I had no idea what a massive deal Meguiar’s MotorEx is for the customizing community in Australia until I chatted with some of the owners displaying their rides inside the Sydney Showground a couple of weekends ago.
These people (and often a support network of family, friends and tradesmen) descend from all over the country – one of the largest in the world I might add – to share their hard work with fellow builders and adoring fans.
In the morning hours before the main hall doors are swung open, you can find owners in all manner of awkward positions, attempting to ensure that not a single rogue hair or fingerprint can be found on their pristine paintwork for when the show starts.
The reason for my early arrival was the huge number of people in the hall on the first day of the show post unveiling ceremony. It’s much easier to grab some clean shots when you’ve pretty much got the place to yourself!
One challenge remained however – choosing a car to spotlight! Ever since my Powercruise coverage you guys have been riding me to cover more Aussie Fords, so here’s one – a 1977 Ford XC Falcon Hardtop.
From the factory the Falcon had a handsome shape, but it was adorned with fussy trimmings that really dated the shape. Not to say that’s a bad thing – it’s just a relic of the past when compared to the sleeker and more mature lines of today’s sportscars.
The approach that Brock, the owner of this XC, has taken is to keep the ’70s styling intact while bringing the car into the 21st century. This meant retaining the original characteristics of the XC, like the taillights and in particular the vents on the bonnet and rear quarter panels, while removing plastic moldings, door handles, rain channels and so on. The quality of the workmanship is really second to none and it left me feeling slightly guilty about the state of my current project car.
I also have to complement Brock on his choice of lighting for his display. Whereas most owners opted for bright spotlights, In Envy was illuminated by LED strip-lighting integrated into the barrier around the car. This gave a really clean, soft illumination as opposed to harsh and patchy light. As a photographer, this makes a massive difference!
Performance was certainly not neglected – a Dart stroker with Dyers supercharger, alloy heads and electronic injection provide the go behind the show. Up front, 6-pot brakes are dwarfed by 20×8.5-inch Billet Specialties Patriots.
The Falcon rides on RideTech ShockWave airbags, and out back you’ll find a four-link arrangement and 22×10-inch Patriots shod in 285/25 Falkens.
One of the coolest aspects of this build is that the car was actually bought new by Brock’s father back in ’77, before eventually being passed down and transformed into the neck-snapping beauty it is today. Brock’s passion for the car was clear, and his excitement at being a part of the hero Freestyle Rides display at Meguiar’s MotorEx was tangible. Although no awards came Brock’s way this year, I don’t think that’s dampened his enjoyment one bit.
Blake Jones
Instagram: blaketjones
blake@speedhunters.com
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
This thing is beautiful!
THAT IS THE PREFERRED STEED TO RIDE THE FURY ROAD TO THE GATES OF VALHALLA
Omer (beercoozie) WITNESSED!
Awesome except the hideous wheels which look like they've come off a drug dealers suv
Awesome except the hideous wheels which look like they've come off a drug dealers suv
JohnMcAulay Wheels are easy to change. This thing looks way too fun.
Andrew, every tuner knows the wheels make or break the look of the car. A bad set of rims can turn a clean beautiful car in to an eye sore. The Falcon is a beauty but have to agree the rims was not a good chose.
DieterManero I think its mostly down to them being so low profile. Muscle cars is a bit unicue regarding rims.
FunctionFirst Omer (beercoozie) He was scanning the horizon...
need some non-chrome usefull tires
Question about Australian car culture. Why do so many cars have large chrome wheels, and does every car there have custom plates? I always notice those two things when I see stuff from Australia. Nothing wrong with it, but I'm curious,
Part "Love the Beast," part Mad Max, all killer
EricSeanDelaneyHere in Aus, the car culture seems to revolve around the same old, all-too-common mandatory mods. Loud paint, massive chrome wheels, custom plates, every interior surface trimmed in a single leather colour (usually white or beige) and a V8, of which street cred it measured not by its power output, but how tall it sticks out of the bonnet or hood. Even our 4 cylinder culture follow the same rules, except swap the V8 for bolting on the biggest turbo you can find and fill the car with a monster sound system. So very 90's.
If only Australia would catch up with other country's car scenes, like those featured here where builds are trending more towards performance-based engineering brilliance and form is balanced better with function. Matt's recently featured 66 Plymouth Barracuda from Sydney is inspiration for us Aussies that our car culture may be finally moving forward. http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/07/finished-business-an-inspired-60s-barracuda-racer/
DieterManero Except he's not a tuner. He's a guy who inherited his dad's ford and turned it into a badass show car. Not every car needs to go around corners fast, or be used to go really fast in a straight line. If he likes it how it is, that's all that matters.
DieterManero Except he's not a tuner. He's a guy who inherited his dad's ford and turned it into a badass show car. Not every car needs to go around corners fast, or be used to go really fast in a straight line. If he likes it how it is, that's all that matters.
Personally I would have gone chrome on the bumpers but that's me.
Overall this car is a beauty front to back, tip of the cap to the builder/owner. Keep the muscle cars coming SH!
Personally I would have gone chrome on the bumpers but that's me.
Overall this car is a beauty front to back, tip of the cap to the builder/owner. Keep the muscle cars coming SH!
I'm conflicted, on one hand I like that the Aussie scene is being show on Speedhunters but on the other its a Ford and its from Queensland.
@FAT JEDI PANDA And what should it be? A dosing, FR wearing, candy over silver VL towing an invisible caravan from Sydney?
EricSeanDelaney Calling billets "chrome wheels" is a bit offensive, they're not some horrendous Lexani flower looking thing. We do seem to like them big though, but isn't that part of this style, even in America....the pro tourers don't exactly get around on 14's and we haven't discovered the land of 30's and donks yet, so we're not quite at that point. As for plates, it's just always been a thing because they're available and easy to obtain. Where many countries don't even offer custom plates, and those that do only allow certain letters or numbers in a particular order. Some peoples custom plates from other countries you wouldn't even know were custom some of the time, like Japan or some from the UK.
JohnMcAulay I'm not saying I like or dislike his choice in wheels(I think they're fine)....but out of interest, what would you choose?
Omer (beercoozie) LOL!
Spaghetti Hahaha. accurate af.
To be fair though this ugly ass ford ain't much better.
@Smacca83 EricSeanDelaney That Barracuda is a bit boring, but I agree with your overall sentiment.
DieterManero Adding wheels is hardly 'tuning'. That word has lost it's meaning sadly.
@Smacca83 EricSeanDelaney ha ha.. you idiot.. Australia has one of the most progressive car scenes in the world.. Turbo's, Rotors, V8's, Sixes, Supercars.. The engineering and innovation is second to none. We won world time attack, have some of the fastest drag cars in the world and customizing is on top of its game.
Get out and see some car shows and racing events mate... there's plenty of them!
EricSeanDelaney I was thinking that exactly! I don't have a problem with the big 5 spokes; I personally find them unattractive, but I'm not going to bash someone about it with a killer ride. So is there a reason for all the big alloys in the Australian car scene?
Spaghetti This would be ideal, but due to the global popularity of dropped VL Turbos speedhunters simply cannot upload any contact with VLs in it…. it would literally break the internet.
So Aussie...
XC falcons had painted bars stock, but XA-XB falcons had chrome so it'll be a little awkward looking, but that's coming from an aussie. We're just so used to seeing it that way.
Ahhhh hardtops, the only thing that looks better than a show car is a group C racer.
Its not a bad effort but I must admit I am a bit over the hotwheels look.
Just a side comment for speedhunters too, I hope there are more builds like the last 'Cuda one because it would be a shame for the international speed-hunting community to think that all our cars and shows revolve around rotaries and cars such in this article.
@Go_Oz There was 1 Rotary featured in the coverage of Motorex. Hardly revolving around them, even though one won it overall.
EricSeanDelaney Australia has a huge case of wannabe everything. Wannabe American, wannabe richer, wannabe something you're not. Using apostrophes for plural's to act 'educated', vanity plates that say 'Envy', Benz fronts on Hi-Lux, Confederate flags on utes, Chev badges on Holdens, turbo badges and fake vents everywhere.
With no real culture of its own, Australia has unfortunately embraced boganism as its mainstream norm - want a beer called 'Piss'? Sure! Want to know how 'Australian' your food is? Sure! Want a 'hot' car? Sure! Better add the biggest chrome wheels, the loudest paint, and the most garish interior you can get. Get 'inked' while you're at it.
Google 'cultural cringe' and 'tall poppy syndrome' if you want an intro as to how boganism became the mainstream direction... Cars included unfortunately; where driving a Porsche gets flavored milk tipped in the engine compartment (because add on TV said it was cool), where driving a Tiger gets you egged, where driving a Karmann Ghia gets you keyed by a Torana driver right there in front of you...
EricSeanDelaney Australia has a huge case of wannabe everything. Wannabe American, wannabe richer, wannabe something you're not. Using apostrophes for plural's to act 'educated', vanity plates that say 'Envy', Benz fronts on Hi-Lux, Confederate flags on utes, Chev badges on Holdens, turbo badges and fake vents everywhere.
With no real culture of its own, Australia has unfortunately embraced boganism as its mainstream norm - want a beer called 'Piss'? Sure! Want to know how 'Australian' your food is? Sure! Want a 'hot' car? Sure! Better add the biggest chrome wheels, the loudest paint, and the most garish interior you can get. Get 'inked' while you're at it.
Google 'cultural cringe' and 'tall poppy syndrome' if you want an intro as to how boganism became the mainstream direction... Cars included unfortunately; where driving a Porsche gets flavored milk tipped in the engine compartment (because add on TV said it was cool), where driving a Tiger gets you egged, where driving a Karmann Ghia gets you keyed by a Torana driver right there in front of you...
@Kuroneko "Using apostrophes for plural's to act 'educated' "
Woah. Unsure. If. Joke.
@Kuroneko "Using apostrophes for plural's to act 'educated' "
Woah. Unsure. If. Joke.
While I have to agree on some levels, there is a minority that would do such uncivilised/bogan-like behaviour but there is a whole lot more to Australian car culture! Us aussies have a huuge variation of cultures/niches for example the muscle (Holden vs Ford and old school Valients ect), tuners, the blokes who enjoy drag racers, imports (euro and Japanese) and the supercar lot. There's only a small percentage of idiots who hate other people's taste to the point they destroy their cars. Look back at the posts published by SH on Aus car culture and please take note of the variety of cultures.
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/04/cars-and-coffee-sydney/
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/06/old-school-rules-on-the-streets-of-sydney/
Zen Garage is also a cool part of the more import side of the scene some of their meets have a wide variety too.
http://www.zengarage.com.au/2015/03/eomm-march-2015/
While I have to agree on some levels, there is a minority that would do such uncivilised/bogan-like behaviour but there is a whole lot more to Australian car culture! Us aussies have a huuge variation of cultures/niches for example the muscle (Holden vs Ford and old school Valients ect), tuners, the blokes who enjoy drag racers, imports (euro and Japanese) and the supercar lot. There's only a small percentage of idiots who hate other people's taste to the point they destroy their cars. Look back at the posts published by SH on Aus car culture and please take note of the variety of cultures.
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/04/cars-and-coffee-sydney/
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/06/old-school-rules-on-the-streets-of-sydney/
Zen Garage is also a cool part of the more import side of the scene some of their meets have a wide variety too.
http://www.zengarage.com.au/2015/03/eomm-march-2015/
@Kuroneko - you sound like a real downer. Why stop there? Surely you could dredge up a few more gross generalisations - maybe throw in how we are all racist haters who can't stand to see anyone prosper, much less be out of the ordinary.
I'd really like to lay into you and your stupid, illiterate post - but what's the point? Nothing I could say would convince you otherwise. And probably be deleted by the Mod.
@Kuroneko - you sound like a real downer. Why stop there? Surely you could dredge up a few more gross generalisations - maybe throw in how we are all racist haters who can't stand to see anyone prosper, much less be out of the ordinary.
I'd really like to lay into you and your stupid, illiterate post - but what's the point? Nothing I could say would convince you otherwise. And probably be deleted by the Mod.
EricSeanDelaney Its just Australian Car Culture, a bit outdated but thats us.
RoughIdea I'm pretty sure he was talking to Smacca83 in this case
SimonSheldrick Why give him the satisfaction. Downer, hater, just a miserable soul by the sounds of it. Either he lives in the country and can't stand it(why not move), or he's an outsider with no real idea.
Pro Street cars were huge in Australia in the 90's. Loosk like they just gave an old Pro Street can some Hot Wheels oversized wheels.
Pro Street cars were huge in Australia in the 90's. Loosk like they just gave an old Pro Street can some Hot Wheels oversized wheels.
So bogan. The big motor out the hood makes up for a small P...... .
Have you ever watched that episode of The Simpsons when Homie designs a car? He keeps adding accessories until it features everything minus the kitchen sink. Kind of reminds me of that car. Big wheels - check. I mean really big wheels - double check. Dated loud paint - check. Tacky plate - check. Dated modern 90’s interior - check. No taste or restraint - check. I did love that comment about the car looking like a hot wheels toy.
@Bob Sanderson Please post a photo of your car for us all to judge.
You won't. Check.
I can't really say you guys are right, we have sooooo many styles here but all that seems to get airtime is the usual big rum/blower package.
We just need some stuff from every corner, we do have more than 20"s on Falcons with blowers. We really do.
mrwicksy Not. Australian. Of. Course. Joke.
SimonSheldrick Sorry Mate. Not generalizations, but facts that happened to me when driving my non-Ford/Holden cars in Aus. Being a 'white wog', as I was delightfully called was just the icing on the Paramatta / Dandenong cake.
Spaghetti SimonSheldrick Typical Aussie shortsightedness there Spag-man - how about an insider for many years, competition, clubs, engineer, rally car builder - and I did move, to be rid of the V8-driving parochial, backwater, rednecked, chav, bogan, racists spitting on me for nothing more than pulling up next to a T'rana or Belmont at the lights. Or, mistakenly parking my non-V8 at Knox Shopping Center to find someone had written on the paint in a Texta...
Read the rest of the comments here please about bogan rides, and open your eyes to the rest of the world. I do note however the roll-back of Pauline Hanson and John Howard's views has a few more cars - other than '65 Mustangs and '68 Camaro - now also being imported to Aus. There's hope yet! Bogan donk will die a death, and real car culture, perhaps even Aussie unique, nonexclusive car culture may yet prevail.
Heck! There is hope! I hear you can buy wine, wine I tell you, to drink in pubs in Australia now. Just do not tell your mates...
Thommo EricSeanDelaney Turbo's. V8's. Not. Sure. If. Joke. Shit too! 'Sixes'? Surely you joke as well? You mean six cylinder engines? Amazing! I love the way this has to be called out as 'progressive'! What's next? 'Fours'? Then dogs laying down with cats? Be careful there, they'll take your beer-swilling and wife-beating license off ya Sport...
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner Wrong. All falcons had chrome bumper bars, unless it was a GT edition (or in the XC's case, the Cobra), which had painted bumpers as standard, but you could opt for the chrome bumpers instead. XA, XB, and XC falcons ALL had chrome bumpers as standard
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner Wrong. All falcons had chrome bumper bars, unless it was a GT edition (or in the XC's case, the Cobra), which had painted bumpers as standard, but you could opt for the chrome bumpers instead. XA, XB, and XC falcons ALL had chrome bumpers as standard
@Kuroneko Maybe you should try living in a better part of the country as it sounds like you live in a hell-hole. Out of the 40 or so cars I've owned they've all been Japanese or Euro and never have I been spat on or had my car vandalised. Out of interest, where did you move to, and why did you come back if it's so rotten to live here?
@Kuroneko Maybe you should try living in a better part of the country as it sounds like you live in a hell-hole. Out of the 40 or so cars I've owned they've all been Japanese or Euro and never have I been spat on or had my car vandalised. Out of interest, where did you move to, and why did you come back if it's so rotten to live here?
Blake Jones Omer (beercoozie) mediocre
a lot of criticism about this XC it lives up to the plates IN ENVY, i see a lot of hard work in the body alone which is impressive.
Spaghetti RoughIdea my bad
Wow - some interesting comments here about the Aussie scene following this post. I went along to Motorex and saw this car amongst others there. Whilst a lot of them aren't to my taste, I have respect and appreciation for the quality and work that went into the builds I saw there.
I'd like to think that the Aussie scene has a lot of variety and acceptance of different styles these days. Certainly the meets in Sydney at Cavaino's and the JDM Style Tuning End of Month meets are testamony to that with Euro's, JDM's, exotics, and muscle cars living in harmony.
For the record I have been a classic british car guy, historic racing fan, then a euro car guy, now a JDM car guy who can appreciate a muscle car so I guess that makes me fairly unbaised! lol
I have an appreciation for these cars, but that's about it. I won't say I love them, but much respect to the people who keep these cars in top shape. I like my cars new and modern. And yes, that hot wheels comment was funny.
Spaghetti Check and mate.
Spaghetti Check and mate.
@Steven Quan I remember at Beach Hop a few years ago thinking I loved most of the cars but why they all have oversized chromies on seemed at contrast.
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