Rob Upton

LAST issue we delved into Rob Upton’s early years as he graduated from pedal cars to panel vans and tough streeters.

- Simon Major

Wild nights in the 80s spent as a ‘street rat’ hanging at Jilly’s Diner and street racing at some of Sydney’s iconic haunts has given way to a quieter life tending to bicycle repairs and enjoying the sun and sand on the NSW South Coast. But his passions have never waned, and his current fleet is impressive, with an eclectic mix of some of Australia’s best-loved makes and models.

01: ROB went to Summernats in 2005 after a 15-year break. “First mistake,” he says. “One whiff of methanol and burning rubber and I said to my mate: ‘Oh shit, I’m building a car. A Torana with a blower called MR BAD.’ So I’m trawling through eBay late one night – second mistake – and won a rough-looking V8/fourspeed LH sedan in Queanbeyan for $1500. It wasn’t advertised as an SL/R but my gut told me it was, and sure enough, it was genuine. This car just evolved – I rebuilt the 308 with a 6/71 supercharger, while my mate John Taylor retrimmed the interior in black. The paint was stuffed so I resprayed it Forest Green and John added the black vinyl roof for something different. I rebuilt the Aussie four-speed and a fine-spline LSD 3.36 banjo diff and they both miraculously hung in there! I even had spares ready to go in, but never needed them. It’s not like I beat up on the thing, but I sure as hell drove it hard.”