It may have a rusty exterior, but Goulburn mechanic Sam Friend’s Holden HT, the ‘Rat Wags’, is anything but a wreck.
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After spending at least twenty years under a tree at his grandfather’s Breadalbane farm, Mr Friend has given the 1969 station wagon the ultimate sleeper treatment.
In true “rat style”, the original 186 cubic inch engine was lifted and made way for a 355 cubic inch engine capable of 320 horsepower “at the wheels”.
Speaking at Summernats, Mr Friend said it had been a three year process, with the majority of the work completed in the final year.
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“I changed the lot a part from the shell,” Mr Friend said.
“All the running gear all the way through”.
Mr Friend said the car was originally the family car which ferried his father and his aunties and uncles on trips down to the coast.
With only some minor rust repairs, Mr Friend said the vehicle looks exactly as it did when he pulled it out from under the tree.
“Basically rat style is left in the condition it is in,” he said.
“Everyone else had nice shiny things but I have an old ratty one that I am not really worried about; I can do what I want really.”
Mr Friend said he went as big as he could afford to when it came it the running gear.
“Instead of a five litre it is a 5.7 now and the bottom end has been bored out,” he said.
Mr Friend said while his grandfather doesn’t approve of the new engine, he “doesn’t mind” it.
“He was happy with the work I have done on it but he would have been happier if it was original,” he said.
Mr Friend said he enjoyed Summernats as it brought a lot of like minded individuals together.
“Everyone is here because they love cars and they just want to have fun,” he said.