FJ Street Machine to be auctioned in Melbourne

Originally built by Darryl McBeth as a 'money-no-object' project, this heavily customised 1953 FJ sedan featured in Street Machine magazine's June 1995 issue and was the joint winner of the coveted 'street Machine of the Year' award in 1996.

While stunning to look at in its Pearl Peach paint with 'real flame' bonnet and matching peach interior, the FJ was not just a show pony. Equipped with a blown 327 Chev V8 and TH350 transmission - both solid-mounted to the 2x4 mild-steel full chassis - a nine-inch differential and disc brakes all round, it turned a best time at Calder of 11.9 seconds at 116mph in its heyday, making it one of the Australia's most admired custom streeters.

Two later owners have made improvements to render the FJ more practical for regular street use, including fitting a naturally-aspirated 350ci Chev V8, while a fuel cell has replaced its previous 20-litre drag racing fuel tank. The disc brakes are now power boosted and McBeth's Centerline 15-inch billet wheels have been replaced by 17-inch Boyd Coddingtons.

Shannons say the FJ would cost well over $200,000 to build today and with very little work could be upgraded to be a show stopper once again, as well as a gob-smacking road car and are quoting a guiding range of $48,000-$54,000 for this unique classic.

Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic Auction takes place on Monday, December 2, at Shannons' Melbourne auction rooms, 321 Warrigal Road, Cheltenham. For more information on these and other lots from the auction, go to: www.shannons.com.au

Images: courtesy of Shannons