Tag: simmons

Feature Car: Rocky Sarkis' LH Torana

388ci Dart Turbocharged LS Torana

It can be very hard to stand out from the crowd when it comes to building a Torana. Generally, it’s all been done before. And while it sits there on a set of Simmons FRs in a suit of dark metallic red, you’d think the exterior combo would make Rocky Sarkis’ LH blend into the mass as well, but the execution is perhaps what sets it apart.

The stance, for a start, it not messing about. It sits perfectly. The diameter and offset of those 20x10s. The subdued – kinds of mature looking – dark red and lack of flares… it all combines to make this Torana seem head and shoulders above so many others.

Open the bonnet and you’re faced with a 388ci Dart-based LS force fed by a big BW S480 turbo. The combo hasn’t been fully pushed yet (Rocky has only recently welcomed his first child), but it’s fair to say the combo will be good for some serious numbers.

With it’s simple satin balck aesthetic, it’s again, seemingly more mature and refined. The same thing happens inside, where a brownish-tan leather and suede interior, complete with a few billet additions makes for a serious, adult cabin. It’s almost like some foreign exotic housed within a humble 70s Aissue shell.

The shoot appeared in the July 2023 issue of Street Machine.

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Feature Car: Mick Matthews' Ford XF Falcon

393ci Clevo, Dumped in the Weeds

Built as a tribute to his granddad, Mick Matthews’ Ford XF Falcon is now one of the finest XF Falcons you’ll see in Australia.

From the clinically-clean engine bay with its 393ci Clevo-based power plant to the in-the-weeds stance that’s been achieved through coil-overs and some judicious fab’ work – this is one super clean and inspiring build. …then you step inside.

Stitched Up Custom Trim handled the incredible redesign of the interior, retaining the original vibe of the late-’80s cabin while bringing it thoroughly into the 21st century.

The shoot was featured in the March 2023 issue of Street Machine. 

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Cover Car: Ray's VN Commodore

Supercharged LS2 KNG GRP A

2022 didn’t exactly end the way I would have liked, with nerve damage as a result of surgery to my right arm. It meant I couldn’t use a mouse, play guitar or really do anything with my right hand.

Shortly before that happened though, I got to shoot Ray Elia’s latest creation – this gorgeous ode to the mighty VN Group A SS.

Powered by a blown and injected LS2, the VN is detailed to the hilt, no matter where you look. You’d be forgiven for thinking that all this detail would preclude Ray from driving the car, but even before the Nats this January, you could find Ray driving the car all over the place!

My shoot was featured on the front cover of the December issue of Street Machine. 

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Front Cover: Ray Elia's VN Commodore

Ray Elia's VN Commodore

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Ray Elia’s latest creation for the front cover of Street Machine’s December 2022 issue, which is on sale now.

Keen readers will remember his white blown LS-powered VK Brock-alike that I shot for Street Machine’s Commodore title a few years back.

Best of all, this beast is already getting driven on the street despite not yet being done with show season.

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Feature Car: Marcus Nikolic's Holden VL Calais

Blown LS2-Powered VL Calais

Marcus Nikolic is bound to make most people jealous. The fact that he’s a young guy will only exacerbate things. Marcus owns this super smooth, supercharged LS2-powered Holden VL Calais at an age where most folks are still lucky to be punting around in their first sub-$2000 shitbox.

With a strong and savvy work ethic, he built up enough coin to buy the VL with the LS2 conversion already done and he says the car was in immaculate condition when he found it for sale. But as you can imagine, a whole lot more took place before it came to be voted People’s Choice in the Top 60 hall at Summernats this past January.

The car now boasts a built LS2, topped with a Harrop TVS2650 blower and backed by a T400 and braced 9in. If that weren’t enough, the car now rides on 22in Simmons FR rims, measuring 12 inches wide under the ass.

I shot the car on a dismal rainy day at Marcus’ work and it featured in the May 2022 issue of Street Machine.

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Feature Car: Steve Sterjovski's Holden VL Calais

Steve Sterjovski’s Holden VL Calais wears license plates that pretty much sum up the entire build. From the insane butt-dragging stance and the nutso 22x13in Simmons FR rims to the monster 3.2L RB26-based turbo six that makes some 1000rwhp thanks in part to the massive 94mm Pro Mod turbo – this VL means ‘war’.
Things don’t settle down once you open the door and get in, either. Step inside and you’ll find a cabin drenched in bone leather, complete with cage, custom fibreglass dash and so much more.
The photo shoot was featured in the 2020 Street Machine Yearbook.

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As always, we’ve got a series of FREE desktop wallpaper images for you to enjoy. Simply CLICK HERE or on the thumbnails below to visit our Flickr page where all the goodies lay in wait for your visit.

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Feature Car: Paul Knowles' Holden VK Commodore

I photographed Paul Knowles’ Holden VK Commodore years ago for Street Commodores when it was blue-over-silver and powered by a hot Holden V8. Several years later and the car has been fully rebuilt thanks to a horror smash.

Now resplendent in full white paint with contrasting black Simmons FR rims, the car looks totally on-trend. The old cream interior has been replaced with an all-black leather and suede affair to match the Simmons and the Warspeed 403ci L98-based stroker. Where most opt for a blower or turbos these days, Paul Knowles’ Holden VK Commodore is all motor, but looks the business with that tunnel ram poking through the bonnet, topped by a pair of 750cfm Holley carbs.

Out back, a braced, sheet-metal 9in houses 35-spline axles and 4.11:1 gears which should cope with any punishment Paul dishes out onto those poor FR20s and Pirelli P-Zero tyres. The car was featured in the November 2019 issue of Street Machine.

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As always, we’ve got a series of FREE desktop wallpaper images for you to enjoy. Simply CLICK HERE or on the thumbnails below to visit our Flickr page where all the goodies lay in wait for your visit.

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Feature Car: Tim Saliba's Holden VP Commodore

Tim Saliba’s Holden VP Commodore was featured in the October issue of Street Machine. I’d shot the car once before for another magazine, but Tim has since made some further improvements, both to the parts list but also driveability improvements. The airbagged, 393ci Holden V8-powered sedan looks sweet in its HSV Senator body kit and riding super low on the Simmons FR19s. Inside, it’s all covered… in shale-coloured leather, that is. Dash, door trims, Recaro seats, centre console – everything is drenched in leather. Even the boot install that also boasts a pair of 12in subs is leather-clad. Tim Saliba’s Holden Commodore is one gorgeous machine!

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As always, we’ve got a series of FREE desktop wallpaper images for you to enjoy. Simply CLICK HERE or on the thumbnails below to visit our Flickr page where all the goodies lay in wait for your visit.

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Feature Car: Tomi Vatavuk's 1974 Ford XB Falcon

If there’s a nicer XB Ford Falcon out there, I certainly haven’t photographed it! I got to photograph Tomi’s incredible ‘SOKOL’ Falcon sedan for the October issue of Street Machine. Perhaps the best thing about the XB – which includes a custom rear splitter/air dam, smoothed engine bay and plethora of custom billet and carbon fibre pieces – is that Tomi was able to do a lot of the build himself!

On top of being able to hang out with such a nice car, and a nice owner (who also happened to play guitar and like heavy music!), was being able to shoot the car in such a clean workshop. I personally have never seen such a clean work space. Especially given that besides handling custom work, it also serves as a regular servicing workshop. Look at that floor!

BUY A SHIRT, PRINT AND MORE!

As always, we’ve got a series of FREE desktop wallpaper images for you to enjoy. Simply CLICK HERE or on the thumbnails below to visit our Flickr page where all the goodies lay in wait for your visit.

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