This story has been created through a series of events that start with my father Mr Joe Ciccio. Firstly as you may know from earlier stories, my father is a car nut and has been building and restoring cars since he was a young lad.
His current project is an FX Holden and as per most of his projects, this is a restoration and modification build. The plan is pretty straight forward, strip the car back, repair any rust and paint. Minor upgrades will be thrown in to improve performance, handling and style because why go to all that trouble if you don’t make anything better, right? It won’t be show car quality but it will most definitely be a Joe Cool Special.
When it comes to car build’s we believe the best combination is todays technology & yesterdays style.
With the intention of fitting a Chevy V6 motor in the 50’s body, we decided to go with a new front cross member. After seeing what the United Speed Shop can do through Street Machine magazine, we thought it was a no brainer. The cross member has been made to house the wider engine block. It’s a fully TIG welded construction and includes the larger, Baer brakes and discs, cold drawn seamless CNC bent control arms, adjustable coil over suspension, rack and pinion steering, anti roll bar and polyurethane bushes all as standard.
When it came time to collect the front cross member I was eager visit United Speed Shop and to see what projects were on the workshop floor. Judging from their website, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
Now being in Aus, naturally there are many Aussie classics but the interesting part is how they’ve been modified.
Taking centre stage at the shop was this lovely teal blue EH wagon. It sits on period correct muscle styled wheels and sports a Holden 186 red motor. Sure it’s not a powerhouse but it will be a sweet cruiser. The owners are a father and son team and have another wagon in the pipeline. Their plan is to have the next EH painted in the same blue hue and drop in an LS for a power to looks ratio of one to one.
To the side was a restored HT Monaro awaiting some final touches before being sent home. Green is nice.
In the far corner was one of my favourite Holden models, a late 50’s model FC Holden. It’s been tubbed to fit some deep dish wheels, bagged to give that epic low stance and upfront is the heart of an almighty Godzilla, a twin turbo RB26, a little more powerful than the original 72hp Holden six cylinder. This is one car I’d love to see again when complete.
Other builds found in the workshop were a freshly painted Kombi pickup, V8 swapped EH, a couple blown hotrods, a bagged C10 and of course the 55 Chevy shop truck complete with custom painted patina, LS power and up to date suspension. This is exactly what I mean when I say the combo of todays technology in yesterday’s cars is unbeatable. Check out the article in Street Machine on the USS shop truck.
To see more builds in progress, check out the United Speed Shop website here.
I’d like to send a huge thanks to Ryan Carter for showing me around the shop. If you’re in the market for upgrades for your ride, you can purchase the parts and install them yourself or have they guys take care of everything for you. You will not be disappointed.
Thanks for stopping by Motorvated
Domenic Ciccio