TA massive roster of 29 new Elite-level cars has just been pulled from its covers at Street Machine Summer Nets 35.
We had to split our coverage into two parts to get the bumper crop out to the world as soon as possible, so here’s part one of Meguiar’s Great Uncover for 2023. Stay tuned for more metal stacks coming soon!
15
Bernie Rocheman
XR Falcon
Bernie Roushman’s Sage Gold sedan hides a 372-cube Gurney Eaglehead Windsor, screwed together by SR engines (Sm, Dec ’22). “When it went to paint, it went to the next level. We reassembled and redid everything,” says Bernie. Other killer touches include a Moto Fab rear end and RRS front kit, as well as carbon fiber interior panelling. “It’s not different, but it’s good,” grinned Bernie. The boot fit-out uses an XY GT tank, with custom piping to fit neatly within the confines of the XR.
15
Matt Mackintosh
Headquarters Statesman
Matt McIntosh’s Stato is one of the few SBC sluggers, with twin precision turbos lurking in the mega-sharp engine bay. The Engine Master-sourced mill is already rated at 1000hp on run-in tune, and is shifted by a red-cased turbo 400. Matt wrapped it in late model Land Rover Carpathian Grey, creating an eye-catching contrast to the rose. Gold Simmonds
15
Cameron MCNBB
Ford Capri
Paul Sant and his team at Pro Flow Performance built a perfectly-studded Mk1 Capri for Cameron McNabb, which made an impact the second time the cover was removed with a beautiful brandy wine metallic paint. Sitting proudly up front is a Littlefield 8/71 blower atop a Proflo-fettled 370ci small-block Chev, comfortably making 1300hp.
Once the show was over the car would hit the strip in pursuit of sevens, and would still be used again for the occasional dash to the shops and back.
15
Tim Laidler
HSV SV88
“Yes, it’s a real SV88,” laughs Sydneysider Tim of his ‘classic’ Monster Pro Street build based on HSV’s first ‘own brand’ production model. “But I bought it before it was worth anything.” Under that stunning carbon-fiber hat sits the Merlin-4 blocky, blown 14/71, mechanically-injected 540-cube 2100hp mill. With so much stick – and the car’s model name – inspiring the name ‘Excessive’, there’s plenty of bar work inside and under the car as it’s built and stripped after its glittery show days are over. But the 7s is designed to run.
15
Scott Haley
HX One Tuner
Summernats ’88 veteran Scott Haley says his HX tuner is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “It’s what I always wanted when I was little, a long time ago,” he laughs. “It was here four years ago as a completely different car. Different color, different driveline, different everything.” There’s now a 468ci fat block shaved up front with a tray airbrush job by Inzana Customs and DNA Cherry Black panels. Q of Double Trouble Restos handled most of the build, though Scott says he has yet to tally the hours he’s put in over the past 18 months.
15
Chris Franklin
XR Falcon
Chris Franklin of Bendigo Automotive Restorations stripped down his second XR as a rust-free bare body, and wrapped up the build over Christmas. It now features extended lower quarter panels, lower sills, and a custom floor for a sweeter ground-hugging stance. There’s also a dead-smooth engine bay and custom beavertail under the rear bar. Donk is a 660hp, Pavtek-built 434 Clevor, mated to a manual C6 and 9in third link in a MacDonald Bros. four-link. A&H Trim lined up the interior, and everything was engineered as it sat.
15
Tim Martinstein
HK Monaro
Tim Martenstyn’s HK GTS hides a TDR engined LSX376, force-fed by a Jo Blo 8/71 with EFI. A Holley Terminator X ECU is the brains of the operation, housed inside the 6.86in dash. The AccuAir has four links on the outside of the bag and package at all four corners, and it rolls on 20×10 and 19×6 rolling stock. The interior is all leather, trimmed in GTS style.
15
Craig McKenzie
HR Holden UTE
Craig MacKenzie resurrected the HR ute made famous by Dutch Jones when it was first unveiled at Smyrnatus 20. Unlike his other show car rescues that have been restored as close to their glory days as possible, Craig added many of his own. Personal touches during reincarnation to make it your own. The interior has been completely changed, and Craig played with it too
“I wanted to keep the basic original styling while adding my own personal touch,” says Craig.
Fans of the original blown 186 from 2007 can rejoice because it’s still intact, Craig said, adding that it was an important aspect of the car he wanted to keep.
Stay tuned, because we’ll be bringing you the rest of the unveiling hall tomorrow!