PHATTT LOT OF GOOD

MARCUS NIKOLIC ENVISAGED HIS VL CALAIS AS THE ULTIMATE SUPERCHARGED STREET CRUISER, AND WOUND UP IN THE SUMMERNATS TOP 60

- LIAM QUIRK

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.”