Name: Con Kouvela
Car Make: Ford
Car Model: Falcon XA GT
Year: 1973

Modifications:

Exterior

• Painted Summer Gold underneath with both sway bars painted
• Full undercarriage restorations with HPC Coating and full chrome
• Stainless steel fuel line
• Wheels are billet Dragways 17/7 in front and 17/8 1/4 in back and a set of 4 into 1-pacemaker extractors with collectors
• Lowered 2inches and an extra leaf spring has bean fitted on back, shockers are koni adjuster bal
• Boot catch and boot latch have been gold anodized as original
• Bumper bars and over riders have been re-chromed

Engine Bay & Motor

• Motor is a worked 4V with closed chamber heads
• Eagle h-bean rods with screw in studs
• Keith black flat top pistons
• Solid camshaft and lifters
• Edeckbrock torque manifold
• 3/8 molly pushrods, balanced and blueprinted, with a heavy duty clutch and top loader
• Modified 9-inch diff
• 3:7 minny spool gear ratio
• Engine bay has bean fully detailed with chrome
• Braided hoses with red and blue anodized fittings
• Billet overflow tank, and shaker
• Extractors and complete exhaust system
• DBA gold disks and braided brake lines

Awards:

“Congratulations on doing so well at Summernats!”

2007

• Melbourne Hot Rod Show – 2^nd Overall Sedan
• Springnats – Top Overall Vehicle
• Summernats 20 – Top 20 overall & 2^nd Top Sedan
  

2006

• Summernats 2006 - Top 20

2005

• Ballarat GT Nationals - Best XA GT Show Car & Best Show Car Overall
• AME Exhibition Albury - Top Engine Bay, Top Undercarriage, Top Exterior, Top Engineered vehicle, Top Sedan, Top Super Street
• Springnats - Best Engine Bay, Best Undercarriage, Top Ten, Best Sedan, Top Overall

2004

• Ford Performance Vehicle - Best XA/XB GT
• Albury Hold & Ford Nationals - Best Ford, Best XA/XB, State Champion, Top Paint, Top 10
• Easternats - Top 10
• Ford Performance Vehicles - Best XAGT
• Motor Sport Magazine Coverage
• Front Cover of Ford Performance Magazine
• Street Machine for advertising of Summernats and Holden & Ford Nationals

2003

• Bathurst GT Nationals - Best Modified XAGT
• All Ford Day Geelong - Best GT
• Ford Performance Vehicle - Best XAGT
• Easternats - Top 10 Vehicle
• Holden & Ford Nationals Melbourne - Best XAGT
• Calder Park Race Way Show n Shine - Best Ford & Best Engine Bay
• Whittlesea Show n Shine - Best Ford Muscle Car and Top 5
• Spring Nationals - 2nd Best Sedan and Top 10 Vehicle
• Summernats - Top 60 Vehicle & 2^nd Best Sedan

Profile:

My own piece of pure machine pleasure is my 1973 Summer Gold Original XAGT. It is a very rare colour; she also has a W2 interior (white with black inserts), which has been retrimed to original standard; the door trims have also been restored to original standard. SMIKGT runs a fully worked 351 Cleveland. SMIKGT is an original GT with a difference. She is one of only a few GT’s in full show condition. The car is totally rebuilt with lots of hard work, billet and chrome.

I found SMIK in a car yard in Fawkner Victoria. Let’s just say the colour and sheer look of grunt, I just could not resist. She was not it the best condition but I paid the $4000 and traded a XY station wagon and drove away with allot more to pay!!!!!!!!!! My Girlfriend at the time thought the car was brilliant, but my father kept trying to talk me out of paying a fortune for a total rust bucket! All I could think about was that 351 Cleveland and just how fast I could go!!!

Being 18 years of age, a total revhead and totally addicted to the GT Falcons. Everyone would look at one another’s GT, Charger or Holden and talk about their escapades and how the overtime would come in handy to pay the speeding fines or court costs. As I got older my love and interest improved and it was then I wanted to learn all I could about my XA Ford Falcon GT.

The car wasn’t that well looked after and was a bit sad in places. All I could envisage is what I could make her look like. I had always attended every hot rod show and show and shine as a kid and I would constantly dream of what I could achieve. Now with my own XAGT and my own vision it was just a matter of putting them together. My other passion is hot rods.

On my own investigations I found my car was in original condition but very sad mechanically and in body. The interior and paint was original and as I had been informed the paint was and still is a rare colour. During this time I decided to commit to my dream and turn my GT into a show car. Not just an original show GT but something no one had ever seen. An Original GT in full chrome and billet. Most show or custom cars are chev’s, mustangs, or hot rods; I had never seen an original XAGT modified show car. I knew with her condition this was going to be a long project. After years of having fun, she went off the road in 1994.

I then did the usual got married, built a house and had three kids. During this time, I collected as many new old stock parts, panels and any products I could find that were numbered. On organizing my honeymoon in 1991 the wife and I decided to go to America. Remembering, this was before the World Wide Web. After many international phone calls and faxes I met up with Forrest from JBA Motor sport. I purchased ALL of my 351 engine top end bits I needed from the USA. “Man did I have some hand luggage and the funniest thing; my wife got all of the blame”!!!!!

Even going away on family holidays, day trips or even family interstate I would constantly pop into a ford dealer and back in the late 80 and 90’s parts where still quite easy to find and quite reasonable. I think about all the XY, XW, and other rare and impossible parts for other makes and models and I cringe. As they say “If only I knew!”

To make my project even more difficult in 1994 my pride and joy had gone through 2 panel beaters. Each one of them being a total disaster. Taking SMIK to the final beater it was then I was also diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. So when this panel beater also tried to keep the car, just in case I died. I decided enough was enough and I took him to court over the disgraceful work. I won the case and during this hellish situation and cancer treatments, I met Peter Denny of Stylerod Panels.

Peter Denny of Stylerod Panels drove up my drive way in his brilliant EL GT, took one look at my GT and one month later SMIK was in his panel shop. Peter and the boys looked after my GT like a baby and even with me being a perfectionist they still listened and gave the car and me their best. Watching Peter and the boys was fantastic and their dedication made me even more determined to turn this car into a true GT. I also had the opportunity to learn so much about body work and paint work as they would share any information and even gave me tips and hints.

In late 2001, after I was given the all clear from the cancer, the GT arrived back in my driveway. It was then that my good mate Sunny, who is my constant “hawk eye” and offers to help, informed me of the Nationals in Bathurst. I decided that this is it. This is the day the car will be finished and this would be its first show. With the hotel booked and the documents sent I had my goal. Plenty of work was completed in the following months, with every nut and screw being polished before being put back together. Meanwhile the interior was fully refurbished and a new wiring system including a multiple alarm and central locking system was fitted, thanks to my great mate Elias from Surething Security.

Next step was the registration, after going through many combinations for a personalized number plate my wife came up with SMIKGT. In December 2002 the engine was fitted after Mario finally completed the magnificent job. At this stage, I had all of my closest friends and family around me and I will never forget this period of time. A week later it was off to Glenroy Exhausts for fitting of the extractors and full system. Then it was time to fire her up.

Finally in late January 2003, SMIK was completed just the night before the Nationals in Bathurst. Once there after 24 hours of driving without sleep, my brother and my great mates Brian and his brothers where around the track. It was a great moment and one I will always remember. It was a fantastic weekend and to be around such wonderful GT’s I felt pride of place. SMIKGT took a trophy for best modified GT.

In 2004 I then decided to take SMIKGT another step closer to being another above the crowd. The decision was made for the black undercarriage to be completely removed and repaired and then resprayed. This would mean that the car would be in a league of her own and just in time for the next Summernats. SMIK had done well that previous year but this time I had the funds and time to take her to another level.

With my brother, father this meant lying underneath the car and removing all tar, paint and any other materials and taking the car back to bear metal. This was an extremely pains taking job. Once the car was in bear metal, then Sunny came over and high filled the undercarriage. Then Russell from Whitehead Enterprises then came over and sprayed the undercarriage and also the engine bay. The whole car was put back together; the car was colour coded and other improvements such as braided hoses etc. It was then off to see Stat a great mate who is the owner of Highpoint Exhausts and SMIK was fitted with a complete 2 and a half inch flanged exhaust system.

If you speak to anyone who loves cars, you always here about the mates and their families. People like these are the inspiration of our work. Without both SMIKGT would just not be here.

My wife, well she is one in a million. I think she loves SMIK more than me some days. She never accepted NO or “I can’t do that”. She inspires and nags me. We have three wonderful children and they where raised with a car being another child. I know it sounds weird but the GT is like another family member. They are also constantly charging me on and giving me support. Not only are my family brilliant but if it wasn’t for some of my mates SMIK would not be here.

May years ago I was introduced by my mate Con to Mario Cilia. He is a great and loved mate. After so many years of storage, dreams and planning it was time for Mario to do what he loves, to build a fast and mean motor. Even to this day I think he loves SMIKGT just as much as I do. I soon became his apprentice and his temperance and patience was never ending. Both Mario and I simply stand back and listen to the sheer grunt! His time and efforts were fantastic and I truly feel that no matter where SMIK is I am reminded of Mario and his wonderful efforts. Without Mario’s constant help and advice and his constant friendship and guidance SMIK would never be where she is today.

There is also my brother Louie who would work flat out on the car and quickly shower and change for a hot date! Also Sunny. The chief inspector. Nothing gets past his keen eye. Then there is Russell. Russell is a coach builder. Just what you always want in the background.

All electrical wiring and alarm systems where conducted by the master himself, my great mate Elias from Surething Security. Even under constant pressure of motor shows and timelines that are getting shorter and shorter he has never let me down. His constant support and guidance is fantastic. His brother Terry is also on my best mate list for his constant support and knowledge.

For any support and just being there to assist with loading, unloading, set up and travel there are the Skidmore Brothers. Brian, Mark, and Craig and family. What can I say these boys are unbelievable? If there is a Summernats, Springnats, or just the local show and shine they are there. Helping me to set up or even to talk crap while waiting for a tow truck. Your support and assistance is wonderful.

If I need help or someone to cook the BBQ, or any mates to support SMIK and my dream these are the boys that are my constant guides. Being surrounded by friends and family with constant support and believe in myself and the car. Thank you and I look forward to our next BBQ and test drive!

ENGINE AND MODIFICATIONS FOR SMIKGT

The motor is a worked 4V, closed chamber heads, which are purchased from the USA. Eagle h-bean rods with screw in studs. Keith black flat top pistons. Running solid camshaft and lifters, roller rockers, edeckbrock torque manifold, 3/8 molly pushrods, balanced and blueprinted, with a heavy duty clutch and top loader. A modified 9-inch diff., which is running disc brakes. And 3:7 minny spool gear ratio SMIK also has a black boot spoiler; wheels are billet Dragways 17/7 in front and 17/8 1/4 in back and a set of 4 into 1-pacemaker extractors with collectors. Radiator is a polished aluminum radiator with twin thermo, car has been lowered 2inches and an extra leaf spring has bean fitted on back, shockers are koni adjuster bal.

Engine bay has bean fully detailed with chrome, braided hoses with red and blue anodized fittings, billet overflow tank, and shaker. Most of the wiring has bean hidden. Extractors and complete exhaust system, manifold and brake calipers have bean coated in polish aluminum look by HPC coatings. DBA gold disks and braided brake lines.

The car has bean painted Summer Gold underneath with both sway bars painted summer gold. Full undercarriage restorations with HPC Coating and full chrome. Stainless steel fuel line. Inside the boot in the far back left hand corner is a large chrome plate, which holds the fuel filter and fuel pump. Boot fitted with black carpet and also covered with black material throughout. Door catches and stickers. Boot catch and boot latch have been gold anodized as original. Bumper bars and over riders have bean rechromed.