In 1980, thousands of fans watched Bathurst with great interest as a relatively unheard of driver took the early lead. 16 laps in, and Dick Johnson’s name was being repeated by the Channel 7 commentary team over and over. How long could this comparative unknown in his XD Falcon keep ahead of crowd favourite Peter Brock in his Torana?

One of those watching the coverage was young Aucklander Frank Malcon. While still many years away from being able to get his driver’s licence, he liked what he saw unfolding on the screen in front of him.

But then, as for most viewing that day, suddenly that enjoyment was rudely interrupted as a random split-second incident occurred that would both colour the legacy of Bathurst and landmark Dick Johnson’s nascent racing career. As a large boulder rolled from the unfenced spectator area above the track it came right into the racing line in front of Johnson’s car. With nowhere to go, hitting the concrete wall was the only option, and just like that, his car and his hopes of winning the event were destroyed.

That incident left a lasting impression on young Frank, one that many years later would see him get the urge to build a (more…)

I probably don’t speak for everyone, but I know I personally waste a lot of time daydreaming about different cars. I build them in my mind with an unlimited budget and use the best parts available, usually from the same manufacturer as the vehicle itself. One of the things that I often envisage is the fitment of a late-model engine into an old classic body. The result is the perfect mix of old school charm and character with late-model reliability and horsepower. Cambridge’s Jason Skinner has similar visions. Although, the difference is that around three and a half years ago, he decided to make his dreams become reality.

A long-time Mopar fan, and more specifically a fan of the 1969 and 1970 Dodge Chargers, he started researching the possibility of dropping in a late-model injected Hemi into one of them. In theory, while the engine conversion itself was (more…)

I like Chev trucks,” says Andy Brooking, “I’ve had three ’66s, a ’68, a ’78 and a few others; but then again, I like Ford trucks too,” he goes on to say. But do you think he owns either currently? “No” is the answer. “I like things, I buy them, then soon after I always tend to sell them on,” he says. Then again, as owner and operator of parts supply company American Customs and Classics (ACAC), he’s in a good position to be doing a few deals, so you can’t really blame him.

And while not showing a tendency to hoard any particular brand, he’d never really thought about buying a Mopar for himself before either. Sure, he’s bought them for customers, but that’s a different story.

It wasn’t until a customer had Andy bring in a bunch of bits for his Dodge Coronet that he (more…)