State of the Heart

The Brothers Spiteri Built This Stonking Hq Statesman 30 Years Ago to Wow the Masses. Now It’s Back, but This Time Inspiration Comes From Much Closer to Home.

- Simon Major

I’M PREACHING to the converted here when I say a car is more than mere transport from A to B. Many take on a persona of their own, becoming an entrenched member of the family or a time capsule to one’s journey through life. For some, cars signify an even deeper attachment, a testament to love and respect for family and friends.

When we featured this tough-arse blue HQ Statesman back in 1986, brothers Joe and Tanny Spiteri were just two young blokes making waves, combining their talents to build a high-end show ’n’ go street machine that aspired to – and ended up rubbing shoulders with – the likes of Howard Astill’s Rock Solid XA and Rob Beauchamp’s LX Torana.

“My older brother Joe was 19 when he bought the HQ as a daily driver back in 1983,” Tanny remembers. “It was the usual chocolate brown with a bone interior but being a factory 350 car gave it some street cred. He made plans to fit a big-block and respray it blue, so it wasn’t long before it was stripped down in the family garage at Clayton. Joe was an apprentice mechanic and I was an apprentice panel beater, so it was natural that we’d tackle the majority of the work ourselves. Our younger brother Ray was always keen to lend a hand and our cousin Darren Falzon would pitch in as well.”

A tunnel-rammed 454 was built, nestled in fresh black chassis rails and detailed with red paint, white extractors and the obligatory bug-catcher scoop and gold Moroso tappet covers. Those gorgeous HQ Statesman flanks were treated to new door skins, HZ GTS guards and a WB Caprice front before being slathered in Bahama Blue Glasurit two-pack – a new paint system in the mid-80s.

“It was cutting edge stuff at the time. There was so much mystery surrounding two-pack and how to use it properly, but I think we nailed it. We went to a car show and won our first trophy. Then it was on!” Tanny laughs.