At Aussie Garage, we thrive on connecting with passionate car enthusiasts, and recently, we caught up with Carrington in Canberra. He’s been dedicated to restoring his cherished Valiant Charger, a car he has owned for many years. Now, he’s in the final stretch, bringing his vision to life.
Carrington originally purchased the Charger in 2006. At the time, it had been modified with a CL Valiant front end, but he has since restored it to its proper VJ Valiant Charger front. He enjoyed driving the car for about five to six years before a rear main seal issue forced it off the road. Rather than just fixing the problem, Carrington saw the opportunity for a full restoration and upgrade.
He decided to strip the car down, rebuild the engine, refresh the interior, and restore the exterior to its original Silver Mink color—moving away from the blue paint it had at the time. Now, as the Charger comes back together, it features a powerful new drivetrain, boasting a 340 small-block V8 Mopar engine paired with a Haltech EFI system for modern performance. To enhance the driving experience, Carrington has opted for a Tremec 5-speed transmission, a significant upgrade from the original 245 engine with a three-on-the-tree gearbox.
Most of the build has been completed at home with the help of mates, making this a true passion project. However, crucial elements such as the panel work and paint were entrusted to skilled professionals at Kim’s Fabrication and other workshops. Carrington is incredibly grateful for the support and expertise these businesses have provided.
For the interior, he is having it completely redone in black, featuring Tombstone seats while retaining the original dash face. His vision for the Charger leans towards a resto-mod style while maintaining a classic, factory-like external appearance.
Carrington is pushing hard to have the Charger finished this year, just in time for upcoming car events. We can’t wait to see this build completed and out on the road, turning heads wherever it goes.
A massive thanks to Carrington for sharing his journey with Aussie Garage and featuring in our Show Us Ur Ride segment. We’ll be eagerly following the final stages of this incredible restoration and can’t wait to see his vision come to life in this classic muscle car!
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Thanks to Bad Q Garage and his Justified Media for the behind the Scene photos of Carrington’s Interview with Aussie Garage. Check out his website at CLICK HERE.
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