The Meguiar’s Superstars competition at the recent MotorEx – held at Melbourne’s show grounds – is regarded as one of the highest honours in Australian show car culture, with invitations only awarded to standout builds from major events including Street Machine Summernats, Adelaide Auto Expo, Rockynats and Showcars Melbourne.
This year, 23 invited vehicles competed for the Grandmaster crown, with the six highest-scoring cars advancing to the prestigious Super Six final. Judges reportedly faced an incredibly close contest, with the standard described as exceptionally high across all entrants.
The final Super Six included Matthew Ellard’s 1974 Toyota Celica, Andrew McArtney’s 1971 Chevrolet Camaro, Jason Holt’s 1983 Holden VH Commodore, Lance Brown’s 1934 Ford coupe, Peter Lewis’s 1977 Ford XC Falcon and Ron Barclay’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.
Ultimately, Ellard’s meticulously built Celica secured the top honour, taking home the $8,000 cash prize and recognition as Australia’s premier show car build for 2026.
The Hot Wheels-inspired display proved a major drawcard during the event, while the vehicle’s detailed engineering and craftsmanship also impressed judges. Highlights included its 3T-GTE Toyota engine package, Tesla-inspired interior treatment, along with extensive fabrication, paint and panel work.
The Celica also collected additional awards for Engine and Components, Impact and Display, and Overall Innovation, capping off a successful weekend for the Image Vehicle Manufacturing team.