Mopars of Milwaukee Young Street Machine of the Year

As the first-ever Milwaukee Young Street Machine of the Year rolls on, we've seen a truly impressive array of classic metal, including countless Holdens and Fords.

There's also been a strong showing from the Mopar corner, so scroll on to see ten of our favourites! Entries are still open, so if you're 24 or under we'd love to see your Mopar in the competition.

SAM CLIFT

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“This is my 1976 VK Chrysler Dodge ute. It was my great uncle's car. I have owned it since I was 14. It’s a 215 Hemi six with a three-speed manual. I’m now building a stout 265 Hemi six, which will have a Supra five-speed manual behind it.”

TIM JACOBS

28

“Like the mullet, a panel van in the 70s and 80s meant business in the front and party in the back! The Aussie panel van scene has always been known for its absurdity, and that's exactly what I wanted to replicate with my 1978 Valiant Sportspack panel van. When I discovered this van in 2019 it had been hibernating for 26 years in a leaky old shed northwest of Sydney. I knew it was the one for me as it needed a full restoration and I wanted a blank canvas for a build that could revive the nostalgia of its original era.

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The restoration consisted of grafting on Valiant ute pillars and a full plenum chamber onto the van, a double side window block off, full cabin overhaul and extensive rust work, along with a freshen-up of the 318 and a metallic paint job in its original Stellar Blue. Although running and fully registered, countless more custom additions need to be made to have it as outrageous and nostalgic as possible. My vision for the van draws upon inspiration from hundreds of vans worldwide, a handful of classic Aussie car movies and the nostalgia racing scene. Near-future additions will include full-length helix side pipes, custom-cut side bubble windows, a full-length mural and a rear compartment fully decked out in crushed velvet. Mechanically, it is currently having another small block and auto transmission built to have a bit of fun and withstand a beating on long trips.”

DAVID BLANCH

28

“A love of cars was born into my blood, being a third-generation speedway racer it was kind of hard not to love them. The smell of methanol and rubber since a very young age was enough of an addiction to have me in the seat of a speedway kart at seven, also leading to the love of old V8 muscle cars. When I was 18 I started an apprenticeship as a mechanic at Midlife Crisis Customs, working on the old cars such as Dodge Chargers, Coronets, Biscaynes and many other gorgeous, perfectly shaped, 100 percent steel cars. I decided I wanted one for myself. After my first year of my apprenticeship I had saved some money and went on the lookout. A few months later I was looking through a just cars magazine in Woolies and came across a 1975 Plymouth Fury. It looked kind of rough and weird in the photos that he had taken but I thought I’d give him a call, right there in Woolworths. That weekend I decided to go for a road trip out to Bathurst to have a look, and after being told it had a blown head gasket and a few other things we were able to negotiate. I was now on my way home with this monster of a car, on the day that everything shut down because of COVID.

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After a couple years of owning it, I’ve rebuilt the engine and gearbox, installed a sound system, made the interior and boot look nice and learned a whole heap of skills from a whole heap of people. Getting begged by people to leave the rat rod look (which it’s keeping), I had to incorporate the speedway side into the car as well. So I had some stripes and the number we have raced for three generations installed. The Fury is certainly well known around the Maitland area, usually known to be heard before it is seen!”

JED COINU

28

“I bought this '65 Plymouth Valiant coupe as a bare shell in America. It was a cheap project at the time that has now turned into an absolute pride and joy that I am proud to say I built. The car was a shell as it was being built to be a Bonneville land speed record car, but the previous owner’s plans changed and I ended up with the car. On a holiday in America my father and I found it and shipped it over to start a build in our shed.

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The car now has a Mopar 340 with a three-speed auto. It has been finished for about six months now and has already been to multiple shows and car meets, including Bright Rod Run, Mopar Drag Nationals, and MotorEx Melbourne to name a few. I’ve had a passion for cars since I was born. Hanging out with my dad’s friends triple my age has expanded my knowledge for cars and the car community."

CODY SEIBOTH

28

"This is mine and my dad's 1967 VC Valiant Regal. We got this car in 2018 and have been working in it nonstop ever since. The car was originally a slant six but we swapped the 318 small block in roughly a year after we bought it. This car is my dad and myself’s pride and joy and we take it out as much as we can. In late 2021 we shortened the diff so we could fit the Street Pro wheels on the car. The car makes roughly 400 horsepower.

NASH SALMON

28

“Here’s My ‘71 VH 318 ute. I’m 18 and from Wagga. I have toyed with cars since I was ten with dad, and started building other people’s cars in high school. I bought the ute out of Melbourne early last year and got it registered to do formals for my mates. It’s a pretty stout combo with a worked 318, manualised 904 and Falcon rear. It's been fitted out with a Charger interior and Auto Meters.

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I have owned the AP5 since I got my Ls and drive it daily. It’s very well known around Wagga. There’s no parents' money involved here, it's all money I earned working school holidays, after work, and so on.”

THOMAS BATH

28

"This is my 1966 AP6 Valiant Safari wagon. It lived a lot of its life under a tarp not too far from where I grew up and I would often pass it when going to my grandparents' house. Growing up all I wanted was an old school wagon with a straight six and three-on-the-tree. Fast forward to when I was 17 and the wagon was no longer down the road but had turned up in a local wrecking yard destined to be destroyed. After some fresh fuel and a battery the old slant six fired up and drove onto the car trailer. Once home we started to clean it up and make everything work again, and get ready to put it on the road as I was a second year apprentice on a budget. But one thing led to another and before I knew it I was rubbing it back, cutting out rust and putting in new carpet and interior pieces. It also got a fresh coat of paint laid down and 12 months later she was on the road ready to go cruising. Now that’s exactly what she does. We’ll go six-up in the Val and she just hugs the road and smiles along with you! The Val also doubles as a mini hot rod hauler when I go to car shows; back seat down and mini rod in."

JACKSON GREEN

28

"This is my 1970 Valiant VG Regal. From factory it was a column auto 245 Hemi car. I purchased it when I got my Ps at 17, as dad always had Valiants and I wanted to go cruising with him. When I got it, it came with a fairly standard 265 and had been converted to manual. Dad and I put together a pretty simple 265 with a mild cam in it and I drove it to and from school every day. It was a bit heavy on fuel but otherwise a great car for daily commutes to school and work. I had always wanted to take it off the road fix the small amounts of rust in it and respray it, so last year when I started my apprenticeship I decided to pull it off the road and send it to a body shop as I’m no good at bodywork. I decided upon black, taking inspiration from a few cars that I see being presented on groups online.

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The bodywork was completed in December and I sourced a 318 to build for it. Nothing too crazy has been done so far but just enough to give it some poke. I recently finished the engine so will be dropping that in. I'm hoping to be cruising the streets by the end of the year for a few local hot rod shows!"

JOSHUA GENTLE

28

"Here is my '77 Chrysler CL Valiant. I bought the Val with my dad and uncle when I was 15. I was looking for a Valiant because both of my grandfathers had Valiants back in the day, particularly wagons. I just wanted to bring back the old school and own one considering I’ve always loved the CL/CM styling. I have done many things to improve the Valiant including a new radiator and cooling system, buying NOS parts and adding aesthetic parts to give it some character. I gave the front disc and rear drum brakes a complete overhaul, plus the steering linkages and a brake booster kit. I’ve got a lot planned in the future with this beast performance-wise and will be doing up the interior myself soon!"

JOSEPH SCOTT

28

I'm 20 years old and from the north side of Brisbane. Unlike most kids these days, my first car was a 1965 AP6 ute with a three-on-the-tree. At 15 I was guided on how to bring the car to road worthy condition and doing rust cuts. I drove that on my Ls and converted it to an auto plus light engine work just before my Ps. I fabricated the exhaust up and put in a limited slip nine-inch. I ended up buying a grey 1963 AP5 Regal and changed all the running gear into that. The ute is off the road for a V8 transplant.

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At Christmas last year I spun a bearing in the sedan so I swapped a cheap slant into it so I could still cruise while I built up a tough P-plate engine. I put ARP studs all through it and got 120 thou taken off the block. It already had a ported head with bigger valves and a cam. Compression ratio is up to 10.2:1. It's paired with twin two-barrel downdraft Webers, with the same exhaust, tranny, and diff. It runs a 14.8 on the quarter and will cruise anywhere, plenty good enough for a P-plater!

The ute was going to get a turbo small block 340, but one thing led to another and I now have a turbo 6.4 Gen III Hemi sitting in it. The engine will be built for low boost and still push 750-800hp like the supercharged engines. I have a Garrett G42 1450 turbo and 60mm Turbosmart wastegate. On the back of that I have a Reid Racing TH400 case and bellhousing. I’ve had a 35 spline 9inch with Truetrac centre shortened to fit 325/50/15 Mickey Thompsons. Rear tubs are finished and I’m installing a Reiley Motorsports four-link suspension with double-adjustable coilovers.

I’m working on completing the flat floor and relocating the firewall, then it’s onto the rollcage. 90 percent of the work has been completed by myself with some guidance from dad. It’s a work in progress but she’s come a long way!"