However, when it comes to 1980s builds, people tend to either love them or hate them. We’re firmly in the former camp, so in this final instalment of our custom FX-FJ Holden series, we’ll moonwalk our way through some the most revered humpy builds of the 80s – an era where individuality and a dare-to-be-different mindset prevailed.
1: FEW modified cars can hold a candle to the firmly stamped identity and pure longevity of the ‘Humpy Mekka’ FJ hearse built by the late Pat Fay. Pat was a larger-than-life character whose passion for the car scene was second to none, and the development of his coffin-sporting FJ spanned many upgrades and alterations over nearly three decades. Its first significant build in the 1970s featured popular trends of the time – stacked quad headlights and a custom grille balanced with Valiant AP sedan tail-lights and deep-dish slot mags, while black paint with blue and purple art, along with a vinyl roof, gave it a distinctive look. The black base and vinyl roof remained from then on, but the body mods continued, including the hearse’s most famous guise with Mercedes 220 headlights, Simca grille and LC Torana tail-lights. Its final form featured a Mercedes grille to match the headlights and Mk1 Escort/Capri rear lights. The blood-themed Frank Lee murals were a highlight, while the FJ’s driveline progressed from grey and red sixes to single four-barrel, tunnel-rammed and even supercharged small-block Chev combos. After languishing for a decade or more, the FJ was brought out of hibernation following Pat’s passing in 2013 and is currently being revamped by students at Canberra TAFE.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Street Machine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Street Machine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ROYAL CARRIAGE
BENNY ROYAL TOOK A FAMILY HEIRLOOM TOYOTA CORONA, SHOVED A 1JZ IN IT AND HEADED OFF FOR FIVE DAYS OF DRAG-AND-DRIVE
DEBUT TOUR
WITH A SCREAMING HOLDEN SIX, DEAN TROUNSON'S HOME-COOKED HR STEERS WITH THE BEST OF 'EM
FULLY FRANKED
A SNEAKY 670 HORSES OF FRANK MARCHESE POWER MAKES ROB GORGIEVSKI'S CONCOURS XW A PROPER TREAT
NOMADIC LIFESTYLE
DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS DEMURE APPEARANCE THIS '57 CHEVY NOMAD IS A RAUNCHY RESTOMOD PACKING MODERN MUMBO
PERFECT 10 '!!!!
THE SYDNEY HOT ROD & CUSTOM AUTO EXPO TURNS 10
VAN WILDER
PETER MARRIOTT BUILT THIS TOUGH, 350 CHEV-POWERED HK PANEL VAN IN TRIBUTE TO THE LONG-LOST HT VAN OF HIS YOUTH
EXPRESS DELIVERY
IF YOU'VE ever been to the Bright Rod Run (and you damn well should've), odds are you've seen Joel Beatson lapping in an early Falcon.
RED HOT & BLUE
A REBORN PROGM8 SHOOTS FOR THE TITLE OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST SHOW-AND-GO COMMODORE
PEOPLE LIKE US
WHEN Michael Gonzalez isn't busy making eight-second passes in CHOCTOP, his street-driven, LSA-fed VC Commodore, or cruising one of the many other cars in his collection, he can be found managing Springmount Raceway, home to Far North Queensland's biggest horsepower hoedown, Northern Nats (see p. 48 for full feature).
DRIVING INNOVATION
EVER WISH YOU COULD HAVE A BRAND-NEW VERSION OF AN ICONIC 1970s AUSSIE MUSCLE CAR, FULL OF THE LATEST TECH? DRIVE SOUTH IS WORKING TO MAKE THAT A REALITY