CUSTOM FX-FJ HOLDENS Part 3

FROM the pioneering days of a young Dale Fisher customising youthful FX and FJ Holdens in the 50s and 60s to the sceneshattering legend that was Rex Webster’s FJ in the mid-80s, Holden humpy builds have evolved with the times – Kevin Baird’s elitelevel, Deluxe Rod Shop-built FX (SM, Sep ’22) is a perfect example of current trends

- SIMON MAJOR

However, when it comes to 1980s builds, people tend to either love them or hate them. We’re firmly in the former camp, so in this final instalment of our custom FX-FJ Holden series, we’ll moonwalk our way through some the most revered humpy builds of the 80s – an era where individuality and a dare-to-be-different mindset prevailed.

1: FEW modified cars can hold a candle to the firmly stamped identity and pure longevity of the ‘Humpy Mekka’ FJ hearse built by the late Pat Fay. Pat was a larger-than-life character whose passion for the car scene was second to none, and the development of his coffin-sporting FJ spanned many upgrades and alterations over nearly three decades. Its first significant build in the 1970s featured popular trends of the time – stacked quad headlights and a custom grille balanced with Valiant AP sedan tail-lights and deep-dish slot mags, while black paint with blue and purple art, along with a vinyl roof, gave it a distinctive look. The black base and vinyl roof remained from then on, but the body mods continued, including the hearse’s most famous guise with Mercedes 220 headlights, Simca grille and LC Torana tail-lights. Its final form featured a Mercedes grille to match the headlights and Mk1 Escort/Capri rear lights. The blood-themed Frank Lee murals were a highlight, while the FJ’s driveline progressed from grey and red sixes to single four-barrel, tunnel-rammed and even supercharged small-block Chev combos. After languishing for a decade or more, the FJ was brought out of hibernation following Pat’s passing in 2013 and is currently being revamped by students at Canberra TAFE.