HOLDEN released its V8 VL Calais in 1986 as an emissions-stifled stumble in the otherwise great legacy of the Iron Lion. The only thing more shameful than the factory power output of the black motor was the fact that the controversial turbocharged Nissan six-cylinder available in some models ran rings around it in every performance metric.
It led to a slump in popularity for V8 VLs. Before the recent surge in Aussie muscle car prices, a typical V8-powered VL could be had for up to half the asking price of an RB30ET-equipped equivalent. But recently there’s been something of a resurgence of love for the eight-cylinder VL, which has seemed to emanate from the Illawarra region south of Sydney.
Which, as it happens, is where Marcus Nikolic hails from. Bitten by the VL bug before he’d even learned to drive, Marcus spied this car for sale locally and knew it would make a great base for his goals of VL stardom.
“It’s a genuine Calais,” he begins. “The car was immaculate to begin with; the previous owner had done an LS2 conversion and it had black Simmons wheels.”
Marcus wasted absolutely no time in upsizing the Yeah Buds and installing some springs to further lower the car. “That was all that was meant to happen!” he laughs. However, after cruising the car in this state for a while, the siren song of more horsepower became too strong for him.
“My cousin was getting an engine built by the team at Russo Performance, so we took a trip up to see Christian and Justin,” Marcus explains. “While we were there, my cousin mentioned that he was thinking of taking another direction with his build, so I stepped in and grabbed his combo for my car.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2022 من Street Machine Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2022 من Street Machine Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
ARBY’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HIS VG VALIANT’S 60-FOOT TIMES YIELD PROMISING RESULTS IN THE RUN-UP TO STREET MACHINE DRAG CHALLENGE
ANIKA HODGES
THE CAR DROVE INTO OUR SHED AS A CREAM 202CI VC AND DROVE OUT AS A SILVER CAR WITH A 355 V8
STAGE FRIGHT
IT TOOK OWEN SCOTT MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO BUILD A TROPHY-WINING, 600HP EH HOLDEN UTE THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME
THE Ummmal SUSPECT
FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT MINI-TRUCKS. THIS SUMMERNATS TOP 60 HILUX IS A PROPER STREET MACHINE
FULLY UTILISED
HARDWOOD ROD & CUSTOM TURNS DARREN ISON'S HAND-ME-DOWN HT INTO A SMOOTH OPERATOR
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
ARBY’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HIS VG VALIANT’S 60-FOOT TIMES YIELD PROMISING RESULTS IN THE RUN-UP TO STREET MACHINE DRAG CHALLENGE
PEOPLE POWER
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OUT-AND-OUT MAYHEM
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BAD TO THE BONE
THANKS TO HIS SON, ANDY, THE LATE MARIO COLALILLO’S 39 PLYMOUTH COUPE IS BACK ON THE ROAD AND STILL ONE OF THE BADDEST HOT RODS IN THE COUNTRY
THE CHALLENGE IS REAL
FROM TRACK DRAMAS TO SOARING TEMPERATURES, DRAG CHALLENGE 2024 THREW US SOME OF ITS TOUGHEST TESTS YET, BUT IT ALSO BROUGHT SOME OF THE QUICKEST TIMES THE EVENT HAS EVER SEEN
