SHE’S done it again. Since the Observer first published, on January 9, news of vintage car tragic Monique O’Garr’s unveiling of her beloved rebuilt EH Holden at the 2024 Canberra’s Summernats exhibition, she’s taken out another award.

At Summernats it was Top Wagon, Elite Category. This time, over the recent May 4-5 weekend at MotorEx 2024, she took out second place in the Street Elite Showcase.

Ms O’Garr is nothing if not full of surprises. Apart from her passion for completely rebuilding the now ‘avocado green’ wagon (with fleck for extra shine) with husband Rob O’Garr, the Deborah Harry lookalike and blur of energy also fronted a Blondie Tribute show in a previous life and has also been a backup singer for Kate Ceberano. Regular visitors to the Portland Memorial Bowling Club’s monthly karaoke nights will also attest to her musical talent.

But it’s her love of the now sparkling green station-wagon that’s lasted longest. Purchased in Perth about 30 years ago for just $200 (then with faded white duco), Ms O’Garr and her husband have spent “less than” $50,000 to bring it up to its award-winning glory.

Apart from the highly technical engine upgrade (details in the April 2024 issue of Street Machine), the O’Garrs customised the EH to include a five-on-the-floor manual gearbox, four bucket seats from some 1992 Honda Preludes (re-upholstered in cream leather), armrests refashioned from a surfboard, an engine so clean you could eat your breakfast off it, and lots and lots of shiny chrome, stainless steel and aluminium.

Ms O’Garr credits long-time friend and retired chief steward of Summernats and MotorEx, Owen Webb, for encouraging the big unveil at Summernats 36, then inviting her to compete at MotorEx.

She now wants to take her green beauty to “a bunch of local car shows” and then simply enjoy it. She has a vision of cruising the coast with a picnic basket in the back, but one thing is certain: no matter where she goes in it, she’ll attract a lot of attention.