over there. It will never happen here, but I guess we can still dream – or run the risk…lol.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CAR SCENE
Hi Paul,
It’s so great to see some South Australian cars being featured in Killer Rides. I’ve travelled to Adelaide many times for work and last year, managed to time my visit perfectly with the Extreme Auto Expo. What a great event and the cars on show both inside and outside were outstanding. The style and attitude of the cars are amazing and everything seems to be tubbed, have a massive engine and above all else, are street driven! Everyone was really friendly too, which made it even better. Please keep the tough Adelaide cars coming!
Todd G – Beenleigh, QLD
Hi Todd, Yep, Adelaide has some of the toughest cars in the country.
And thanks to the efforts of Joe Crispin, I’ve been able to feature some of them, including the 1000hp, big blocked and tubbed HQ Coupe in this issue. Keep an eye on future issues too, as Joe has secured some very tough, very cool SA street cars!
COMING ATTRACTIONS
DOUBLE TAKE
I’d known about Chris’ coupe for some time, but it was until we arrived at the Dubbo Motorfest that I got to see it in all its bare metal glory. Parked alongside some much shinier rides, the all-steel Hot Rod got its fair share of attention from both entrants and spectators during the course of the day.
BRAKES
The twin blower set-up may draw you in initially, but a closer inspection reveals just how good Chris and Nicki Seton’s ’35 Chev Coupe is going to be.
CUSTOM BENCH SEAT MINIMAL GAUGES TILT COLUMN
BOXED ORIGINAL CHASSIS
NARROWED TYPE 3 JAG FRONT
AIRBAG SUSPENSION
WHIPPLE BLOWERS
CUSTOM GRILLE
The first thing you notice, apart from the raw Chev body, were the dual blowers tucked into the Chev’s relatively small engine compartment. Under the twin Whipple superchargers and custom fuel injection with 175mm throttle body sits a 540-cube, Big M Dart block Chev with RHS heads, a Weiand blower manifold with no less than eight 1500cc injectors controlling the Altronic ignition system. Even in aspirated form, that size fat-block Chev engine will give the ’35 plenty of power, but when you add all the fruit as Chris has, it’s a whole new ball game! Backing the engine is a Hugh’s prepped Powerglide that sends the power rearward to the braced and four-bar 9-inch diff with 4.11-gears, an ARB air-locker and a Watt’s link from Paul Kelly. Other underside upgrades to the boxed original chassis include a narrowed Type 3 Jag front end, ED Falcon rear brakes and airbags all round to get that ride height just right.
Body wise, the original ’35 Chev coupe shell has been chopped a full 5-inches and now looks perfect. It’s also been ‘pancaked’ to remove the bulge in the top. Scotty Lane at Hot Rod Lane in Orange looked after the body, adding a custom stainless-steel grille and hand-making the doors to resemble American-spec ’34 Chev items. The boot is actually a ‘dickie seat’ and there’s a Rootlieb aluminium hood and steel side skirts. Once the body work is completed, it will be coated in the new Toyota Dark Blue with ghost flames.
Body wise, the original ’35 Chev coupe shell has been chopped a full 5-inches and now looks perfect.
Inside, there’s not too much to show right now, except for the custom bench seat that has been covered by Wayne at Street Trim in Ostrich skin. The dash now holds just two combination gauges with a billet tilt steering column and flamed wheel and electric windows already installed. With a couple of cars on the go at the moment, work has been shared between them, but one thing is for sure, once this ’35 Chev will be one worth waiting for!
MAKING IT
TOUGH!
With a couple of XY’s and a project XD in the garage, David Baldacchino wanted an XT series Falcon that would see both street and strip duties!
David picked up the XT from nearby Smithfield in Sydney, in 2018 with a plan in mind to have his tough street Falcon project ready to be unleashed at Summernats two years later. Anyone that has ever undertaken even a mild street car build, will know that two years isn’t a long time to construct a custom car, let alone one that would feature show car fit and finish with a view to hit the quarter mile in anger not long after. Dave however, took on the task regardless, getting the right people involved to get the project completed within the time frame. The body was in reasonable condition in the beginning of the build, but Dave had pllans to transform this classic into a tough
race machine. Jeff and Pat McCarter at Western Street & Custom handled both the body and paint duties. Before the new colour could be added, the body was subjected to a set of mini-tubs, chassis connectors as well as having the strut towers notched to make more room for the planned engine combo. Externally, the biggest change made is the bonnet scoop. With the body work done, the custom blue PPG paint was laid over the smoothed-out body giving the Falcon a look that’s hard to ignore, especially with the orange stripe across the bottom of the doors! When it’s time to hit the track, Dave bolts on the all-important parachute to help pull the XT up a little faster after a run!
David Baldacchino
Moving to the interior makeover, Dave knew the Falcon was to have two separate lives – one for the street and one for the strip, and remodelled the interior space accordingly. Changing up from street to race is as simple as removing the custom drivers bucket seat and replacing it with a lightweight race item complete with harness. Dave also bolts in the twin nitrous bottles that sit behind the passenger seat when needed.
But then the world went into meltdown with Covid shutting down everything and Dave’s newly completed mega Falcon sat idle in the garage waiting for the day when it would cruise again!
The full cage is a permanent fixture and features padding for regular street use. Anthony and Jeff Sultana took care of covering the seats and door trims in a combination of black leather with orange stitching to complement the orange stripe that also now runs along the bottom of the body-coloured, custom AutoMeter filled dash. A fabricated centre console houses the race-spec shifter and necessary switches and buttons.
Right from the outset, the plan was to add lots of horsepower under the XT’s bonnet, and to do that, Dave enlisted Tristan Triccas at T-Rex Racing Engines to piece together a tough-asnails Windsor small block. Starting with a Dart Iron Eagle block, Tricky added a rotating system comprising of a Crower billet crank and Ultra HP rods along with JE forged pistons wrapped in JE Napier pro-street rings. The cam of choice is a Bullet 55mm roller item matched with Morel Black Mamba lifters. A Mellings oil-pump and ASR sump complete the bottom end build. Tricky then started on the CHI 3V Pro heads, fitting them with Ferrea vales and PSI springs before bolting them into place. A matching intake soon joined the heads and holds a single, 1150cfm Pro-System carb and 450hp Wilson plate nitrous kit. On the hub dyno, the now 445-cube small block produced 705hp in aspirated form, and 1030 with the gas turned on! Backing the engine is a Shiftright Transmission built Turbo 400 – yes you read that right, a Chev gearbox! Built to withstand all the power (and more!) the box features a Dominator converter with a stall speed of 5000rpm for the nitrous setup and 6500rpm when the bottles are left at home. That’s pretty serious stuff! As you’d expect, the rear-end is all Ford with the tough 9-inch diff built by Con Constantinou at Pro-Street Metalcraft.
The Falcon’s aging steering, suspension and brake system have been given the heave-ho to make way for a full RRS makeover including rack and pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes along with custom front and rear springs, making the XT steer, handle and brake more like a late model Ford! Dave also has two sets of wheels and tyres too. When cruising the street, the Falcon wears 17-inch Weld Racing wheels with 215 and 305 rubber for that ever-popular Pro-Street look. But when it’s on the start line, you’ll find 15x5 ad 15x10 Welds fitted up with appropriate sized, sticky race rubber to get the job done.
With the help of family and friends, Dave made the deadline for the Summernats and scored a spot in the Top 60 pavilion to unveil the Falcon in front of a massive crowd, making the push to have it finished that much more rewarding. But then the world went into meltdown with Covid shutting down everything and Dave’s newly completed mega Falcon sat idle in the garage waiting for the day when it would cruise again! It took a little longer than he had liked to get the Falcon on the track, but when it did, it went deep into the 9’s without the gas being armed. And as this magazine went live, the team were heading back out to a private test day to give the Falcon all it has with the bottles firmly in place. The goal is to drive through the beams in mid-low 8-seconds. We’ll keep you posted how that all goes. But its not just on the street and track where this Falcon excels, it’s also impressed the show judges too taking home a Top 20 and 3rd Elite Body Style award at the Summernats on debut as well as Cars Under The Stars Top 10, and Best Street Machine Runner-Up at Killer Rides Live #6 earlier this year. Dave’s XT really is an all-rounder!
On the hub dyno, the now 445-cube small block produced 705hp in aspirated form, and 1030 with the gas turned on!
OWNER: DAVID BALDACCHINO
VEHICLE: 1968 XT FALCON
ENGINE: 445CI WINDSOR BUILT BY T-REX RACING ENGINES, DART IRON EGAGLE BLOCK, CROWER 4340 BILLET CRANK, CROWER ULTRA HP RODS, JE FORGED PISTONS, JE NAPIER PRO STEEL RINGS, BULLET 55MM ROLLER CAM, MOREL BLACK MAMBA LIFTERS, KING/ CLEVITE BEARINGS, JET ENGINEERING PUSHRODS, MELLINGS OIL PUMP, HOLLEY DOMINATOR EFI FUEL PUMP, ICE IGNITION, ASR CUSTOM SUMP, CHI 3V PRO HEADS, FERREA 2.2/1.67 VALVES, PSI 1259 RML VALVE SPRINGS, CHI DOMI-PRO INTAKE, PRO-SYSTEM 1150 CARB, WILSON 450HP NITROUS KIT.
POWER: 930 N/A (ENGINE) – 705 N/A (HUB DYNO) 1030 WITH NITROUS (HUB DYNO)
TRANS: TURBO 400 BUILT BY SHIFTRIGHT TRANSMISSIONS, JW BELLHOUSING, DOMINATOR CONVERTER – 5000 STALL (NITROUS), 6500 STALL (N.A)
UNDERSIDE: MINITUBS, CHASSIS CONNECTORS, 9-INCH DIFF BY PRO-STREET METALCRAFT, CUSTOM SPRINGS, RRS RACK & PINION STEERING, RRS DISC BRAKES, RRS CALIPERS, RRS MASTER CYLINDER.
COLOUR: CUSTOM PPG BLUE
WHEELS: 15X5 & 15X10 WELD WHEELS – 275/60 HOOSIER (RACE) – 17X7 & 17X12 WELD – 215/45 & 305/45 MICKEY THOMPSON (STREET)
THANKS TO: MY WIFE RITA, MY CHILDREN CHARLENE, TANIA, ANDREW AND THEIR PARTNERS - TIM, JAMES AND BELLA. TRISTAN TRICCAS AT T-REX RACING ENGINES. CON CONSTANTINOU AT PRO-STREET METALCRAFT. PAUL ZAMMIT FOR THE AUTO ELECTRICS. STEPHEN MICALLEF AT SHIFTRIGHT STREET & STRIP AUTOMATICS. JEFF & PAT MCCARTER & TEAM AT WESTERN STREET AND CUSTOM. ANTHONY AND JEFF SULTANA FOR THE INTERIOR. PHIL AT ALL METAL BUMPERS FOR THE CHROME WORK.
Happy Fathers
DAY
Forget the socks and undies, there’s only one thing ‘Car Dads’ in Victoria wanted for Father’s Day, and that’s to head down to St Kilda to get their high-octane fix!
Whilst the ‘normal’ Dads were woken by their kids screaming ‘Happy Father’s Day’ bedside, and offering up all kinds of handmade gifts to show how much they are appreciated, those car enthusiast Dads were up before sunlight, disturbing the neighbours by idling out their killer ride before hitting the road to St Kilda in an effort to get a good spot for the annual Father’s Day Show and Shine in Acland Street, hosted by Showcars Melbourne.
It wasn’t long before the streets around St Kilda were filled with sounds of tough idling street cars, as entrants made their way into position for what was to be yet another amazing day in the beachside suburb. With traffic blocked off from entering the main drag, the usually busy bakeries, cafes and the likes were overflowing with cars guys and their families, all eager to get some breakfast after setting up for the big day ahead.
Greg Angus had his wild GTS on hand again this year and left everyone with dropped jaws when the big block was fired into life!
Melbourne had been bashed with wild weather in the week leading up to the event, but Elvis and the team and pans in place to combat any inclement weather that may have greeted them on the day, but thankfully, they weren’t needed and the show went ahead as planned. After every spot on offer in Acland street was filled, the cars starting filling the streets, carparks and grassed area around the Luna Park precinct. With the iconic theme park and tall palm trees as a backdrop, the cars surrounding the fun park certainly created a great atmosphere.
It wasn’t long before the streets around St Kilda were filled with sounds of tough idling street cars, as entrants made their way into position...
After the last car idled out of St Kilda to bring the event to an end, I wonder how many Dad’s went home to open up their Dad’s Day presents of new socks and undies?
While the show is primarily aimed at show cars, street machines and hot rods, there is always the need to showcase the toughest of tough cars – full-tilt drag cars that, under strict guidelines, are fired up during the event to give everyone in earshot (and from streets away) a taste of what a blown injected methanol engine can do to all your senses. Greg Angus had his wild GTS on hand again this year and left everyone with dropped jaws when the big block was fired into life! Also getting plenty of interest in the main street was a line-up of older Police cars including a Highway Patrol car direct from the USA! Add to these a few movie cars including the General Lee Charger, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Van and a rangers car from Jurassic Park that kept kids of all ages happy!
For those that really enjoy two wheels, there was a great display of custom Harley’s parked up as well, showing off the style and attitude associated with these cool custom cruisers. A stroll around Acland Street revealed everything from slick Hot rods, to low-slung American cruisers, tubbed tough-street Holdens and Fords, a sprinkling of nice fours and rotors and even a new Ferrari that had quite a few dreaming about winning lotto! Moving up to the other areas, there was a great mix of mild and wild street cars from the very early Australian and US muscle car era to the latest Commodores packing all kinds of engine configurations. There’s no way you’d walk away from the show feeling like there was nothing that interested you.
There’s no way you’d walk away from the show feeling like there was nothing that interested you.
As we’ve come to expect, the 11th staging of the Father’s Day show and shine in St Kilda was yet another amazing success. With a great array of cars and bikes on show and many thousands of people converging on the area to take it all in, Elvis and the Showcars Melbourne team can be happy with what they have achieved with this year’s event. After the last car idled out of St Kilda to bring the event to an end, I wonder how many Dad’s went home to open up their Dad’s Day presents of new socks and undies?
GO VAN
Spotted at the Dubbo Autofest was this nostalgia-styled EK Van that wasn’t quite what it seemed!
restored cruiser with slick white and light blue paint scheme, with matching trim and 15-inch black rims with cool chrome hubcaps heralding back to the days when mildly modified early Holdens ruled the custom car scene. With the bonnet up, I expected to see a twin-Stromberg fed Grey motor, but as I got closer, there was no way that was to be the case.
Having a desire to make his EK unique, Paul ditched any thoughts of keeping a six-plate six in the small engine bay. In fact, he also shyed away from keeping a Holden powerplant, opting instead to go to the dark side and fit up a Dewer Performance
1962 EK Holden Van Paul Rockes
Engines built Turbo Barra Ford six, complete with an upgraded Garrett GT35/82R turbo for even more punch. A BTR four-speed auto sends the new found power back to a Borg Warner diff with a 3.08 centre and Detroit Truetrac that once sat under an EL Falcon. To allow fitment of the engine package, the firewall has been recessed 170mm by mate Matt Hendy. Underside changes include a Curley Rod & Custom independent front end with Commodore rack and pinion steering, Viking coil overs and disc brakes. There’s also a CRS chassis kit to help handle the torque from the turbo six-pack.
The body was media blasted with all of the defects shown repaired before the Holden Banff Blue and Glacier White were added by Matt, along with the cool, period-style logos added to the EK’s flanks. Inside, the trim was restitched by Dantrim by Adrian Keene and Ray Shelton in matching colours to the exterior. In keeping with the technology under the bonnet, the boys also heated the seat. There’s also air conditioning for cruising on those hot summer days! The dash retains the original 60’s styling updated with a wood-rimmed steering wheel on top of a collapsible column, Falcon shifter and a pair of cup holders. The one-time load area has the sides and roof trimmed with the floor now featuring stained timber, keeping their area tidy, but still usable.
The Van has come a long way since Paul took over ownership from a good mate. The build was completed at home over three and a half years, first hitting the road in June 2023, as a fully engineered, street legal sleeper. Its obvious Paul’s plans were always to drive the wheels of the Van, a fact he proved when he made the long haul to the Red Centre Nats not long after it was finished. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
Jim Mullins novadose
1967 SS Nova
Sometimes you just happen to be in the right place, at the right time. The previous owner had taken a liking to a race boat that Jim had and after a brief conversation, a deal was done to exchange the boat for the recently completed Nova. Having a background in cool cars and bikes, Jim happily took possession of the Nova. The pro-street Chev had already been subjected to a massive rebuild that saw the ‘67 SS Nova’s body get a thorough makeover that included removing years of use and abuse that had turned up on the sheet metal in preparation for a layer or two of House of Kolor Candy paint, giving the Nova a look that’s hard to ignore. Joe Pegoraro handled the body and paint duties including the under-bonnet murals, rarely seen on today’s batch of tough street car builds. Like the exterior, the Nova’s interior space has been given the show car treatment by the team at CKT Custom Trim. Red leather has been used exclusively inside, covering each of the four seats, fabricated centre console, dash, and door trimsall accented with billet and chrome accessories. There’s lots of custom machined stuff added to the interior, along with the B&M shifter, twin cup holders, billet column and wheel, Haltech digital dash and a comprehensive Kenwood sound system installed by Sunny at Mild to Wild Car Audio. Opening either door at a car show would have punters and judges alike smiling!
Covered in candy paint and sporting a Pro-Street demeanour, Jim Mullins’ blown injected Nova has the best of both worlds!
You don’t need to open the bonnet to know there’s something special sitting in the Nova’s engine bay, with part of the 8/71 Weiand blower and Joe Blo injector hat hanging out for all to see. Hiding under that hardware is a 400-cube small block built by Dynomotive using a Dart block as the basis. The guys added a Callies crank, Carrillo rods and Diamond pistons. A solid roller cam and lifter kit joined the party giving the pumped small block a menacing idle. Topping the tough short engine is a pair of alloy AFR heads filled with larger valves wrapped in Crane springs. A pair of custom headers expel the gases. Binding the induction and engine together is a BDS blower intake. On 98-octane fuel, the stout 400-cube small block made an impressive 800hp!
A full-manual Turbo 350 auto backs the engine, featuring a 3000rpm converter, and a B&M shifter. Down at the business end, a narrowed 9-inch diff with full-spool and 3.77-gears puts the power to the blacktop through the big meats mounted to the bead-locked Convo Pros. Fitting that sized wheel and tyre combo under a Nova required a fair bit of work to the rear chassis, with wheel tubs installed for maximum clearance. The diff is located via a four-link with panhard bar, and also features Wilwood discs and adjustable Koni coil overs. Up front, 90/10 Koni coil-overs were fitted with Wilwood brakes and a modified VL Commodore rack and pinion steering assembly. The Convo Pro wheels on the nose measure just 5.5-inches wide for that essential Pro-Street attitude.
In the short time that Jim has owned the Nova, he’s had it out and about just a few times, including the Father’s Day event in St Kilda, which is where Lauren snapped these pics. There’s no denying the Nova is a headturner when on show, but for Jim, he gets the biggest buzz by firing that blown injected engine into life, hitting the blacktop and cruising off into the sunset with his wife Kaz by his side. As Jim says, “this car is one hell of a ride!” Who are we to argue?
OWNER: JIM MULLINS
VEHICLE: 1967 CHEV NOVA SS
ENGINE: 400CI CHEV BUILT BY DYNOMOTIVE. DART CAST IRON BLOCK, CALLIES CRANK, CARRILLO RODS, DIAMOND PISTONS & RINGS, SOLID ROLLER CAM AND LIFTERS, COATED CLEVITE BEARINGS, HAND MADE PUSHRODS, CUSTOM HEADERS, ELECTRONIC IGNITION, AFR HEADS, CRANE VALVE SPRINGS, HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP, 8-LITRE SUPER PAN.
POWER: 800HP
TRANS: TURBO 350 AUTO, 3000RPM CONVERTER, FULL MANUAL VALVE BODY, SHIFT KIT, B&M SHIFTER
UNDERSIDE: 1350 SERIES TAILSHAFT, BIG UNIS, NARROWED 9-INCH DIFF, 3.77-GEARS, FULL SPOOL, FOUR-LINK, PANHARD BAR, KONI COIL-OVERS, WILWOOD DISCS AND CALIPERS, WILWOOD MASTER CYLINDER, VL COMMODORE RACK AND PINION STEERING.
COLOUR: HOUSE OF KOLOR CANDY
WHEELS: 15X5.5 / 15X12 CENTERLINE CONVO PRO
THANKS TO: A MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO PEGA CUSTOMS FOR THE MAGNIFICANT BUILD. DYNOMOTIVE FOR THE ENGINE PACKAGE. DANNY THE FITTER FOR ALL HIS CUSTOM BILLET MACHINING. CKT TRIMMING FOR THE AMAZING INTERIOR. CON THE GLASSER AND PATTERN MAKING. SUNNY AT MILD TO WILD CAR AUDIO. THOMASTOWN COLLISION IN EPPING. A LOT OF GOOD HANDS HAVE PUT THIS BEAUTIFUL CAR TOGETHER, THANKS TO THEM ALL!
TUBCity
Hosted by the crew at Holeshot Pro-Street Club, Westside Revs #5 gathered together some of Adelaide’s toughest street cars. It’s no surprise that this event attracts some of Adelaide’s most potent street cars when you find out more about the host Club. The Club kicked off on the west side of Adelaide which just happens to be the same
The weather may have been less than ideal, but that didn’t stop a bunch of Adelaide’s toughest rides from taking part in the annual Westside Revs event!
region where Holden, Ford and Chrysler had their manufacturing plants. Catering for the neverout-of-fashion Pro-Street scene, the Holeshot Pro-Street Club promotes the cars and culture of the fat-tyred, over-powered, tough street car scene, with regular outings rumbling around the streets of Adelaide and surrounding areas.
One such event is the Westside Rev get together. Now in its fifth year, this tough car event saw the group meet at the Regency Park TAFE from 9.30am-12.30pm where entrants were greeted with the smell of egg and bacon rolls cooked by the club and devoured by everyone in attendance. There was also a Coffee Van onsite which is mandatory for this type of show. With the weather a little on the damp side, the team at Fraphouse were kept busy keeping everyone’s caffeine levels up whilst they wondered around the many cars that braced the weather to take part.
...the fact that shows was put together to raise money for the Children’s Charity, ensured that the venue was going to be overflowing with all manner of cool cars.
Although the day didn’t start with clear blue skies that had been hoped for, the fact that shows was put together to raise money for the Children’s Charity, ensured that the venue was going to be overflowing with all manner of cool cars. No matter where you looked, there was a tubbed street car getting drooled over. But it wasn’t just about the cars. It was about raising money for the local children’s charity, Variety SA. With donations coming from each entrant as well as from sales of the food, the Club were able to handover a sizeable donation of $2500 to the charity. Well done guys! Just one trophy was on offer, Pro-Street of the Event,
The Club kicked off on the west side of Adelaide which just happens to be the same region where Holden, Ford and Chrysler had their manufacturing plants.
Running an event of this nature takes a number of people and the Holeshot Pro-Street Club would like to thank their valued sponsors including Joe Albuino at Bianco Hire Service for supplying 2 portable toilets and Nova Group Services for providing the Traffic Control to keep the event running smoothly. Big thanks also go out to the event volunteers: Michael Perry, Carlo, Sam Zullo, Adrian, George, Danny, Johnny, and Anthony. Special thanks to Fred, Chris, and Vicky for preparing the delicious bacon and egg rolls, along with Anja and Tayla for handling the merchandise sales. Special mention to Morri for his part in helping to organise this event and his contributions to ensure the smooth running of the day. And of course, the car owners who made the event what it was! Bring on Westside Revs No.6!
Hosted by the crew at Holeshot Pro-Street Club, Westside Revs
#5 gathered together some of Adelaide’s toughest street cars.
LIVING THE
John & Daniel Munro have a garage full of cool cars, but there was one car that has always stood out in the Munro brother’s automotive collection.
John first fell in love with this HQ GTS Coupe after competing in a Roll Racing event at The Bend in his ‘BILLET’ R35 GTR Skyline, a car that has multiple event wins under its belt. He was watching intently as the tubbed, big block Monaro dusted off each opposing racer to win the event that night, driven by the then owner, and builder John Adami. Fast forward some time and the HQ left the streets of Adelaide for a brief holiday in Queensland in the hands of well-known muscle car enthusiast George. Friends for years through car dealings, John knew this particular HQ was an Adelaide favourite and made sure that when George was ready to let it go it would come back to SA. Before too long, John had the HQ back where it belongs, on the mean streets of Adelaide, cruising with some of the toughest cars around. The fat tyres had barely touched the SA blacktop before John decided to make some changes to the underside and the way it was setup, to make it a little more street car friendly. After just a few minor adjustments and a change to the pinion angle, the Monaro behaved better on the road. John also replaced the cracked rear windscreen.
DREAM
HQ GTS Monaro
John Munro
Due to the huge cam and springs spec, one day while cruising it broke a few rockers and valve springs. Being the owner of Power Tech Tuning, John wanted the HQ to have more driveability, so due to the breakage, they rebuilt the top end of the big block, and replaced the cam and lifters with a more suitable Comp Cams shaft and Isky bushed lifters, which made all the difference. Not only was he chasing improved street manners, but still wanted to make in excess of 1000hp aspirated. Helping achieve that goal is a Dart Big M Tall Deck block chock full of top shelf gear including a Callies steel crank, Carillo steel rods, and CP pistons. Joining the stout bottom end is a pair of Reher Morrison-prepped, CNC-machined 20-degree Dart heads that have been fitted with titanium valves, copper alloy seats, and Pac triple springs and titanium retainers. A single 1250cfm APD billet carb is mounted to a ported Sniper II intake manifold, supplying ample amounts of E85 fuel
to burn by the MSD ignition. A pair of custom headers and a fabricated exhaust system complete the engine package. Ok, so now for the important numbers. On a soft tune, handled by Rocco at Power Tech Tuning, the fat block produced over 1000hp! The tune ensures the HQ can handle cruising on the street with ease. The other number that needs to be mentioned is the cubic capacity. And that number is 600! Hence the number plate REV600. Obviously, in John’s eyes, bigger is definitely better! Making sure all that horsepower gets to the blacktop is left up to the Reid cased Powerglide and the shortened, braced and extra tough 9-inch diff that also features full-floating axles. The diff sits within a tubbed rear end, located with a four-link, and featuring coil-overs, HQ discs and massive 15x15-inch Centerline Auto Drags (it is Adelaide after all!). Up front, the matching wheels measure just 5.5-inches. Lowered King springs ensures the Monaro sits just right!
The HQ keeps most of its original styling as per the GM engineers requests. Obviously, that monster reverse cowl wasn’t a box you could tick when ordering a new Monaro, but it does give the coupe a much more menacing look. The smooth black paint over the super straight sheet metal is timeless. Inside, there’s still some HQ heritage in place with the GTS bucket seats being retained, along with the matching steering wheel. The rear seat is gone, with part of the roll cage taking up that space and the factory gauges have been replaced by a host of AutoMeter dials to keep track of the HQ’s vitals. The basic HQ T-bar shifter is no match for the B&M shifter that now sits between the seats.
John has been the owner of the Monaro for over three years now, and although it’s an older build, those in the know realise just how cool this Monaro is. Many consider it to be the poster car for the South Australian street car scene. And why not. It has plenty of power, looks as tough as hell and is legitimately 100% street legal – yep, even with the tubs and 15x15-rims! It’s been a Roll Race winner, attends lots of Adelaide’s cooler events and has even been driven in the rain to Cars and Coffee meets. Future plans call for some street racing at The Bend, more cruising and attending events like the Westside Revs as featured in this Issue too.
Before too long, John had the HQ back where it belongs, on the mean streets of Adelaide, cruising with some of the toughest cars around.
OWNER: JOHN MUNRO
VEHICLE: HQ GTS MONARO
ENGINE: 600CI CHEV, DART BIG M TALL-DECK BLOCK, CUSTOM SUMP, CALLIES MAGNUM STEEL CRANK, CARILLA BULLET STEEL RODS, CP PISTONS, COMP CAMS CAM, ISKY BUSHED LIFTERS, JET ENGINEERING PUSH RODS, REHER MORRISON CNC DART 20-DEGREE HEADS, TITANIUM VALVES, COPPER ALLOY SEATS, PAC TITANIUM RETAINERS, PAC TRIPLE SPRINGS, PORTED SNIPER II INTAKE, APD 1250CFM BILLET CARB, MAGNA FUEL PROSERIES FUEL PUMP, CUSTOM HEADERS & EXHAUST, MSD IGNITION. E85 FUEL
POWER: 1000HP
TRANS: POWERGLIDE, REID CASE, B&M SHIFTER
UNDERSIDE: NARROWED, BRACED 9-INCH DIFF, FULL FLOATING AXLES, FOUR-LINK, COIL-OVERS, HQ BRAKES, LOWERED FRONT COILS
COLOUR: BLACK
WHEELS: 15X5.5 / 15X15 CENTERLINE AUTO DRAG
THANKS TO: ROCCO AT POWER TECH TUNING FOR THE ENGINE TOP END REBUILD AND ONGOING TUNING. DINO CECERE FOR THE ENGINE BOTTOM END BUILD. POWER TECH TUNING ARE LS/EFI TUNING EXPERTS AND ALSO OFFER DYNO TUNING. 734 PORT WAKEFIELD RD, PARAFIELD GARDENS. SA. PHONE 08 71232111
HISTORY REPEATS
It was business as usual for Rob Bellio and the well-prepared team of Kingpin Kuztums as the swap meet and car show areas of the Sandown Park Hotel started to fill. After the swappers emptied their trailers and vans, and set their stalls up hoping to sell out, a constant stream of cars idled into the venue, creating a sea of colour and chrome. Consisting mostly of Hot Rods, Customs and bikes, there were also plenty of standout street machines in amongst the rows of cars giving plenty of variety for people to check out.
Once again, the Kingpin Kuztums crew return to familiar territory with a big gathering of cool cars and swap meet stalls.
As with most swap meets, this one was predominantly filled with car parts, drawing in a lot of people looking for that elusive part needed for a current project. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and whilst some may have been trying to offload their ‘trash’ buyers couldn’t get their wallets out quick enough to own a missing part they had been chasing. Other stalls had diecast cars, signs, records (remember
those kids?), really there was just about anything you could think of…and then some. Over in the Car Show section, it was a revolving door of cool custom rides throughout the day. There was certainly plenty to see with great support shown by those that are regulars to Kingpin Kuztums events. Luckily, the Sandown Park Hotel has plenty of space to accommodate the growing number of entrants in attendance.
While it was all go outside, it was just as busy inside the venue with live music (The Detonators and Itchy Fingers) happening during the course of the event providing plenty of entertainment for those wanting to take some time out from looking at cars and scouring through the swap meet. DJ Dingo took over when the bands were taking a break. The sheer number of people converging on the venue ensured the bistro was kept very busy too.
As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure...
Over in the Car Show section, it was a revolving door of cool custom rides throughout the day.
If you missed this one and have some gear in the garage you want to offload, don’t stress too much, There’s two more opportunities for you to make some cars and/or get you car out for the day, with the Kingpin crew scheduling two more Hot Rod Collector Swap Meets before Christmas. Grab your diary and mark in Nov 24th and Dec 24th. What a great way to bring in Christmas Day! To book your spot in the swap meet or to find out about the car show, contact Kingpin Kuztums at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2218294771729371
eyeCandy
Want to stand out in a crowd? Take a refined US classic Chevy and coat it in Candy Orange!
Walking into the Showcar Superstars building at this years MotorEx, you couldn’t help but be drawn in towards TJ’s amazing ’57 Chev coupe. It’s striking Candy Orange paint absolutely glowing under the pavilion lights. But there’s so much more to this iconic American cruiser than just the slick paint work. Before any colour was added, the aging body was subjected to quite a bit of work, including having some panels replaced before the team at Auto Transformers in South Australia performed many subtle (and not so subtle) changes to
the classic American iron. Those who know the ’57 Chev well will no doubt have picked a few changes such as the reworked engine bay, smooth radiator support panel, quarter windows deleted and custom side moulds, fabricated in fibreglass and then chromed. The team even went to the extent of modifying the boot opening so the edge flows better into the trimmed sections. After the body work was done, the PPG Orange Glow candy was added to the body, engine bay, underside and across much of the interior metal.
1957 Chev Coupe
Speaking of the interior, TJ sent the Chev to one of the most awarded trimmers in all of South Australia, Carmine Carafano. Well known for producing one-off custom interiors, TJ knew that Carmine would create something very special inside the ’57, and set about designing a four-seater interior that would complement the shape of the Coupe and also the colour of the body. A lot of moulded panes were sculptured in both wood and fibreglass before being covered in Italian leather. Carmine and the team also laid down the lather over the smoothed custom dash, one-off door trims, billet steering wheel and custom centre console. It really is
a work of art and a testament of the quality work that Carafano Motor Trimmers was well known for. Whilst the Chev is built for show car scene initially, the underside is pure Pro-Street with a modified chassis, full-floater 9-inch diff, four link, coil-overs and big wheel tubs – all done by the late, great Frank Zagari. Up front, the Chev scored power rack and pinion steering with a hidden electric pump. The braking system consists of Wilwood discs all round with hidden twin boosters and E-brake.
Filling each wheel well are Charley Hutton designed 5-spoke billet wheels measuring 18x8 up front, and a massive 20x15-inches on the business end.
Turning those big rear wheels and even bigger tyres is a big cube, big block built to perform when the Chev’s show days are over, and the its time to hit the black top with the rest of the Adelaide toughstreet cruisers. Built by RC Performance Engines, the 605-cuber starts with an alloy Brodix block with a Manley crank swinging Manley rods and JE pistons along with a custom solid Comp Cams roller cam. The 12-degree Profiler Hitman alloy heads have been fitted with Jessel rockers, much larger valves and tougher springs and form the perfect platform for the tunnel ram that holds two fourbarrel throttle bodies controlled by FuelTech for the ultimate in performance and driveability. The engine itself will make more than enough power to turn those massive tyres and still be reliable to handle any driving situation. It doesn’t look have bad either, detailed in black to offset the engine bay colour. Backing the engine is a tough as nails, Hughes-prepped 4L80 auto box.
As mentioned, the plan all along for TJ was to compete in the show car scene, before turning the Chev loose on the street. The ’57 has made quite an impact on the show circuit in a year that has seen many high-profile builds unveiled. From its debut at the Extreme Auto Expo, where it scored a place in the MotorEx Showcar Superstars list, to that very event (where I first saw it) to a big showing at the Sydney Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo, TJ’s Chev has proved to be up there with the best. It’s style and attitude made it a hit whilst on show, but it’s on the street where this is ’57 will really come into its own!
OWNER: TJ
VEHICLE: 1957 CHEV COUPE
ENGINE: 605CI BIG BLOCK BUILT BY RC PERFORMANCE ENGINES, BRODIX ALLOY BLACK, MANLEY CRANK AND RODS, JE PISTONS, COMP CAMS ROLLER SOLID CAM, ALLOY PROFILER HITMAN HEADS, JESSEL ROCKERS, TUNNEL RAM, TWIN THROTTLE BODIES, CUSTOM HEADERS AND EXHAUST, FUELTECH ECU.
POWER: PLENTY
TRANS: HUGHES PREPPED 4L80 AUTO
UNDERSIDE: TUBBED, FLOUR-LINK, FULL FLOATER 9-INCH DIFF, 3.78-GEARS, 35-SPLINE AXLES, STRANGE PRO ALLOY CENTRE, COIL-OVERS, WILWOOD DISCS AND MASTER CYLINDER, HIDDEN TWIN BOOSTERS, E-BRAKE, POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING, ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP, ELECTRIC EXHAUST CUTOUTS.
COLOUR: PPG ORANGE GLOW CANDY OVER STIRLING SILVER
WHEELS: 18X8 / 20X15 CHARLEY HUTTON SPOKE BILLET WHEELS
THANKS TO: AUTO TRANSFORMERS FOR THE SHEET METAL WORK AND PAINT. CARMINE, ERIC AND DAVE AT CARAFANI MOTOR TRIMMERS FOR THE STUNNING INTERIOR. RC PERFORMANCE ENGINES FOR THE TOUGH BIG BLOCK. THE LATE FRANK ZAGARI FOR THE CHASSIS, TUBS AND REAR END. DANIEL AT PHAT GUTS FABRICATION FOR THE HEADERS AND EXHAUST. DANNY AT DESIGNWIRE MOTORSPORT ELECTRICAL.
Making Their Marque!
The 37th Annual NSW All Chrysler Day bought the Mopar faithful together to celebrate 100-years of Chrysler!
Is there a more patriotic group than those who live and breathe the Mopar brand? Some would argue that Holden, Ford and Chev owners are every bit as loyal to their brands as any, but for many, it’s Mopar or no car for those in the know. Case in point, this years gathering at the Museum of Fire. The line up of cars spread across the lawn on show was as varied as I’ve ever seen. If you were into classic Australian models, you were well catered for. US muscle was also in abundance with a host of amazing examples displayed!
The show area had cars from the 30’s through to the very latest Redeye Challengers on display, catering for a large group of Mopar enthusiasts. It didn’t matter if you were into the restored vintage cars, daily drivers, the ever-popular muscle cars or 50’s/60’s cruisers, that was plenty of each on show to keep you smiling. Also on site were a few trade stands along with some club stands to attract new members.
The NSW All Chrysler Day is put together by several host clubs including the Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia Inc; Chrysler & Valiant Owners Association Ltd; Dodge Owners of Australia Inc; R&S Series Valiant Car Club of NSW Inc and the PT Cruisers Downunder NSW Inc, and by most reports, they all did a great job of staging this years event.
schultz@carchurch.com.au 7am-10am
Berrima
