The Forbes enthusiast has been heading to the capital for the street machine car festival for decades, but this year he had more at stake.

Darrin's 1976 LX SS Torana had been off road for three years in preparation for this, and he wasn't disappointed.

It was in the top 60 street cars of some 2200 entrants overall, chosen to participate in the City Cruise and the Super Cruise that followed.

But the highlight was winning the Top Interior trophy in the Street section.

Darrin admits he was shocked - and thrilled - to win.

"I'd picked the car I thought was going to win and it got third," Darrin said. "So I thought I'd be fourth or fifth."

But judges had noted a lot of the detailed work that had gone into the interior and named it the best of the street cars.

Darrin's a long-time Torana fan: he has a collection of photographs of Bathurst 1000 victories and even a Torana dash signed by Peter Brock at the Mount.

He seized the opportunity to get this black 1976 LX SS in Dubbo back in 1993.

It was in "okay" shape, Darrin's taken it down to Summernats before, but as he has watched the standard of entries rise down there he realised he'd have to get serious about it to compete.

The Torana's been off the road for three years now: Tynan Mechanical worked on the engine, suspension, and exhaust; Forbes Smash worked on the paint and panel and Darren Cowan Welding custom-made the grill.

"Roylances, Butlers Windscreens, T&M Tyres,Forbes Auto Wreckers and Grant Howell Auto Electrical also helped me get the car on the road," Darrin said.

With some initial design advice from Rosie Johnston and colour inspired by the Kopps' corgi Oscar Arthur, it was off to Street Trim in Orange for the interior.

The interior was gutted and is all new, but "I wanted it to look like a Torana," Darrin explains.

Darrin thanks all those who have been part of the car's journey over the past few years, particularly his wife Judith for her patience and of course Oscar Arthur for his inspiration (and keeping his fur off the interior).