BRAD DONALDSON XM FALCON UTE
“THIS is my 1964 XM Falcon ute. It had a build around 1999 and has remained pretty much untouched since then. It runs a mild 302 Windsor, 650 Holley, Edelbrock intake manifold, a mild hydraulic cam, flat-top pistons and electronic ignition. The trans is a C4 with a 1800rpm stall, backed by a nineinch LSD with 3.45 gears. Brakes are XB drums out back and XF vented discs up front, with a TF
Cortina booster mounted under the dash. The ute rolls on Weld Draglites – 15x5 front and 15x7 rear. The interior is a mix of grey vinyl and velour, which looks like it was done yesterday even after 22 years. The paint is old-school acrylic done by my uncles Brett and Shane. It was a feature car in Street Machine (Nov ’02) and remains a true survivor.” Photos: Marcus of MPH Productions
“IT ALL started after I asked around for a clean HQ to suit a resto. It didn’t take long to find, as one was parked under a tree no more than a kilometre away. After inspection and bargaining, it was mine – with one catch: Tom, the original owner, wanted me to restore it and look after it. So it all began. It took nine years and lots of nights in the shed to complete. Out went the 173, threespeed and banjo diff. The motor is now a Craig Carrison Race Engines 383ci SBC. It runs 11:1 comp for the street, a billet 950
APD carb, JE pistons, Crower rods, Callies crank and Brodix heads, making just under 600hp. It’s a perfect hot streeter. It’s backed by a two-speed Powerglide, 4000rpm TCE converter and a 35-spline nine-inch with 3.7:1 Strange gearing. Weld wheels (including the beadlocks) completed the look I was after. The body itself was in excellent condition for its age, but a bare-metal respray was the only option, done at Riverland Enhanced Vehicles. Rust work was done and the best panels sourced to ensure this will last another 50 years. A four-inch reverse cowl was fitted to contain the motor, and the whole lot was painted in Platinum Metallic. The interior was kept as factory as possible, including the front bench seat for cruising, and is trimmed all in black. It’s also got allnew glass and wiring. The first outing was my daughter’s Year 12 formal. I recently took Tom, the original owner, for a cruise, which made all the money and hard work worth it. I don’t think they are ever finished, but I always like improving and upgrading.”
“MY XC Fairmont GXL runs a 427ci Clevor with CHI Kaase 400 heads. On E85 it makes 750hp naturally aspirated. I have a nitrous kit on it as well, so with a 150hp hit it makes 930hp. The donk was built by MCE. Transmission is a C10 built by DTM Transmissions with a 5800rpm Dominator converter. The car is minitubbed and runs a 12-inch rim with a 325/50 ET tyre. Out back is a ladderbar/coil-over set-up. It also has a sixpoint moly rollcage, and has had plenty more stuff done too.”
“THIS is my ’57 Chev wagon, ‘Lilymay’. Power comes from an LSA crate motor, backed by a six-speed manual TR6060 and nine-inch diff. Wheels are 20x8 and 20x10 Ridler 695s, with 225 and 275 rubber respectively. It was a two-year build, and I’ve now had the car on the road for two years and covered 25,000 kays. It’s used for beach, holiday, shopping and car show trips – the way it’s supposed to be used! We eat fish and chips on the tailgate, go surfing, come home and then go to a car show.”