Holden HQ an inspiration for ute lovers

When talking show cars you usually expect lots of bling, shiny paint jobs and a beautiful but often one-purpose vehicle. Its role is usually to sit there, show off its beauty and draw envy and admiration from impressed onlookers. Rob Godfrey's 10-year project doesn't necessarily have the bling of some other show cars, but it's definitely an eye-catcher and not just in the showroom.

His 1972 HQ Holden one-tonner is at home in the showroom, on the road and the drag strip.

Over the past 10 years, Godfrey has undertaken three complete rebuilds of his ute because he was never completely happy with it.

“There's nothing worse than looking at a car parked next to yours and seeing how much better it is than your own,” he says.

“I'm not a trophy hunter but I want to be able to look at a car and say, `That's the best I could do'. Now I did it myself ... that's the best I can do on my time and budget.”

Having grown up on a property, Godfrey learned to drive at the age of 10, and bought his first vehicle, this ute, when he was 15.

And he's had it ever since.

Godfrey used the ute as his daily driver for the first five years, but then took the decision to make it a little more special.

Modifications stretch far and wide on this beauty, including a 655 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine, with a massive 895kW (1200hp), 730kW (930hp) of it at the tyres.

And the car wasn't the only thing to undergo a transformation from its original form.

“You evolve with the car,” he says. “It takes years of knowledge and experience to know how to do it, 10 years probably to get that knowledge.”

He enlisted the help of three friends. A panel beater, a spray painter and one who could teach him all he needed to know about engines.

“I definitely couldn't afford to build the car without these guys,” the 30-year-old says. Godfrey says the engine alone would probably be worth the price of an average family car.

“It's the type of vehicle you can't put a price on. It's older than me but it's only worth what someone is willing to pay,” he says.

Godfrey's one-tonner received a wildcard entry into the Meguiars Superstar final at this weekend's MotorEx. “My car isn't 100 per cent detailed underneath,” he says. “It's driveable and a drag racing car as well. It's not built to push around, it's built to drive.”

Godfrey says being invited to be a part of the high-profile show is rewarding enough.

And it will bring some variety to the Superstars event, which sees 27 cars from the street machine, hot rod and hi-tech tuner scenes compete for the top awards and a total prize pool of $61,500. Godfrey's ute already has 12 trophies to its name, but this is its first MotorEx.

“People seem to really like it. It has a mountain of an engine in it and I think Aussies like the old utes,” he says.

“It appeals to the average guy. He can look at it and it's not out of his reach. Some show cars are so pristine, so perfect. I'm very happy ... it's exceeded all expectations.”

Godfrey says he only finished the one-tonner at Christmas, so hasn't taken it out much.

But he also uses the ute for special occasions such as weddings and says it's not rare for people to follow him and pull over when seeing it.

After MotorEx, he will race the car for the first time since the final rebuild.

While his wife understands how much dedication is involved and appreciates the car, Godfrey says she is “pretty much over it at this point”, especially since they now have a 12-month-old daughter.

So as you can expect for a new father, there aren't any more projects around the corner for the motoring enthusiast.

“Not at this stage, one's enough. I'd have to get a divorce,” he jokes.

Snapshot

1972 HQ Holden One-Tonner

Owner: Rob Godfrey

Engine: 655 cubic inch big block Chev engine, 895kW at the motor, 730kW at the wheels where you can see it: MotorEx, at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay this weekend.

Highlights: 27 street machines, hot rods and hi-tech tuners will compete in the Meguiars Superstar finals and more than 500 hot rods, street machines, performance and classic cars, valued at more than $60 million are on show.