Feat Car: Brett Russell's Holden LX Torana

Big-Block LX Torana Hatch

This was actually the second time I’d had the luck to get Brett Russell’s incredible big-block-powered Holden LX Torana hatch in front of my lens. The first time was some six or seven years ago for the cover of Xtreme Holdens magazine.

Outwardly, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the car hadn’t changed much in that time, however Brett has further refined the car since its original photo shoot. Today, it’s a great car to drive and has more torque than any mere mortal should probably ever hope to have in a car as nimble as this LX.

On paper, the car boasts 427-cubic-inches of alloy Merlin-based beauty. This is topped with 11.3:1-comp- CNC-ported heads and 750cfm Quick Fuel carbs that replace the original – and admittedly troublesome -EFI setup.

There’s a raft of chassis and suspension mods under the car that stiffen things up and make it handle like the car is on rails. It’s a complete package and totally worthy of its place within the hallowed pages of Street Machine.

Feature Car: Jason Pellett's HR Holden

Jason Pellett's 1966 HR Holden

I’ve come across a number of car guys like Jason Pellett in my time shooting cars. Indeed, many of them know each other quite well. What type of car guy am I talking about? Prolific self-builders that churn out brilliant street cars like their lives are depending on it.

One of the first cars I ever photographed was Jason’s partner Ashley’s pink Commodore in 2011 or so. More recently I photographed Jason’s clinically-clean white HG Holden sedan and not that long after, Jason let me know he’d just finished another Holden: this LS-powered two-tone HR.

Jason has a certain style to his builds so far: super clean, no unnecessary bling, smooth engine bays and clean interior trims. This grey and black HR Premier sedan is no exception to those rules. It even wears the Showwheels Streeter rims like his old HG did.

What’s most impressive is that all his machines are built in the shed at home. According to Jason “Our projects never leave the shed. We roll them in and they drive out under their own power”.

My photo shoot was featured in the April 2022 issue of Street Machine.

Feature Car: Steve Santos' AP5 Valiant

Steve Santos' 1963 AP5 Valiant

I’ve had the privilege of working with Steve Santos a number of times over the last decade – shooting his cars for various magazines, including his iconic twin-turbo Walky and blown BOSS-powered XY Falcon.

More recently I spent a few days down in the nation’s capital and photographed Steve’s two latest projects: a super tasty LS-powered EH wagon and this truly fine turbocharged and injected, slant-six AP5 Valiant sedan. What’s even more special is the fact that Steve built the car of a few months as a gift for his father!

Despite the short time frame, this was a proper rebuild. The engine bay was smoothed, wiring hidden, bodywork straightened to perfection and the interior gutted and finely restored and brought well and truly into the 21st century.

The shoot was featured in the April 2022 issue of Street Machine.