Most kids receive toys for Christmas, but Justin received a different gift from his dad when he was just nine years old—a car shell waiting to be transformed. “It had nothing inside. Piece by piece, I built it from scratch, gathering parts from wrecking yards,” he said.
Throughout high school, this car became his passion project. He drove it to school and spent hours working on it, with mates often helping. “Surprisingly, it’s made from six different Beetles and a mix of parts from different vehicles. Gauges from a Toyota Camry, a mirror from an HQ Monaro—it’s a patchwork creation, but that’s what makes it special.”
During high school, he worked at GHR Motors, where he formed a close bond with the owner. Together, they rebuilt the engine from scratch, giving it a brand-new lease on life. Justin personally welded in the floorpan, taking pride in every detail of its construction.
Here is a partial list of the modifications Justin has made to his car:
- Adjustable fount-end off a Porsche 911
- Figure disc brakes conversion
- Custom rims and tyres (14inch rims with a 185/60/14 in the front-15inch rims with a 265/60/15 in the rear)
- Custom interior with sport gauges bucket seats, classic wooden steering wheel
- Custom fibreglass rear guards
- Guards and headlights off a 60s beetle
- With the 70s rear end
- Fully Rebuilt 1730cc motor
- Rebuilt gearbox
- Custom exhaust
- Rat rod, paint job
Now in his second year as a light vehicle apprentice, his plan is to give it a fresh coat of paint and fix it up to perfection. “Truth be told, I like how it looks at the moment. It stands out; it’s different. The imperfections, rough edges and quirky details in the interior are what make it uniquely mine. It doesn’t have a six-figure price tag; instead, it tells a story of hard work.”
“My aspirations for the car don’t end here,” Justin said. “I want to add a more powerful engine that can really push its limits. I’ve put a lot of hard work into this car and although it’s not flawless, that’s what makes it perfectly special to me. It’s my pride and joy.”
