Articles by Iain Kelly

Iain Kelly
Contributing Journalist

A love of classic American and European cars drove Iain Kelly to motoring journalism straight out of high school, via the ownership of a tired 1975 HJ Holden Monaro. 

For nearly 20 years he has worked on magazines and websites catering to modified late model high-performance Japanese and European tuner cars, as well as traditional hot rods, muscle cars and street machines. Some of these titles include Auto Salon, LSX Tuner, MOTOR, Forged, Freestyle Rides, Roadkill, SPEED, and Street Machine. He counts his trip to the USA to help build Mighty Car Mods’ “Subarute” along with co-authoring their recent book, The Cars of Mighty Car Mods, among his career highlights. 

Iain lends his expertise to CarsGuide for a variety of advice projects, along with legitimising his automotive obsession with regular OverSteer contributions.

Although his practical skills working on cars is nearly all self-taught, he still loves nothing more than spending quality time in the shed working on his project car, a 1964 Pontiac. He also admits to also having an addiction to E30 BMWs and Subaru Liberty RS Turbos, both of which he has had multiple examples of. With car choices like that, at least his mum thinks he is cool.

Budget Ken Block is better than the real thing!
By Iain Kelly · 05 Dec 2017
While the term "gymkhana" has been around for decades before Ken Block slid a tuned-up Subaru around an abandoned air field, Block has really made it an art form... and hyper-successful video series.
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The biggest engine blow-up ever!
By Iain Kelly · 05 Dec 2017
When you modify, tune and push production engines you always run the risk of something going pop, but D&J Percision Machine and Firepunk Diesel from Ohio took this to a whole new level.
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Ford lays the smack-down on John Cena for selling his car
By Iain Kelly · 05 Dec 2017
He might have ruled the wrestling ring and be one of the top new-age action movie stars, but John Cena has been body-slammed by Ford after he sold his car.
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The best five car chase movies of all time
By Iain Kelly · 01 Dec 2017
The quality of a car chase can make or break an action movie, as car chase scenes inject a wild element that people can relate to more than a shootout or fist-fight.
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Chevy's wildest ever car blows the Dodge Hellcat away!
By Iain Kelly · 27 Nov 2017
As with the previous generation model, Chevrolet have saved the ZR1 badge for nastiest version of the Corvette they have ever built.
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Australia's best sleeper on the biggest road trip ever!
By Iain Kelly · 27 Nov 2017
While you may think of beige XD Falcons as something boxy and boring, Melbourne's Tunnel Vision Turbocharging has turned this plain-looking sedan into an 8.0-second street/strip monster.
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Street Machine Drag Challenge 2017 crowns Australia's fastest street car
By Iain Kelly · 27 Nov 2017
The winners of Street Machine magazine's fourth annual Drag Challenge event have been crowned, following a week of absolute torture around South Australia and rural Victoria.
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Ken Block adds an RS200 to his posse of mental Fords
By Iain Kelly · 22 Nov 2017
Ken Block is collecting quite a stable of Fords, adding a wild 700hp 1986 Ford RS200 to his epic collection of fast Fords.
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The Macau Grand Prix delivered 2017's most insane motorsport
By Iain Kelly · 21 Nov 2017
Macau brings out some of the wildest racing fans will see.
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There's a place in the US that'll sell you modernized hot-rods like this
By Iain Kelly · 21 Nov 2017
Old cars are awesome because they look cool and have a style all of their own. But there are significant drawbacks in terms of safety, reliability, handling and comfort.
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