The Australian International Motor Show in Sydney had one or two unusual vehicles on display, including one of only 77 Aston Martin One-77s worth $2 million. Chief among the outliers though has to be the Motoractive Zero’d eco-friendly muscle car.
The fully functional concept vehicle is the brainchild of Mick Fabar of Green Homes Australia, who also happens to be an award winning car builder. “I’d been looking into the future and trying to figure out what kind of car my son would be building when he was 16 … The challenge sort of evolved from there. I wanted to create a street machine that had ideally a zero effect on the environment in its design, construction and when being driven,” said Mick Fabar.
Built on a 1967 Australian Ford XR Falcon, the Zero’d incorporates a wide range of waste materials and recycled junk components throughout its construction, with the aim being to achieve a ‘zero carbon footprint.’ For example, the hand-stitched interior leather trim is made completely from hide off-cuts and ‘seconds’ that would normally be discarded. The recycled body panels are coated in ‘Earth Green’ from The House of Kolor and use the eco-friendly Shimrin 2.
In keeping with its green credentials, the Zero’d is powered by a recycled 7.3 liter Ford Powerstroked turbocharged V8 with an Allison four-speed auto transmission. Both were reclaimed from a second-hand F-series diesel truck with over 100,000 miles on the clock. To accommodate its eco-friendly diet of biodiesel fuel blends, the engine was modified with special fuel inlets and exhaust system reducing harmful emissions by 70 percent. All told, the engine produces 600 guilt-free hp and 738 ft/lbs of torque.
More information and photos of the Zero’d project (from beginning to end) can be found on the Motoractive website.
