THE UNRIGHTEOUS PATH

WARICK MELDRUM'S CONTROVERSIAL BARRA-SWAPPED VF VALIANT REGAL BROKE THE EIGHTSECOND BARRIER AT DRAG CHALLENGE 2022-'23

- KIAN HEAGNEY

WARICK Meldrum has absolutely no issues upsetting purists, and his Barra-swapped Valiant is just the tip of the iceberg. He first stuffed this exact combo into a VP Commodore for Drag Challenge 2017, before taking it to another level of haterproof and putting the Ford six into a GM cult  classic, a 1967 Chevy Camaro. "It was only in the Camaro for three months, but that was enough to upset plenty of people," Warick laughs.

As for the Valiant, it's the third car that's become home for the Barra combo, and it first appeared at Drag Challenge 2019. "It's not like I was worried about what people thought before, so why stop now?" Warick said at the time. "I wanted to find a permanent home for the engine and trans, and I was after a pre-1973 car to put it in, because you can engineer a car that early without too much hassle. There's not much you can buy these days that's not silly money, but I found this Valiant that was a painted shell for cheap."

The Barra was built by Warick himself using a $250 naturally aspirated FG wrecker engine. It still bears the factory crank, cams and head. Aftermarket additions include ARP bolts and studs, Spool conrods and Ross Racing forged pistons. For DC 2022'23, Warick also added beefy Atomic timing chains and gears.