FORGED IN FIRE!

DAN MORTON'S 'FORGED' XY FAIRMONT BRINGS CONCEPT-CAR EXECUTION TO A CLASSIC AUSSIE MUSCLE CAR

- BORIS VISKOVIC

WHERE do you start when it comes to telling a story about a car that has so much going on, you're not even sure you can fit it all into 10 pages? Well, the first thing to make clear right from the start is that, while this spectacular XY might look like an out-and-out show car, it has been built to be driven, and has been fully engineered to be registered as an individually constructed vehicle (ICV). It's been 12 years in the making, and at times it tested the patience of everyone involved, but the result is one of the most amazing cars to hit the scene in the past decade.

The build is a real testament to the determination of owner Dan Morton, not to mention the highly skilled team at Pat's Pro Restos & Refinishing in Beaudesert, Queensland, who made Dan's dream a reality. It debuted at this year's Meguiar's MotorEx and stamped its authority over the competition from the outset, taking home the Grand Master award, as well as Gold for Paint, Bodywork, Undercarriage & Driveline, Interior, Impact & Display, Innovation, and Engine & Components.

The project started out as a Fairmont with a 351 and Top Loader, and a pretty nice one at that. Dan managed to knock the purchase price down a bit, as he didn't want the engine and 'box - he had much bigger plans for the drivetrain.