Theo Stergi 1964 Chrysler AP5 Valiant - Tough Street Machine

The AP5 Valiant isn’t often viewed as tough street machine material, but Theo Stergi’s jet-black, 10-second rocket might just change that

- Tas Mcmillan

Though AP5 Valiants might not be all that common in the steroid-fed street car community, examples like Theo Stergi’s evil black monster leave you wondering why. It ticks all the mean street machine boxes: big ’n’ littles, stance like it’s leaving the line, blacker than the devil’s poo chute and engine bits perpetually reaching for the stars. To top it off, it was his first car!

“I bought it for $250 in 1985,” says Theo. “I was a young apprentice cabinet maker and I needed a car to get to work – I couldn’t take Mum’s car every day! It was originally from Melbourne and ended up in Mildura, and the guy was selling it to make bail money. I caught the train there and needed to get home, so I bought the car.”

While serving as Theo’s daily for the next few years, the Val was painted red and copped a set of chromies, but things really started happening when Theo’s exuberance sent the long-suffering engine to the great wreckers in the sky.

“I killed the original slant-six, then had a 245 from a VH Charger and then a 265 from an RT Charger,” he says. “In ’99, I put a 273 V8 in it; then a few years ago I swapped to a 360 stroked to 408 cubes. When I hurt that, I put the current motor in.” Said engine is on a very different level than the previous powerplants, and is the work of Con Sagiaris from Pro Race Engines. Con’s no stranger to mental Mopars, so when Theo asked for something making proper power, he wasted no time in delivering.